Round 14 witnessed some utterly crazy score lines, as many teams were fighting for their life. South Adelaide and Sturt could not be split in a top of the table clash, drawing 1-1. West Adelaide were impressive in their 3-1 win over Playford; however, automatic promotion is now out of their grasp. Adelaide Hills Hawks continue to soar, smashing White City 4-1 at home, all but guaranteeing them a finals spot if they can grab a point this week.
Well, it all comes down to this. In what has been an utterly frantic year, some teams have embraced the chaos and others have crumbled beneath it.
Kicking off the action is Western Strikers and Seaford. Strikers are sitting perilously in seventh, and to miss out on finals would be a huge underachievement from their point of view.
No matter the result this weekend, Seaford Rangers are destined for the dreaded drop down to State League Two. With that in mind, pride is on the line, Rangers will no doubt be looking to make one last statement before they go.
Strikers finals hopes are hanging by a thread. Two points off Hawks in sixth, they simply have to win. All hope is not lost, however, as Hills do have a tough fixture in Birkalla.
Birkalla have faltered again and again and hence have forfeited the opportunity to play finals this year. With their time in the NPL in recent years, Birks will have many questions to answer this off-season. Their 2020 journey has one last stop, Adelaide Hills.
Hawks started the year slow but have showed real heart to fight their way to the position they’re in now. Their fate is in their own hands, as a draw will secure finals (provided Strikers do not win + 4).
The last time these two met was in Round 4, and on that day, it was the Hills outfit who came out on top at the Nest, 3-2.
South Adelaide are within touching distance of an NPL return. A win against strugglers Adelaide Victory would send them through automatically and would commemorate a stellar season.
Victory are fighting for their lives and could not have a drawn a tougher fixture in their fight for safety. They sit just two points ahead of Vipers in eleventh but will be hopeful that Hellas can do what they do and send Vipers back down.
The last time these two met, Panthers ran riot. Rideout was at his very best and spearheaded the 5-1 win, a similar result this week could be catastrophic for Victory.
Next up in the action is a showcase of two teams who have been brilliant all year. White City had a hiccup last week but overall have shown their quality again and again. The same can be said for Playford, and in terms of smashing targets and proving people wrong; they may have just had the best season out of any team.
Both sides will be playing with some freedom, as they have both secured finals. Playford can only come fifth so it will be interesting to see their line-up, and tactics employed. White city however can still climb the table, as high as third.
Last time they met it was a 1-1 stalemate, no doubt bragging rights are on the line and some much-needed finals momentum.
Another massive game, with the result having polar opposite ramifications for each side. West Adelaide set the benchmark for most of the year, however in the last month or so have had some setbacks and mixed results. Vipers just couldn’t find that next step in quality and are very much at the risk of going down.
It would have to be a record-breaking win to secure second-spot for West Adelaide, they would need at least an 11-goal cushion at best. A loss could see them slide down to as low as fourth. One can assume they may play with some freedom, as they would back their skillset against any top-six team in an elimination final. For Vipers, it really is do or die. A win would be the biggest result in the club’s history and put Michael Caine’s Escape to Victory to shame. A draw or a loss would condemn them back to SL2.
Rounding off the action is Fulham and Sturt. Fulham have guaranteed themselves safety, and cannot make finals, so this may be a great opportunity to blood some youth and try something different.
Sturt, on the other hand, have it all to play for. A win could send them straight to the big time, and they will rate their chances as the maths suggest losing second-spot is nearly impossible.
One would assume with these motivations in mind, it is Lions who are favourites for this fixture; although Round 4’s 0-0 draw may suggest that United can produce a surprise.
