The Northern Demons will be after another key top five scalp when it hosts last week’s biggest goalscorer and one of the leagues biggest improvers in the Seaford Rangers at Byrne Park on Saturday.
Once the sidekick team of State league soccer, this season’s Seaford combination is genuinely proving a worthwhile finals contender with some impressive results so far – like last week’s 7-1 thrashing of Playford City - now a testimony of the rapid improvement it’s making.
The Demons even with injuries to players and some still carrying them went onto defeat its rivals 2-0 in horrible weather last week and on Saturday will be out to strengthen its 3rd position on the ladder with both Enfield and NAB expected to win their games easily.
It gives some well deserved credit to Reds coach Anthony Brevi who has faith and plays his second tier players and a group that performs when required most – last week against City it was these that detailed the Demons best player list.
And on Saturday the Demons coach will be looking at a repeat effort against Seaford especially if Mick Edwards, Adrian Leet and Adam Giancaspro all do not play – Giancaspro was injured in the Derby as was Leet, while Edwards could miss out due to employment.
Indication that the Reds will not have their top starting eleven does give Seaford a real winning chance against a team the Ben Dale coached team would not remember when it last won.
Seaford’s midfield stars in Kris Trajanovski and Bradley Armour have been the gun players for Seaford while Dayle Anderson and Faustin Mochochi have netted seven times in two games – Anderson kicked four against Playford and Machochi got three against West Adelaide .
Northern Demons would like to see the return of invaluable team player Anthony Fasciano who has been on the sick list, while Patrick Keane and Chris Annesse will be certainly considered to start the round eight State League game.
Nonetheless it will be Bradley Armour in the middle and a defensively posted Kris Trajanovski as well the former amateur and non stop Faustin Machochi and keeper Darren Leigh-Heidt that will be important players for Seaford.
The Seaford combination as described by coach Dale is a blend of some high experience and improved youth but a well balanced team that is finally playing very good soccer. The long road trip only is Dale’s main concern.
Northern Demons on Saturday is likely to face some quality midfield opposition at Byrne Park, and the likes of former Socceroo player Tranjanovski and a long time invaluable Adelaide City hard nut in Armour.
The locals will be hoping John Saler has recovered and that John Motley and Sam Salvemini are on song. In the meantime for coach Anthony Brevi, Saturday’s contest is another game he feels his outfit could be reduced because of injuries.
Last season the Demons won both fixtures. The Reds won 1-0 at Karingal reserve and then won 3-0 at Byrne Park with Edwards Cox and Farnacombe scoring last year goals.
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DEMONS RESERVES
The Demons Reserves take on a Seaford combination that finds itself near the bottom of the table and one that recently could not defeat Gawler at home.
Whereas the Demons have developed some solid consistency of late and should have little trouble in winning a second straight Byrne Park game on Saturday afternoon.
Last week the Reds strongly defeated City 4-1, while Seaford lost 6-1 to Playford City – there’s little doubt about this result and the Demons are expected to win all three points.
DEMONS UNDER 19’s
The young Reds after defeating City 2-0 in a good contest is set to gain a nother win at the expense of Seaford who have also not performed well this season.
The Demons 19’s are again developing another good soccer season and its depth of players looks much better than Seaford who last week had their game postponed because of the wet weather as well as protect the surface for the main games at its Karingal Reserve venue.
PHOTO: DERBY...City’s Joe Porta makes a contest for the ball against Demon’s Connie Kouimztis last Saturday.
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