PS4 NPL NSW Men’s Grade 20s Round 6 Preview

Round six of the Grade 20s takes place this weekend, with one match on Saturday and five on Sunday afternoon.

This week’s match of the round sees Blacktown Spartans travel to Marconi Stadium to face third-placed Marconi Stallions.

Match of the Round

Marconi Stallions FC v Blacktown Spartans FC, Saturday 5.30pm at Marconi Stadium

Marconi’s three-match winning streak came to an end last week at home to Manly United, and coach Jeff Suzor will be looking to right the ship against a Blacktown Spartans side in indifferent form.

The Spartans have not won since the second round and might have counted themselves unfortunate not to have earned a point in their defeat to South Coast Wolves last week, but will perhaps be more optimistic of a result at this ground – last season, the Spartans held the Stallions to a 3-3 draw.

Sunday

Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC v Sydney United 58 FC, 12pm at Bonnyrigg Sports Club

Bonnyrigg sit rock bottom of the table after the first five rounds (during which they’ve only played four matches, given a washout in round four) and face Sydney United in the first of the Sunday afternoon matches, with their opponents on the slide themselves after two consecutive losses at home.

The home side are yet to score a single goal this season, and United might be considered favourites: all four of their points in 2015 have been earned on the road. 

Manly United FC v Sydney Olympic FC, 1pm at Cromer Park

Manly United will be hoping to extend their winning streak to three successive matches on Sunday afternoon when they take on sixth-placed Sydney Olympic.

The visitors arrive at Cromer Park after their match last Sunday against Rockdale was washed out, and will need to contain talented United striker Christopher Arditti to secure a result here.  

Rockdale City Suns FC v Blacktown City FC, 1pm at Ilinden Sports Centre

Blacktown City enjoyed their biggest win of the season as they beat APIA Leichhardt 4-0 at home last week, and take on a stuttering Rockdale City side at Ilinden Sports Centre this Sunday as they aim to remain unbeaten since their opening round loss to Sydney United 58.

Jonathan Grozdanovski scored twice against APIA, and will like his chances against the Suns, who have only one clean sheet to date.

Parramatta FC v South Coast Wolves FC, 1pm at Melita Stadium

South Coast Wolves face Parramatta FC in their fourth consecutive away match on Sunday afternoon; arriving at Melita Stadium in sparkling form after recording 3-2 wins at both Sydney United 58 and Blacktown Spartans in the last two rounds.

Parramatta, meanwhile, return home after a 2-1 win at United 58 last week.

Both sides are level on seven points apiece at the beginning of this round, though Parramatta have played one less match than their opponents.

APIA Leichhardt Tigers FC v Sutherland Sharks FC, 2.15pm at Lambert Park

APIA suffered their biggest loss of the season to date last weekend against Blacktown City, and could be in for another rough week at the hands of Sutherland Sharks, who cruised to a routine 3-0 win over Bonnyrigg in round five.

The Sharks boast the competition’s highest scorer in Charles Lokolingoy, and travel to Lambert Park with the best goal difference in the competition by a clear 11 goals.

– By Max Grieve, PS4 National Premier Leagues Grade 20s Reporter