The two Blacktown clubs, Spartans and City are leading the way after the opening month of the National Premier Leagues IGA NSW Mens 1 campaign, with Spartans on top after four wins from four.
Blacktown City are two points in arrears and feature in the round five Match of the Round at Cromer Park against Manly United, who last week showed their ability when they beat Sydney United 58.
APIA-Leichhardt Tigers and South Coast Wolves are both winless and face tough assignments this week as they look to get off the mark, at home to Sutherland Sharks and Bonnyrigg White Eagles respectively.
ROUND FIVE PREVIEW
MATCH OF THE ROUND
Manly United v Blacktown City, 3pm Sunday at Cromer Park
Manly are in an interesting period. They scored a superb 3-2 win at Edensor Park last weekend against 10-man Sydney United 58, courtesy of a hattrick to Chris Payne.
First team coach Craig Midgley resigned during the week though to take on the roles of Technical Director of Youth Development at Manly and Technical Director of Coaching Development at the Manly Warringah Football Association. His assistant, Paul Dee, has stepped into the breach for the remainder of the season.
There is no time like the present for Dee to step in, as Manly welcome in-form Blacktown City to Cromer Park.
They dropped points for the first time this season last weekend, drawing 3-3 at home to struggling APIA-Leichhardt Tigers.
Blacktown City have the personnel to get over that blip and Ryuji Miyazawa is in sensational form up front. He and Payne could be this game’s decisive figures and they are the two major goal threats in this encounter.
Saturday
APIA-Leichhardt Tigers v Sutherland Sharks, 7:30pm at Lambert Park
APIA-Leichhardt return to Lambert Park for the first time since the rollicking atmosphere of opening night.
They do so having found some form in a 3-3 draw with Blacktown City at Lilys Football Centre last weekend and coach Billy McColl may well be starting to find the right combinations.
Brad Bartels’ form has been a major positive in a dark few weeks for APIA, the leggy midfielder scored twice last weekend to take his tally to three goals in four games in 2014.
With Franco Parisi still pulling the strings ahead of him and Daniel Fogarty proving to be a genuine threat out wide, APIA have the firepower if they can stay tight at the back.
Sutherland showed signs of their brilliant best in last weekend’s Match of the Round, when they went 2-0 up against Marconi. Eventually winning 3-2, they proved their quality despite a poor start to the second half.
Panny Nikas shows no sign of letting up and he scored twice again last weekend, while Ethan Galbraith returns to his former home ground on Saturday night.
Blacktown Spartans v Sydney United 58, 7:30pm at Blacktown Football Park
Spartans will be out to maintain their 100% record on Saturday night and they won’t be phased by the quality of the opposition.
Ben De Haan’s team have been scoring for fun this year and show no signs of letting up and they will be up for it against Mark Rudan’s United.
United had it in the bag against Manly last weekend but the dismissal of Ibrahim Haydar turned the tide in Manly’s favour. Chris Payne’s two late goals (to go with his first half effort) leaves United with just one win from four this year.
In Josip Jadric and Matthew Bilic they possess pace and verve out wide, but the goal scoring burden will again fall on the shoulders of their captain Luka Glavas.
Marconi Stallions v Sydney Olympic, 7:30pm at Marconi Stadium
Marconi have the potential to really shake up 2014 and under Darren Iocca they are playing some very positive passing football.
At the heart of it is Shu Sasaki, who was brilliant again at Sutherland last weekend. Sean O’Connell has also started the season well in midfield while goalkeeper James Chronopoulos has been in sensational form.
They come up against an inconsistent Olympic side who went down to St George in a shock result last weekend. Perhaps they were caught up in Kygriakos-fever, but it didn’t help as Olympic couldn’t win either of the two games in which the big defender played.
Grant Lee’s side will be free of that distraction now and will have to get back to basics at Marconi Stadium on Saturday night.
Sunday
St George v Rockdale City Suns, 3pm at Seymour Shaw Park
St George host Rockdale but they are borrowing Seymour Shaw Park to do so. With WIN Jubilee Stadium unavailable, this game retains its southern feel by moving into the Shire.
St George have Bruno Pivato and David Talevski to thank for scoring as they notched their first NPL IGA NSW Mens 1 win last weekend against Olympic.
It could be a watershed moment for Manny Spanoudakis’ side who have been on steady improve since round one.
Rockdale City Suns are their opponents on Sunday afternoon and they will feel like they got back on track with their win against South Coast Wolves.
Although it was only by one goal, it could have been many more, but in the end it was Nick Taneski’s 2’ minute strike that decided it. Taneski will be a big threat to St George with his movement, pace and finishing ability.
South Coast Wolves v Bonnyrigg White Eagles, 3pm at WIN Stadium
South Coast remain one of two winless sides in the competition (APIA being the other) and they have a huge ask at home to Bonnyrigg White Eagles this weekend.
Wolves were better, but still not good enough, against Rockdale City last weekend and Richard Lloyd’s side will have to keep improving.
Bonnyrigg have had a strangely flat start to the season but Brian Brown won’t be worried just yet. They have the quality to come good and in Matthew Nash, Chris Tadrosse, Ken Chun and Robbie Younis they have the experienced campaigners to get back on track.
This match is the perfect opportunity for them to get back into the winner’s circle.
-By MATTHEW LOPEZ, NPL NSW Editor
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