Round 4 Preview – NPL NSW U20 Men

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Match of the round: Marconi Stallions v Manly United, 5pm at Marconi Stadium

Marconi have only played one game in 2019 to date, and will go into their Round 4 clash keen to get their season up and running.

The Stallions were held to a goalless draw by Sydney FC last weekend, and will have a good chance to build on that performance when they take on Manly United at Marconi Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The visitors come into this one on the back of a 1-0 win over Mt Druitt Town Rangers, having beaten Sydney FC 3-2 the previous weekend.

Marconi won 2-1 when these sides met in Bossley Park in 2018. Both sides would seem similarly matched this season.

 

Saturday 30th of March 2019

Sydney FC v Wollongong Wolves, Saturday 5pm at Lambert Park

Sydney FC could only grind out a scoreless draw with Marconi last weekend, giving the Sky Blues their second point of 2019.

They will be keen to catch up with the leading pack sooner rather than later, and will welcome the opportunity to host Wollongong Wolves at Lambert Park on Saturday afternoon.

Sydney FC beat Wollongong 4-1 when these sides came together here last season, but will face a team in the ascendancy this weekend.

The Wolves overcame Sydney United 58 in Round 3 to record their second win of the year, and travel to Lambert Park in fourth place with a game in hand.

 

Sunday 31st of March 2019

Blacktown City FC v Sutherland Sharks, 1pm at Lily Homes Stadium

Blacktown City will have a chance to avenge their 2018 preliminary final defeat when they take on Sutherland Sharks at Lily Homes Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Sutherland won 2-0 when these sides met in last year’s finals, and while the Sharks had the edge in 2018, Blacktown City should be confident of building on an impressive start to the current season.

This week’s hosts sit in second place after the first three rounds, and have scored the most goals across the competition to date.

Still, Blacktown will be keen to make sure last week’s defeat to Sydney Olympic was a blip on the record, rather than a marker of something more worrying. A match against one of the competition’s best teams should be a reasonable test.

 

Rockdale City Suns v Mt Druitt Town Rangers, 2.30pm at Ilinden Sports Centre

Rockdale City Suns lead the competition after only three weeks and could yet increase their advantage, having played one game less than Blacktown City below them.

After their Round 2 match against Marconi was washed out, Rockdale came out at Ilinden Sports Centre last weekend to beat Hakoah Sydney City East 3-0.

Having won both their fixtures in 2019, Rockdale will not feel threatened by the visit of Mt Druitt Town Rangers on Sunday afternoon.

Mt Druitt are experiencing a difficult start to the season, having lost to Blacktown City and Manly United before this week’s visit to the Ilinden Sports Centre. They will struggle to fancy their chances against one of 2019’s biggest contenders.

 

Hakoah Sydney City East v Sydney Olympic, 3pm at Hensley Athletic Field

Hakoah Sydney City East have just one point from three games so far this season, a dismal record on which they will be desperate to improve.

A 3-0 defeat to Rockdale City Suns in Round 3 should have Hakoah raring to go against Sydney Olympic on Sunday afternoon.

Olympic travel to Hensley Athletic Field in impressive form, having won both of their matches in 2019 against imposing opposition: they beat Sutherland Sharks in the opening round, and followed it up with a 3-1 defeat of Blacktown City last weekend.

The score was 1-0 to Hakoah when these sides met in 2018, but Olympic look the team to beat this year.

 

Sydney United 58 v APIA Leichhardt Tigers, 3pm at Sydney United Sports Centre

Sydney United sit rock bottom of the competition at the end of March, having lost all three of their matches this year to date.

The most recent of defeat came at home to Wollongong Wolves, who managed to grind out a 2-1 win at Sydney United Sports Centre.

This week’s opponents, APIA Leichhardt Tigers, arguably give Sydney United their best chance so far to open their account in 2019.

APIA have played only one game coming into Round 4, with the squad travelling during the first two weeks of the season.

They were held to a scoreless draw against Sutherland Sharks last weekend, and could be vulnerable as they look to get a foothold in the new competition.