Round 17 Preview – NPL Men’s NSW

The NPL Men’s NSW competition continues to entertain with shocks, excitement and all-round quality football, with round 17 set to be no different.
Central Coast Mariners FC vs St George FC
8:15pm, Wednesday 29 May, Pluim Park
In a Round 14 makeup game, the Central Coast Mariners will take on St George FC in an exciting mid-week clash.
The Mariners suffered another defeat last round to keep them at the bottom of the ladder, which was made even more painful by a missed penalty from Luka Smyth, a red card and just a 1-0 scoreline haunting what could have led to some crucial points against a high-quality Sydney United 58 side.
With three points in their game in hand, the Central Coast Mariners could leapfrog both Sydney FC and the Sutherland Sharks to escape the relegation zone, but it won’t be easy against an in-form St George FC side who have lost just once in their last five matches.
It will be a six-pointer for the Mariners and if they have any hope of moving away from the relegation zone, nothing but a victory would suffice against a well drilled outfit.
Manly United FC vs Sydney FC
7:30pm, Friday 31 May, Cromer Park
To begin Round 17 of the NPL Men’s NSW competition, Manly United will host Sydney FC in another pertinent matchup at the lower end of the ladder.
Manly United have ran away from relegation contention thanks to their form in recent weeks, with the home side for this match currently in 11th, a safe nine points away from the bottom two.
Pacey winger Peter Kekeris has been key for Manly in their last five games – in which they have registered two wins, two draws and one defeat – with his trickery and electricity being matched by a strong sense of composure that has seen him net two penalties in the last five matches, including a crucial one in stoppage time to grab all three points against the Wollongong Wolves two weeks ago.
Sydney FC, as one of the bottom two sides, will be desperate to find a route out and gain some momentum, having lost all of their last five matches. The question on everyone’s mind is whether the Sky Blues will see their A-League young registered stars feature in the club’s plight to starve off relegation.
It will be a feisty, exhilarating matchup at Cromer Park – the perfect way to begin the round of exciting action.
Western Sydney Wanderers FC vs Hills United FC
3:00pm, Saturday 1 June, Wanderers Football Park
The Western Sydney Wanderers will come up against Hills United in Wanderers Football Park as they look to put a statement end to a run of poor form.
Since their second loss of the season – an emphatic 6-0 defeat to APIA Leichhardt in round 12 – the Wanderers have struggled for results, losing three, drawing one and winning just a single match in their last five games and seemed to have lost their way of late.
As a result, they’ve slipped down to third place on the ladder, four points off top spot.
They will be looking for a strong victory to re-assert their place in the Premiership challenge, and avoid slipping out of finals, but will be coming up against a resolute, tough Hills United side fresh from defeating Sydney Olympic for the second time this year.
Central Coast Mariners FC vs APIA Leichhardt
5:00pm, Saturday 1 June, Pluim Park
Following on from their mid-week clash, the Central Coast Mariners will come up against high-flying APIA Leichhardt on Saturday evening.
APIA is one of two sides to have astonishingly won all of their last five matches.
The reigning Premiers have netted 20 goals across this period, while conceding just three, and are putting together a vastly strong cause for the title.
Their mixture of strong attacking play and their dominant defence could pose too much for the Mariners, who will be searching to cause a major upset to alter both the relegation and Premiership standings.
NWS Spirit FC vs Sutherland Sharks FC
5:30pm, Saturday 1 June, Christie Park
NWS Spirit will come up against the Sutherland Sharks in an exciting fixture at Christie Park.
Spirit have picked up strong form in their last three matches, beating Wollongong Wolves and Sydney FC either side of a 2-0 defeat to APIA Leichhardt.
Sutherland Sharks have mustered just two draws in that same period, but they came against St George City FA and the Western Sydney Wanderers – two of the strongest sides in the competition – so will have plenty of positives to take into this fixture.
A win for the away side would be vital in their attempts to avoid relegation, and could also pull Spirit back into the fight, while a home team victory would provide them with some necessary space from the bottom two.
Marconi Stallions vs Rockdale Illinden
7:00pm, Saturday 1 June, Marconi Stadium
A thrilling Match of the Round will take place at Marconi Stadium as two of the best teams in the league face off in a crucial clash for the Premiership race.
Marconi Stallions are in stunning form, having won four of their last five games, but nothing can beat the perfect run of Rockdale Illinden, who have emerged victorious in all of their last five clashes.
The away side for this match currently lead the league by just one point, with Marconi four points behind in fourth.
A win for Marconi would likely see a change at the top of the ladder, and keep the Stallions well in the title race, while a Rockdale victory would leave the home side with a large gap to make up.
With attacking quality such as Brendan Cholakian, Alec Urosevski, Marko Jesic and Domenic Costanzo on show – as well as the importance of the result – this match proves to be a sensational spectacle for all fans at the ground or watching from home.
St George City FA vs Sydney Olympic FC
7:15pm, Saturday 1 June, Penshurst Park
In the final Saturday fixture, St George City FA will come up against Sydney Olympic at Penshurst Park.
St George endured a disappointing 2-0 loss to league leaders Rockdale Illinden last weekend to put a four-game unbeaten run to an end, but nevertheless remain fighting strongly for a finals position, just three points off the top six.
They will be without Dominic Cox for this match – the midfielder was red carded late on in their defeat against Rockdale – but will nevertheless have an abundance of exciting threat, with Kosta Petratos, Jason Romero, Presley Ortiz and more set to feature against Olympic.
Sydney Olympic will also be looking to bounce back after falling to a 2-1 defeat against Hills United.
This will be an important fixture in the race for the finals, and will feature plenty of intensity and quality all over the park in an exciting clash at Penshurst Park.
Blacktown City FC vs St George FC
3:00pm, Sunday 2 June, Landen Stadium
Blacktown City will play St George FC in one of two exciting Sunday 3pm matches to finish Round 17.
Blacktown will be looking to rebound after a 3-1 loss to rivals APIA Leichhardt last weekend, which saw them move seven spots off top spot in fifth position.
They will be facing the in-form St George FC, who have lost just one match of their last five, drawing one and winning the remaining three – the same record as their opponents Blacktown.
St George will be looking to Troy Danaskos to lead by example in a fixture that will require a strong defensive performance and clinical attacking play to gain a positive result, with Blacktown adding an added sense of hunger to their quality side as they rally to return to winning ways.
Wollongong Wolves FC vs Sydney United 58 FC
3:00pm, Sunday 2 June, Albert Butler Memorial Park
With some highly significant fixtures dominating Round 17, this clash could sneak under the radar in its exciting build-up, but this will be a major match in the ever-intensifying race for the top six.
Wollongong have slipped 10 points off a finals place due to their recent form, which has seen them lose four of their last five games.
However, a win against Sydney United 58, who are currently in sixth, could rejuvenate their campaign, reducing the gap to seven points and seeing them picking up some much-needed momentum in what has been a lacklustre middle third of the campaign.
On the other hand, United 58 could push the Wolves further away from their goal, and add salt to the wound that has been their recent form, making this an imperative, exciting clash in the NPL Men’s NSW competition.
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2024 Golden Boot Tally
16 – Alec Urosevski (Rockdale Illinden)
13 – Ben Gibson (APIA Leichhardt)
13 – Jak O’Brien (Blacktown City)
13 – Nathanael Blair (Western Sydney Wanderers)
10 – Luka Smyth (Central Coast Mariners)
10 – Roy O’Donovan (Sydney Olympic)
9 – Marko Jesic (Marconi Stallions)
9 – Takumi Ofuka (Wollongong Wolves)
8 – Adam Bugarija (Western Sydney Wanderers)
8 – Patrick Antelmi (Sydney United 58)
By Jack George (@JackGeorge0004)