Round 7 Preview – PS4 NPL NSW Men’s

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THERE is a new name at the top of the PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s going into Round 7 as the battle for positions on the ladder really heats up.

Sydney United 58 overtook Blacktown City in Round 6 after a slip up from the Seven Hills based side against Hakoah Sydney City East.

It is only going to be harder to win with all six teams beginning to hit their stride.

A clash between an in-form Rockdale City Suns and a dangerous Manly United outfit at Cromer Park on Sunday is this week’s Match of the Round.

Match of the Round.

Manly United FC v Rockdale City Suns, 3pm Sunday at Cromer Park

After two straight wins Manly United has jumped up the table to fourth and are playing some impressive attacking football.

This week they will attempt to make it three wins from three when Rockdale comes to Cromer Park.

The Suns will one of Manly’s biggest challenges to date this year with Paul Reid’s side playing some of the most consistent football of the PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition.

Toufic Allameddine is playing some of the best football of his career while Alec Urosevski has also been a constant threat for Rockdale. Manly’s defence will need to be at its best to keep the Sun’s off the score sheet.

At the other end of the park Manly’s trio of Dejan Pandurevic, Brendan Cholakian and Luke Giverin will be the go to players if the home side is to come away with all three points.

A win for Manly will move them into third place while a loss could see them drop into the log jam in the middle of the table.

Saturday

Sutherland Sharks FC v Hakoah Sydney City East, 6.30pm at Seymour Shaw

Mark Robertson’s Hakoah Sydney City East is flying high after last week’s shock win against Blacktown City but Sutherland Sharks are ready and waiting to bring them back to reality when the two sides go head to head.

Sutherland is in desperate need of a win after an inconsistent start to the year and what better time than at home against the competition’s new boys in front of your home support.

It is sure to be an open match with the Sharks reputation for swashbuckling attack to be a feature once again.

Josh Da Silva has found the back of the net a few times this season for Sutherland and the new signing could once again be a factor for the home side.

Hakoah’s captain Neil Jablonski lead from the front last week and will continue his role as the point of the Sydney City East attack on Saturday night.

It could be a very open clash with end to end action and plenty of goals.

Sunday

Sydney Olympic FC v Bonnyrigg White Eagles, 3pm at Belmore Sports Ground

It has been a tough few weeks for Sydney Olympic but nothing would bring the confidence back to Grant Lee’s side better than a win against reigning PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s Champions Bonnyrigg White Eagles.

That is the challenge for Olympic on Sunday when they host Brian Brown’s Bonnyrigg side at Belmore sports ground.

Bonnyrigg has yet to reach the peak of its powers this season and a big performance from Olympic could create headaches for the White Eagles.

Robbie Younis will return to the Bonnyrigg line up this week after a one week suspension and is sure to be desperate to return to his goal scoring best.

A class performance in Round 4 from Will Angel provided fans with plenty to cheer for and they will be hoping the winger can replicate that again this weekend.

Harris Gaitatzis and Chris Triantis will also be players to keep an eye on for Olympic.

A win will help the Belmore boys move off the bottom of the ladder while a loss will only make it harder for them to shake the dreaded prospect of a wooden spoon in 2016.

Blacktown City FC v Wollongong Wolves, 3pm at Lily’s Football Centre

Wollongong Wolves will need to be ready for anything in Round 7 as Blacktown City is set to come out firing on all cylinders.

Mark Crittenden’s men will be desperate to make up for last week’s shock loss to Hakoah and return to the same form which helped them win five straight games to start the season.

Jacob Timpano’s side has shown an impressive ability to counter attack this season and it will be  needed this week with Blacktown’s three headed hydra of Joey Gibbs, Danny Choi and Travis Major hungry for goals.

Brett Wilson and Nicholas Bernal are the names to keep an eye on for the Wolves with both men able to steal a goal in the toughest of matches.

Sydney United 58 FC v Parramatta FC, 4pm at Sydney United Football Centre

The pressure is on Sydney United 58 to maintain its spot at the top of the PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition and nothing short of its best will be required to stay in front of the chasing pack.

This week Mark Rudan’s side will take on Parramatta FC at home and will set out to extend its winning run to six straight.

United 58 has incredibly not conceded a goal in four league matches with Thomas Manos and Yianni Fragogiannis in career best form

The match will also act as a homecoming for former United 58 captain Ibrahim Haydar who will skipper the visitors against his old side after making the move to Parramatta FC in the offseason.

It will be a mighty test for Parramatta against a team in incredible form

APIA Leichhardt Tigers FC v Blacktown Spartans, 4.30pm at Lambert Park

It was a roller coaster ride of emotions for APIA fans in Round 6 as the Tigers clinched an incredible 3-3 draw against Rockdale City Suns with a last minute Franco Parisi goal.

This week John Carnevale’s side will be out to return to the winners circle in front of its home fans when they host Blacktown Spartans at Lambert Park.

APIA has shown flashes of brilliance this year but a combination of injuries and momentary lapses has cost the pre-season competition favourites dearly.

It has been an equally up and down season for the Spartans who have looked below par at times at home but on the road appear a completely different side.

Ben De Haan will hope his team can at least continue its impressive form in away games this week.

Keep an eye on Themba Muata-Marlow who this week returns from suspension for APIA. The former Newcastle Jets defender has been a star addition to the Tigers this season.