Round 5 Preview – NPL Men’s NSW

Following a dramatic, entertaining mid-week round four, this weekend is set to provide more intrigue, exhilaration and quality across an exciting set of matches.

Sydney FC vs Central Coast Mariners FC

7:30pm, Friday 8 March, Rockdale Illinden Sports Centre

Two exciting academy sides will open round five of the NPL Men’s NSW competition when going head to head at Ilinden Sports Centre.

After a positive start to the campaign, Sydney FC regressed, suffering back-to-back defeats to both of the sides promoted from League One Men’s for this year.

The Central Coast Mariners will be the fresher of the two sides, having not featured mid-week, with their last game seeing them earn their first win of the season, prevailing 5-3 over Hills United – the team Sydney FC were defeated by on Wednesday night.

In a match that will feature a plethora of young, exciting talent, both sides will be looking for victory over their fellow academy side as they look to push up the ladder.

It is also dependant on which youngsters get dropped from the senior A-League teams which will make for an even more enjoyable fixture.

Sutherland Sharks FC vs Sydney Olympic FC 

4:30pm, Saturday 9 March, Seymour Shaw

Sutherland Sharks will host Sydney Olympic at Seymour Shaw as they search for their first win of the season.

The Sharks have had a difficult start to 2024, currently sitting on the foot of the ladder, having picked up just one point from their four matches played thus far.

Coach Steve Zoric knows his troops will be up against a team eager to gain maximum points after losing midweek.

Following on from their astonishing 6-0 victory over Sydney United with a narrow, fiery loss to Marconi Stallions, Sydney Olympic are beginning to show their true ability as they settle into the season.

One unsung hero for the club has been youngster Michael Vakis who will look towards getting amongst it on Saturday.

The away side will be considered the favourites to gain a statement victory to help them move up the ladder, but they will be facing an energetic, desperate Sutherland side looking to cause an upset and leapfrog Olympic on the ladder.

Marconi Stallions FC vs APIA Leichhardt FC

7:00pm, Saturday 9 March, Marconi Stadium

Marconi currently sit joint-top on the ladder, only second by goal difference, and are one of just three sides to remain unbeaten in their first four games.

They’ve won every game apart from a draw with Rockdale Illinden and will be a significantly tough test for APIA with their ability to play quick football off counterattacks or through, around or over the press.

One key player that will be missing from the squad will be midfield maestro Domenic Costanzo. The attacking midfielder was sent off for a reckless challenge against Olympic in midweek, with his non-presence to be tested as the Stallions hope to grab the bragging rights over their staunch rivals.

APIA, on the other hand, have had a mixed start to 2024, with impressive wins at home over the Central Coast Mariners and Manly United being sandwiched by losses to Blacktown City and St George City FA.

Blessed with a plethora of stars, APIA are expected to challenge for everything this season.

Incidentally, both those defeats came when not at Leichhardt Oval, and they will be searching for that first win of the season away from home in the most testing of circumstances.

Marconi Stadium will host a match of quality and intensity, and it’s a must-watch for any fan of exciting, tense football.

Western Sydney Wanderers vs NWS Spirit

7:00pm, Saturday 9 March, Wanderers Football Park

Western Sydney Wanderers will take on NWS Spirit at Wanderers Football Park in a game that will be full of intrigue and excitement.

The Wanderers will have the advantage on NWS Spirit in multiple ways – as well as being in significantly better form coming into this match, they also had mid-week off, giving them a full week turnaround to be fresh for this match.

While Spirit are still searching for their first win of the campaign, the Wanderers have secured two victories, only losing to Premiership contenders Rockdale Illinden by a solitary goal.

However, with just one loss of their own – and three draws – Spirit won’t be down on their chances of securing their first three points at Wanderers Football Park this weekend.

Manly United FC vs Rockdale Illinden FC

7:15pm, Saturday 9 March, Cromer Park 

Manly United will take on top-of-the-table Rockdale Illinden to conclude Saturday’s set of fixtures.

The home side played out an impressive, dramatic 1-1 draw with Blacktown City in their last match, with an 86th-minute Harry McCarthy penalty cancelled out by a 91st-minute equaliser from Reuben Awaritefe.

Bilal Belkadi has had a solid season for the hosts and his tenacity will look towards shutting down one of the meanest attacks in the league.

Their opponents Rockdale, meanwhile, secured a 4-0 win over St George FC to build on a strong opening to their campaign, which has seen them beat two strong teams in the Western Sydney Wanderers and St George City FA and draw with their fellow table toppers in the Marconi Stallions.

Brendan Cholakian has been Ilinden’s go to player so far this year.

The former Manly United ace will no doubt love to spoil Manly’s party with a solid performance and win as will former Manly coach Paul Dee.

With Manly capable of producing an upset like in mid-week, and Rockdale vying to retain their spot at the summit of the ladder, Cromer Park is set to feature a fantastic NPL Men’s NSW matchup.

Blacktown City FC vs Wollongong Wolves FC

3:00pm, Sunday 10 March, Landen Stadium

Blacktown City and Wollongong Wolves will clash in a subtly exciting fixture at Landen Stadium which sees third come up against fourth on the table.

Blacktown, whilst remaining unbeaten, have had a mixed start to the campaign compared to their standards, with wins against APIA Leichhardt and Sutherland Sharks being cancelled out by disappointing draws against St George FC and Manly United.

You can bet that coach Mark Crittenden was unhappy with his chargers on Wednesday so expect to see his side come out swinging from the get go.

Travis Major will as always give it his all as he and his fellow troops look towards consolidating a positive result at home.

Wollongong, on the other hand, have looked promising in a tough start to the season, with a narrow loss to Marconi Stallions and a draw against St George City putting them in good stead to retain their strong start of season form.

David Carney’s men have gone under the radar but do have some stars in their corner including keeper Vedran Janjetovic, defensive lynch-pin Samuel Riak and young gun Sebastian Hernandez.

Landen Stadium will host a match with the perfect mixture of intensity and quality, as Blacktown look to continue their unbeaten run and Wollongong look to spoil their hopes to move even further up the ladder.

Sydney United 58 vs Hills United FC

5:00pm, Sunday 10 March, Sydney United Sports Centre

Sydney United 58 will host Hills United FC in the penultimate match of round five in an intriguing, exciting affair.

United 58 have had a difficult start to 2024, with their round one win over the Mariners being followed on by back-to-back defeats – including a 6-0 demolishing from rivals Sydney Olympic – and a draw to NWS Spirit in their most recent game.

The loss of ace marksman Patrick Antelmi who serves his final match of his 4-game suspension has hurt United 58 with the focus falling on the shoulders of both Shunta Nakamura and Carlos De Oliveira who hope to step it up on Sunday.

They will be facing the entertainers of the league in Hills United, who have scored 10 goals and conceded 10 in just four games this campaign.

The recently promoted Hills will be looking to pull off another upset against one of the leagues most historic, storied clubs, whilst United 58 will be aiming to get their season back on track after a disappointing opening.

Caleb-Jackson Brown has been a great transfer in by coach Luke Casserly with the young gun hoping to continue his positive run at Edensor Park.

St George City FA vs St George FC

7:15pm, Sunday 10 March, Penshurst Park

Round five’s action will conclude with a nailbiting, mouthwatering affair as the two St George’s go head to head to continue a frosty, bitter rivalry many cannot wait to see.

St George City are coming off the back of an impressive 1-0 victory over reigning Champions APIA Leichhardt, and have began the season positively, with their only loss so far coming in a narrow opening day defeat to Rockdale Illinden.

Coach Mirko Jurilj will hope his big signing Jason Romero breaks his baron run of goals against one of his former clubs.

St George FC have had mixed results in their adaptation to NPL Men’s NSW football, with 3-0 and 4-0 defeats to Manly United and Rockdale Illinden respectively being separated by an impressive draw against Blacktown and a win over Sydney FC.

One part to St George FC’s match they hope to rectify is scoring goals, and they hope they can buck that trend come Sunday led by their inspirational skipper in Troy Danaskos.

Danaskos was part of the City setup a few years back but was let go by the club, something the defender will use as motivation in the big derby.

While St George City FA have to be considered the favourites, St George FC have demonstrated an ability to spoil high-quality sides – this is an attribute that will only be more pertinent in the most fierce of derbies.

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By Jack George (@JackGeorge0004)