Round 12 Preview – NPL Men’s NSW
Round 12 of the NPL Men’s NSW competition is set to be a stupendously stunning weekend, featuring some major matchups and clashes.
Manly United FC vs NWS Spirit FC
7:30pm, Friday 26 April, Cromer Park
Manly United and NWS Spirit will go head-to-head at Cromer Park on Friday night in a match that will have strong permutations on the early stages of the relegation race.
The home side for this fixture picked up a vital victory last weekend, prevailing 2-1 over Sutherland Sharks to gain their first win of the season since round one.
Spirit, on the other hand, went down in their last match in a valiant performance, after going ahead against Sydney Olympic despite being a man down, and only losing thanks to a Roy O’Donovan penalty in the 88th minute.
Sitting in 11th and 12th, the sides have the exact same record results-wise and are both one point from Sutherland Sharks in 15th.
A win for either side will be vital in extending away from the relegation area, making this an exhilarating clash at Cromer Park.
Sydney FC vs Sydney United 58 FC
7:30pm, Friday 26 April, Rockdale Illinden Sports Centre
Sydney FC will come up against the high-flying Sydney United 58 on Friday night as they search for a road back into form.
The sky blues have struggled in recent weeks, with their only point from their last five matches coming in a draw against the Sutherland Sharks.
Sydney went close to gaining another draw last weekend, but an 89th-minute winner from Bari Kanaizumi allowed the Wollongong Wolves to steal all three points.
Meanwhile, United 58 have been soaring, picking up a highly impressive seven points from their last four matches, which have come against all sides between second and fifth on the ladder.
After demolishing APIA 5-1, they defeated rivals Marconi Stallions last weekend thanks to a 92nd-minute winner from Carlos De Oliveira.
Sydney FC will have to be at their absolute best to prevent United 58 from continuing their strong momentum, but the sky blues will back themselves with plenty of young talent at their disposal, making this matchup an exciting affair.
Marconi Stallions FC vs St George FC
7:00pm, Saturday 27 April, Marconi Stadium
Marconi Stallions will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing round 11 defeat when taking on an exciting St George FC side on Saturday night.
Marconi slipped into fourth place on the ladder after a late concession against United 58 last weekend, and will be looking for another three points to remain in the hunt for the title this weekend.
St George FC have gone unbeaten in their last three matches, defeating NWS Spirit and Hills United and drawing with Wollongong Wolves.
With the home side hungry for a win but the away side the underdogs in strong form, Marconi Stadium will host a match full of quality and intrigue on Saturday night.
Hills United FC vs St George City FA
7:00pm, Saturday 27 April, Landen Stadium
Hills United FC will come up against St George City FA in an exciting clash at Landen Stadium to continue round 12’s action.
Hills United have fallen into the early relegation battle after a strong start to their campaign, with just one win from their last five matches.
They will be desperate to gather points in this fixture with the side just one point off a relegation spot, but they find that no easy feat when taking on a strong St George City team.
St George City bounced back from a 6-1 defeat by Western Sydney Wanderers with a 2-0 win over the Central Coast Mariners, as they search for a route back into the top six for finals.
This fixture is set to be an exciting clash, as two sides with varying motivations both search for a highly-desired three points.
Sydney Olympic FC vs Blacktown City FC
3:00pm, Sunday 28 April, Belmore Sports Ground
In one of four Sunday 3pm clashes, Sydney Olympic will face Blacktown City at Belmore Sports Ground.
Olympic have been in strong form in their push for finals, winning four of their last five games, with their only loss coming against Rockdale Illinden by the solitary goal.
On the other hand, Blacktown City saw a five-match unbeaten run come to an end last weekend at the hands of league leaders Western Sydney Wanderers, who prevailed 3-0 thanks to a first-half blitz.
Both sides will have plenty to play for this weekend, with Olympic looking to take three points off a rival in their pursuit for the top six and Blacktown searching for redemption after last weekend’s disappointing defeat, making this highly anticipated matchup highly exciting.
Rockdale Illinden FC vs Wollongong Wolves FC
3:00pm, Sunday 28 April, Rockdale Illinden Sports Centre
Rockdale Illinden will be looking to bounce back from defeat when taking on a hungry Wollongong Wolves side this weekend.
Rockdale saw a four-match winning run in the league come to an end last weekend at the hands of APIA Leichhardt.
Brendan Cholakian in particular impressed for Illinden, and whilst not helping his side gain three points, could be vital this weekend against a Wollongong side who ended a winless run of four games last weekend.
The Wolves will be searching for another victory to propel themselves back into the top six, in what is turning out to be a heated, exhilarating race for finals already in this young stage of the campaign.
Western Sydney Wanderers FC vs APIA Leichhardt FC
3:00pm, Sunday 28 April, Wanderers Football Park
This weekend’s premier match has the potential to be the most exciting game of the season so far, as high-flying current table-toppers Western Sydney Wanderers face off against reigning Champions APIA Leichhardt.
The Wanderers extended their winning run to an astonishing eight matches, recording their astonishing 10th victory of the season in just 11 games.
They have scored the most goals in the league and conceded the least, and have utterly dominated the first 11 rounds of the NPL Men’s NSW competition.
However, they will be facing reigning Champions APIA Leichhardt, who are coming off the back of a 3-2 victory over Rockdale Illinden – the same scoreline the Wanderers suffered in their only defeat of the campaign, which came against Rockdale.
The Wanderers have earned a seven-point gap between them and second place, with APIA a point behind in third, meaning a win for the away side would reduce the deficit to five points.
A win for the Wanderers, meanwhile, would put them 11 points clear of APIA, demonstrating how much this match means for both sides.
Wanderers Football Park will host a must-watch clash for not just any NPL Men’s NSW fan, but any football fan, in a match that will demonstrate the highest quality and excitement that this competition has to offer.
Central Coast Mariners FC vs Sutherland Sharks FC
3:00pm, Sunday 28 April, Pluim Park
Central Coast Mariners and Sutherland Sharks will face off in a vital bottom-two clash on Sunday afternoon.
The Mariners will be desperate for a victory over rivals Sutherland as they search for their second victory of the season.
With the current gap between the two teams four points, a win for the Mariners would be vital in allowing them to find a route out of automatic relegation.
Sutherland could leap as high as 11th place with a victory, however, and more importantly – with three points – could escape the dreaded bottom two spots, making this match a must-win for both sides.
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By Jack George (@JackGeorge0004)
