Round 6 Preview – NPL Men’s NSW
Round six of the NPL Men’s NSW competition is set to be a belter, with a bumper set of fixtures to build on a thoroughly exciting start to 2024.
Sydney FC vs Western Sydney Wanderers FC
7:30pm, Friday 15 March, Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre
Sydney FC will take on Western Sydney Wanderers in an exciting Sydney derby to open the action for the weekend.
The Sky Blues netted an impressive 4-1 win over the Central Coast Mariners in round five to bounce back from two disappointing defeats in a row.
Star attacking midfielder Tiago Quintal was on the scoresheet once more to bring his total to an impressive three in five games to begin the season, while his general performances earned him a spot in the A-League squad last weekend.
The Western Sydney Wanderers, meanwhile, have made a significantly positive start to their season, placing fourth on the table, just two points off first-place with a game in hand.
Western Sydney bounced back from a 3-2 defeat to Rockdale Ilinden with a strong 4-1 win over NSW Spirit FC, which featured an imposing Nathanael Blair hattrick.
The Wanderers will be looking to make it four wins from five to open their season and emerge victorious over their bitter rivals in what is set to be an entertaining attacking encounter.
Wollongong Wolves FC vs Hills United FC
7:30pm, Friday 15 March, WIN Stadium
Wollongong Wolves will be aiming to continue their sensational start to the season when taking on Hills United at WIN Stadium.
The Wolves have enjoyed an outstanding start to the season, led by captain and talisman Lachlan Scott, and are currently second on the ladder.
They have won every game except against Marconi Stallions and St George City FA – a narrow defeat and draw respectively – including an impressive round five victory over Blacktown City.
Scott has been their key player, netting four goals across the five games and being a consistent threat through his clever flick-ons, assertive running and link-up play, and will be one to watch against Hills United.
United have had a similarly strong start to the season, picking up two wins in their first season after promotion, but will be looking to bounce back after a 3-0 defeat to Sydney United last weekend.
Sutherland Sharks FC vs Marconi Stallions FC
4:30pm, Saturday 16 March, Seymour Shaw
Marconi Stallions FC will be looking to bounce back from a late loss in the Derby d’Italia when taking on Sutherland Sharks away from home to begin Saturday’s fixtures.
The Sharks picked up their first win of the season last week at Seymour Shaw, impressively defeating Sydney Olympic to overtake them and move off the foot of the ladder.
Marconi, meanwhile, suffered their first loss of the season, thanks to a thunderous strike from APIA Leichhardt star Jordan Segreto in added time, after a good start to 2024.
They will be the favourites heading into this match, but with the momentum slightly edging, anything is possible in an exciting encounter at Seymour Shaw on Saturday afternoon.
Central Coast Mariners FC vs Manly United FC
5:00pm, Saturday 16 March, Pluim Park
The Central Coast Mariners will take on Manly United at Pluim Park as two exciting young squads go head to head in an attempt to jump up the congested table.
The Mariners have had a difficult start to 2024, with their last match against Sydney FC seeing them go down 4-1, and they’ll be looking to show their true quality against an exciting Manly United side, who held Blacktown City and Rockdale Ilinden to 1-1 draws in their last matches.
With both sides looking to build strongly into the campaign, the match at Pluim Park will be another fantastic display of some of the best young talent in New South Wales.
NWS Spirit FC vs St George City FA
5:30pm, Saturday 16 March, Christie Park
NWS Spirit FC will take on St George City FA as they continue their search for their first win of the campaign.
Despite losing just two of their opening five matches, Spirit find themselves on the foot of the NPL Men’s NSW ladder.
They will be taking on a St George City side who will be hungry to bounce back from their disappointing St George derby, in which they conceded a last-gasp equaliser, surrendering their three points in the process.
St George City will be favourites at Christie Park, but Spirit will be hungry to search for more than a draw and kickstart their 2024 campaign after a mundane first five games.
St George FC vs Sydney United 58
7:00pm, Saturday 16 March, Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre
St George FC will face Sydney United 58 in a battle of two sides riding high off previous results.
While the home team for this matchup picked up a late point against their bitter rivals, United 58 moved up the ladder with their second win of the campaign, defeating Hills United 3-0 impressively.
Shunta Nakamura could be one to watch for the away side, having scored two goals in his last two matches, but on a holistic level, this fixture is set to be one of intensity, quality and enjoyment for all neutral spectators.
Rockdale Ilinden FC vs Blacktown City FC
3:00pm, Sunday 17 March, Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre
Rockdale Ilinden will take on Blacktown City on Sunday afternoon in a highly exciting clash between two NPL Men’s NSW giants.
Rockdale have enjoyed a positive start to their campaign, currently sitting on the summit of the ladder with three wins and two draws from their first five games – they are the only unbeaten side left in the competition.
Blacktown City, on the other hand, has struggled to consolidate their sensational opening-day victory to APIA Leichhardt, with just one win in the four matches to follow.
After their 1-0 loss to Wollongong in round five, coach Mark Crittenden said his side had “to go back to the drawing board a little bit”, which alludes to some interesting changes for their clash with Rockdale.
Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre will host an exhilarating encounter, featuring some of the best talent in the league, and – possibly – a new-look Blacktown side.
APIA Leichhardt FC vs Sydney Olympic FC
4:30pm, Sunday 17 March, Leichhardt Oval
Round six of the NPL Men’s NSW competition will conclude with the famous, renowned Festival of Football that sees current Champions APIA Leichhardt take on rivals Sydney Olympic in a prominent, celebrated rivalry.
APIA bounced back from their mid-week defeat to St George City with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Marconi and will be looking for a similar derby fate this weekend after opening their campaign with three wins and two losses.
Sydney Olympic, meanwhile, have had a difficult start to the season, with their sole victory coming in the form of a 6-0 win over Sydney United.
After giving Sutherland their first victory of their season last week, Olympic will be craving for some derby delight in a match that will epitomise everything great about the NPL Men’s NSW league.
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By Jack George (@JackGeorge0004)
