PS4 NPL NSW Men’s 1 Grade 20s Round 3 Preview
Round three of the 2015 PS4 National Premier League NSW Men’s 1 Grade 20s kicks of this weekend, with three matches late on Saturday afternoon and three on Sunday afternoon.
The match of the round this week will put the spotlight on Blacktown City v Parramatta FC.
Match of the Round
Blacktown City FC v Parramatta FC, 1.00pm Sunday at Lily’s Football Centre
This week’s match of the round takes place at Lily’s Football Centre, where tenth-placed Blacktown City will take on Parramatta FC; currently fourth on the ladder. Parramatta arrive in Blacktown on the back of a 2-0 defeat of Sydney Olympic, while the home side are yet to win a match after two rounds; improving on their 2-5 loss to Sydney United 58 in the opening round with a 1-1 draw at South Coast Wolves last week. Jonathan Grozdanovski and Adrian Vranic are the players to watch for Blacktown City and Parramatta respectively.
Saturday
Blacktown Spartans FC v Sydney United FC, 5.30pm at Blacktown Football Park
The Spartans picked up their first three points of the season in last Saturday’s 2-1 win over Rockdale City Suns, and will be hopeful of making a habit of winning when they face Sydney United 58, who lost 2-3 to first-placed Sutherland Sharks on Sunday. Both sides have faced the Sharks in the last two weeks – the Spartans notably beaten 9-1 – and the difference in the margin of defeat could be an indicator of which way this match will go.
Marconi Stallions FC v APIA Leichardt Tigers FC, 5.30pm Marconi Stadium
The last two times these sides have met each other – in rounds two and 13 of the 2014 competition – the final score has been 3-2 to the away side, and APIA will be hoping recent history is on their side as they visit Marconi Stadium on Saturday afternoon. APIA fell to a 2-3 loss to Manly United last weekend; two goals from Lachlan Scott little more than consolation, while Marconi struggled at times during their 2-0 win over Bonnyrigg White Eagles – Noah Chianese and Matthew Stewart will be two to watch for the home side here.
Sutherland Sharks v South Coast Wolves, 5.30pm at Seymour Shaw
The Sharks are one of two unbeaten sides left in the competition (Manly are the other) and will be expected to continue their winning streak against ninth-placed South Coast Wolves on Saturday afternoon. The Sharks’ 3-2 victory at Sydney United 58 was a little tougher than their opening round thrashing of Blacktown Spartans, with Steven Hayes scoring his second goal in as many games to help his side edge the win. This fixture ended 0-0 last season; an encouraging result for the Wolves coming into this week’s match.
Sunday
Sydney Olympic FC v Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC, 1.00pm at Belmore Sports Ground
Bonnyrigg last traveled to Belmore Sports Ground in round 11 of the 2014 season, coming away with a 2-1 win thanks to two goals from Stevan Ilic. Ilic has since moved on, and Bonnyrigg will hope somebody else can step in to help them to their first win of the season against an Olympic side that has enjoyed an indifferent start to 2015. Olympic lost their second round match away to Parramatta FC, and will look to Jason Madonis, amongst others, to make an impact on the score on Sunday.
Manly United FC v Rockdale City Suns FC, 1.00pm at Cromer Park
Manly will look to maintain their unbeaten start to the season with a win over Rockdale, one of two teams yet to pick up a point this year. Manly come home to Cromer Park after sneaking a 3-2 win over APIA last weekend, and the home side will look to Lachlan McLean to add to the two goals he scored against the Tigers. Manly won this fixture 3-2 last season, though both teams have radically different squads to the ones that faced off in round 11, 2014.
– By Max Grieve, PS4 National Premier Leagues Grade 20s Reporter
