Round 12 Preview – PS4 NPL NSW Men’s

PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s 2016 season kicks off with the Round 1 match between Blacktown City FC and Sydney United 58 FC at Lily Football Centre on March 13th, 2016.(Photos by Nigel Owen). Blacktown won 3-2.

Round 12 is Heritage Round in the PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition and it is going to be a huge weekend of football around the grounds.

While the weekend will be about recognising the history of this great competition, All 12 teams will be focused on claiming victory and all three points.

This week’s match of the round features a top of the table clash between Sydney United 58 and Blacktown City with first spot on the ladder up for grabs.

Match of the Round

Sydney United 58 v Blacktown City, 4pm Sunday at Sydney United Sports Centre 

The two goliaths of the competition lock horns for the second time this season with much more on the line than when they faced off in Round 1.

Sydney United 58 holds a one-point lead in first place and has been the gold standard this season with only one loss from its first 11 games.

That loss was to Blacktown City and it is surely something Mark Crittenden is going to remind his second placed Blacktown side ahead of the match.

Both sides have an array of attacking weapons with Chris Payne, Panni Nikas and Robert Mileski set to do battle with the prolific City front trio of Travis Major, Danny Choi and Joey Gibbs.

It is going to be an all in battle and neither side is going to hold back in a match that could be one of the games of the season.

Sutherland Sharks v Manly United, 6.30pm Saturday at Seymour Shaw

Sutherland notched its first win in nearly two months last week when they upstaged APIA Leichhardt.

The Sharks will be determined to turn their season around but a talented Manly United team stands in the way this week.

Fourth placed Manly have acquired the talents of Richie Cardozo up front who after one week with the club has already shown he will be a dangerous addition to their already potent strike force.

Sutherland will need another big performance if they are to stage back upsets.

Bonnyrigg White Eagles v Rockdale City Suns, 7pm Saturday at Bonnyrigg Sports Centre

Bonnyrigg has had a mixed start to the PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition but will be banking on a big second half of the season to lock down a finals spot.

The reigning PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s Champions will need to get back to top form if they are secure all three points against a firing Rockdale City Suns.

The Suns currently sit two spots ahead of Bonnyrigg in third with Paul Reid’s team playing some of the competitions best attacking football.

It is a match that could go either way and will surely be an entertaining clash for the fans.

Hakoah Sydney City East v Wollongong Wolves, 7pm Saturday at Hensley Athletic Field

New boys Hakoah Sydney City East have had a strong start to their time in the PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition and have shown they are no easy beats.

This week they will be determined to further that reputation with a win against Wollongong.

Wollongong comes into the match after a hard fought 1-1 draw with Bonnyrigg.

In Round 1 Wollongong fought back to pinch victory against Hakoah but this time Mark Robertson’s boys will be fired up to get one back against their southern rivals.

Heritage Round – Sunday 29 May 2016

Sydney Olympic v APIA Leichhardt Tigers, 3pm Saturday at Belmore Sports Ground

It has been a horror season so far for APIA Leichhardt and Sydney Olympic will be out to inflict further pain in Round 12.

A 2-0 loss to Sutherland last week has APIA sitting only one spot above the bottom of the table despite a talented squad that was touted for much higher honours during preseason.

This game could be a litmus test for Daniel Cummins APIA team with their season firmly in the balance.

Sydney Olympic has displayed patchy form this season but has had flashes of brilliance.

The pressure will be on both coaches this week to secure victory.

Parramatta FC v Blacktown Spartans, 3pm Sunday at Melita Stadium

Parramatta FC has come a long way from the side that was battling relegation last season.

With very little expectation on the side in Round 1 they upset a Blacktown Spartans side that was expected to be a contender this season.

Twelve weeks on the tide has turned and it is the Spartans fighting for their lives and Parramatta only a few wins outside the top five.

Blacktown has struggled this season and the pressure is mounting on Ben De Haan and his side to turn things around.

Parramatta is not an easy team to beat so it could be a whitewash if the Spartans don’t deliver.

-By Nick Houghton