The next fortnight of football for the Sydney FC National Youth League team is make or break.
The next fortnight of football for the Sydney FC National Youth League team is make or break.
Currently sitting fourth in the ladder (37 points), the defending premiers take on Adelaide United in a must win clash at Cromer Park on Saturday afternoon (4pm-kick-off).
Only the top four progress to the finals and with matches against the third placed Adelaide and second placed Central Coast Mariners to finish the season, it is do-or-die football for the Youth Sky Blues.
In form midfielder Iain Ramsay, who made his Hyundai A-League debut against Melbourne in the first leg of the Major Semi Final last Thursday, is confident the team can earn the six points up for grabs over the next two weeks.
“We have been playing much better football right across the pitch recently,” Ramsay said. “We have scored plenty of goals and have all season and we have really tightened up at the back and improved our defence from where it was in the middle of the season.”
“As the year has gone on the squad has really gelled together. We are getting some really good results at the moment and we can finish in the top four.
“Training has been really good. What Steve O-Connor has taught us this year is paying off with a few wins under our belt.”
Ramsay, who has been training with A-League squad for the majority of the season, said being around the senior players, in particular Steve Corica, has helped his game in leaps and bounds.
“It has been great and really helpful. It is helping develop my career and I have been learning as much as I can from our experienced coaching staff,” Ramsay said.
“They have been helping me a lot. I feel confident at the moment and am putting my game together.
“I have learnt a lot from Bimbi (Steve Corica). He has taught me to be calm on the ball. He is a real technician and he is a very smart player. He uses his head a lot. I have learnt so much off him like where to be on the pitch and to be calm.”
Ramsay, who has scored six goals this season, said making his A-League debut gave him a feeling he wouldn-t forget.
“It was pure excitement. I had a tough year last season with injury and to finally get my chance with the first team was a really good feeling.”
Head-to-head this season the Youth Sky Blues have had the edge over Adelaide, taking a point from their 1-all draw away at Hindmarsh Stadium in Round Six before collecting all three points in an impressive 3-1 win at the Sydney Football Stadium in Round 14.
Sydney FC line-up: Hussein AKIL, Dimitri PETRATOS, Luke AUSTIN, Joel CHIANESE, Sam GALLAGHER, Sam CHARPLE, Justin HAYWARD, Joseph GIBBS, Tim MCGOWAN, Sam MUNRO (c), Nenad VEKIC (gk), Mark PULLMAN (gk), Mitchell SPEER, Iain RAMSAY, David VRANKOVIC, Antony GOLEC, Adam CASEY (OA), Paul MACKIE
