Round 4 Preview – NPL NSW Men’s
Easter has arrived in the National Premier Leagues NSW 2018 season and while their might not be too many easter eggs, Round 4 is sure to deliver plenty of sweet match-ups.
None will be bigger than a grudge match between APIA Leichhardt Tigers and Blacktown City when the competition heavyweights clash on Good Friday, a match that Football NSW will also live stream.
It will be a massive Saturday night this week with four matches being played including a southern derby between Wollongong Wolves and Sutherland Sharks, another match that will feature in Football NSW’s live stream.
Finally Manly United will be desperate to notch their first win of the season when they hit the road once again to take on an undefeated Marconi Stallions.
There is sure to be plenty of excitement in what is building up to be a thrilling week of matches.
Sydney Olympic FC v Hakoah Sydney City East, 4pm Friday at Belmore Sports Ground
Sydney Olympic will be out to get their Easter off to the right start with victory against Hakoah Sydney City East at Belmore this Good Friday.
Abbas Saad’s side have had a solid start over the opening three rounds and will be determined to make it two wins on the trot.
Max Burgess has hit the ground running since returning to the club this season and last week was a stand out performer in the win against Manly United.
His playmaking skills will be put to the test against a young and energetic Hakoah outfit.
The match will also be a homecoming of sorts for Hakoah’s veteran defender Mitchell Stamatellis who returns to his former club for the first time since making the move east in the offseason.
Hakoah were unlucky in round 3 after they conceded two late goals to succumb to a 2-2 draw with Sutherland Sharks.
Gavin Rae’s men have shown glimpses of their talent and will be out to snatch their second win of the campaign.
APIA Leichhardt Tigers FC v Blacktown City FC, 4.15pm Friday at Lambert Park
The league’s two heavyweights are set to battle it out on Good Friday at Lambert Park as APIA Leichhardt Tigers go head to head with Blacktown City FC.
Both teams are set to throw plenty of haymakers in the clash as they search for a knockout blow against their fierce rival.
Arguably the form teams of the competition, APIA and Blacktown come into the match boasting plenty of fire power.
APIA, with two wins from their two matches have continued on from their drought breaking Premiership win in 2017 and appear to have only gotten stronger.
While the usual culprits of Sean Symons, Jordan Murray and Tasuku Sekiya have carried on terrorising defences, new striker George Howard has added even more to Billy McColl’s arsenal. It’s enough to give a defender nightmares.
However, if there is any team with the firepower to go toe-to-toe with the Lambert Park side it is Blacktown City.
Coming off a sensational hat trick in round 3, Charles Mendy joins a cast of Joey Gibbs, Devante Clut and Connor Evans in attack for City.
Add in the returning Danny Choi and this is a game which has the potential for plenty of goals.
Blacktown have a point to prove after APIA stole the Premiership title from their grasp in 2017.
This match is set to be a blockbuster you can not miss.
Sutherland Sharks FC v Wollongong Wolves, 6.30pm Saturday at Seymour Shaw
An incredible comeback last week saved the blushes of Sutherland Sharks but they will need much more than that if they are to get the chocolates this Easter weekend as Wollongong Wolves come to Seymour Shaw.
It has been a mixed start for Grant Lee’s Shark’s team with a win, draw and loss so far this campaign.
They were played off the park in the opening 45 minutes against Hakoah but discovered their groove in the second stanza to recover a point.
Jacob Tratt, club captain, has been in great form thus far this season and his leadership skills will need to be at their very best with the big match against rivals the Wolves.
Another player that has found his groove has been that of attacking midfielder Nick Olsen. His move from Sydney United 58 seems to have worked in his favour as he has been one of the standouts for the Sharks this year.
Wollongong on the other hand have been one of the success stories of the 2018 season after an undefeated start to the campaign.
Jacob Timpano’s side is bristling with talent on all three lines including former Central Coast Mariners captain Nick Montgomery, Japanese imports Takuya Nozawa and Yuzo Tashiro as well as veteran shot stopper Justin Pasfield.
Throw in the ever reliable Peter Simonoski who came off the bench last week to score the winner and you have a pretty decent attacking line-up down South.
While the club has previously struggled away from their WIN Stadium home ground, last week’s victory against Sydney FC demonstrated that might not be the case this year.
It is sure to be a tough clash between these Southern rivals with more than just three competition points on the line.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC v Rockdale City Suns FC, 7pm Saturday at Bonnyrigg Sports Club
Bonnyrigg White Eagles will be determined to get their season back on track with a win against Rockdale City Suns on Saturday night.
Brian Brown’s squad was embarrassed 4-0 by Blacktown City last week and are in need of a morale boosting victory.
A return home to Bonnyrigg Sports Club could be the perfect tonic for the White Eagles.
Jewook Woo has been a shining light for Bonnyrigg as their best performer so far this season and he will be expected to continue his impressive performances.
Although he had an off game last round, David Bradasevic has been in good touch for new club Bonnyrigg and the chance to get one against former side Rockdale is sure to spur him on.
This will be a must win match for the home team as they hope to secure its first victory for 2018.
For the Suns, Saturday nights clash will also be a chance to return to winning ways.
Despite a win in the opening round, Paul Reid’s side have yet to truly find their groove and it was evident in a 3-2 loss to Sydney United 58 in Round 3.
Alec Urosevski and Jordan Figon offer the Suns plenty of attacking options while midfielders Harris Gaitatzis and Blake Ricciuto are the engines which power the team. A red card to Alex Canak will mean he will miss this Easter weekend clash and potentially a couple of others pending on the severity of his suspension.
While it is still early days both sides will be desperate to keep on track for finals football with victory on Saturday.
Marconi Stallions FC v Manly United FC, 7pm Saturday at Marconi Stadium
Marconi Stallions have had a great start to the 2018 season and will be focused on taking three points when they host reigning National Premier Leagues NSW Champions Manly United.
Yet to win a game in the 2918 season, Manly will be out to give the Stallions a tough contest to break that losing streak.
Marconi remain undefeated this season and are well rested after last week’s washout.
The Stallions will welcome back key attacking player Sean Rooney who missed the club’s second round clash after falling victim to a heavy clash against Sydney United FC in the opening week of the season.
Rooney will be eager to get back out on the pitch and help his team walk away with the three points.
For Manly the game couldn’t be any more important. A loss here would be the fourth straight for Paul Dee’s side.
The clash will also be the final of four away games to start the season for the side from the Northern Beaches and they will have to do so without attacking talent Scott Balderson who is again ruled out from injury after succumbing to a hamstring strain.
Marconi and Manly are two fierce competitors who no doubt will be up for a great night of football.
Sydney United 58 v Sydney FC, 7.30pm Saturday at Sydney United Sports Centre
Sydney United 58 ended a tumultuous opening to the season with a high scoring win last week and will be out to make it two from two when they host Sydney FC on Saturday night.
Jason Culina secured his first victory as United 58 coach in the win against Rockdale City Suns with the three points hopefully the building block for much more to come from the Edensor Park outfit.
Chris Payne and Matt Sim were the danger men once again for the Reds but a solid contribution from star man and stand-in captain Panny Nikas also stood out in the performance with the trio sure to be the ones to watch against the Young Sky Blues.
Defence is one area Culina will have concerns coming up against the pacy attack of Sydney FC however the Reds did give Tom Manos the number 1 jersey last weekend and did his bit to keep his spot in the side moving forward.
Rob Stanton’s youthful side has gone off the boil the past two weeks despite a round one victory.
Last week they looked on track for a draw against Wollongong Wolves before conceding in the 86th minute.
Sam McIllhatton was a stand out performer for the second straight week with the midfielder quickly becoming the key cog in Sydney FC’s line-up
The Young Sky Blue’s skipper will once again be out to pull the strings in midfield and take advantage of a porous United 58 defence.
Despite a much improved display last week, United 58 have looked susceptible this season and with a good performance Sydney FC could come away with an upset.