Round 28 Preview – NPL Men’s NSW
With just three games left in the NPL Men’s NSW competition, there’s still all to play for at both ends of the ladder.
Manly United FC vs St George City FA
7:30pm, Friday 9 August, Cromer Park
Manly United and St George City FA will open the weekend in an exciting Friday night fixture at Cromer Park.
Last round, St George City finally earnt a spot in the top six after negative results for Sydney United 58 and Wollongong Wolves allowed the away side for this match to move to fifth on the ladder.
St George will be looking for a repeat of their Round 27 fixture, where a strong opening saw a goal from Jesse Photi and brace from Kosta Petratos give them a 3-0 lead inside thirty minutes, something that opponents Hills United were unable to overturn.
They will be favourites for this clash when taking on an out of form Manly United who have now suffered three defeats in a row, and St George will be looking to capitalise and remain in the top six for another week, with a loss meaning that both United 58 and Wollongong could overtake them.
Sydney Olympic FC vs St George FC
5:00pm, Saturday 10 August, Belmore Sports Ground
In the first of three Saturday matches, Sydney Olympic will come up against St George FC at Belmore Sports Ground.
With Olympic going down 1-0 to Blacktown City in their last match, they are now in a precarious position in terms of making the top six, currently five points off a finals place with just three games to go.
Therefore, this match against St George FC is an absolute must win for Olympic, who will be hoping two of St George City, United 58 and Wollongong will suffer defeat to bring them right back into contention.
However they will be facing a determined St George FC side who are currently just two points clear of a relegation playoff spot, and will be requiring points of their own to continue to stay clear of the bottom two.
Belmore Sports Ground will host an exhilarating, tense match with both sides fighting with their seasons on the line.
NWS Spirit FC vs Blacktown City FC
5:30pm, Saturday 10 August, Christie Park
NWS Spirit FC will take on Blacktown City in an intriguing fixture to continue Saturday’s NPL Men’s NSW fixtures.
Spirit picked up a strong win in their last fixture, prevailing 4-2 over Manly United thanks to goals from Jacob Chidiac, Jesse Michel, Zachary Cianci and Richard Darko.
With an out of form Western Sydney Wanderers just two points ahead, Spirit’s goal will be another win on Saturday evening to push for ninth place on the ladder but will need to back up following their Wednesday Round of 32 Australia Cup match against Glenorchy Knights.
However, any points won’t come easy when facing Blacktown City, who are fourth place and the second most in-form side in the competition.
Blacktown have only dropped points once in their last five matches – a 1-1 draw against the Central Coast Mariners – and will be looking to continue their good form as they prepare for finals.
They will come out raring to go at Christie Park in a game that will likely see high-quality, exciting attacking football to represent the freedom of both sides who have almost certainly secured their goals of avoiding relegation and making finals at this late stage of the season.
Hills United FC vs Marconi Stallions FC
7:00pm, Saturday 10 August. Landen Stadium
To conclude Saturday’s matches, Hills United will face off against Marconi Stallions FC, the most in-form side in the NPL Men’s NSW competition.
Marconi is unbeaten in nine league matches, and have won an astonishing eight times in the process, as they look to keep pressure on Rockdale Ilinden in hope of a slip at the top of the table.
Astonishingly, in their last five games, Marconi have won all by just one goal, with defensive resilience key for Peter Tsekenis’ side.
Their next challenge will be taking on a Hills United side who have all to play for, having moved to second-bottom on the ladder following their defeat to St George City in Round 27.
With a team desperate to avoid relegation coming up against the most in-form side in the league, this will be a nail-biting fixture at Landen Stadium, full of tension, physicality and – hopefully – exciting football.
Rockdale Ilinden FC vs Sutherland Sharks
3:00pm, Sunday 11 August, Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre
League leaders Rockdale Ilinden will take on relegation contenders Sutherland Sharks in a thoroughly exciting match at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre.
Following their late victory over Wollongong Wolves FC in their last round, Rockdale would all but secure the Premiership with a win in this game.
Assuming Marconi Stallions FC win, the six-point gap would be still almost impossible to penetrate, with Rockdale then needing just one point out of an available six in their last two games to emerge as Premiers.
However, they will be coming up against a Sutherland Sharks side eager to pick up any points in their bid to steer clear of the bottom two, and with Sharks looking to spoil Rockdale’s parade, this will be an exhilarating Sunday afternoon fixture.
This match will also be a big one for the hosts as they gear up for next Wednesday night’s Waratah Cup Final against APIA Leichhardt FC.
Western Sydney Wanderers vs Sydney United 58
3:00pm, Sunday 11 August, Wanderers Football Park
In an intriguing fixture, Western Sydney Wanderers will face off against Sydney United 58 at Wanderers Football Park.
Western Sydney’s winless run continued last weekend following their 5-3 defeat to APIA Leichhardt, but there were positives for the Wanderers as they took the battle to the leagues third-placed side.
With finals out of the equation, Western Sydney will be looking to end the season strongly, and moving Sydney United 58 out of a finals position would be a big statement in a possible return to winning ways.
United 58 know that three points is a must to continue their top six charge, but they’ve been struggling for form in recent weeks, picking up just one win in their last five, setting up a fascinating encounter at Wanderers Football Park.
Central Coast Mariners FC vs Wollongong Wolves FC
3:00pm, Sunday 11 August, Pluim Park
In the third of three Sunday 3pm matches, Central Coast Mariners will face off against Wollongong Wolves in yet another relegation battler vs finals contender match-up.
The Mariners crucially moved out of the bottom two with a major win over Sutherland Sharks last weekend, but still remain just a point away from possible relegation.
A victory on Sunday is vital for the Central Coast, but they will be taking on a Wollongong Wolves side fighting to keep their season alive, after slipping a point out of the top six with their loss to Rockdale last weekend.
Pluim Park will host a fiery, exciting fixture, with both sides set to come raring into this match-up.
APIA Leichhardt FC vs Sydney FC
5:30pm, Sunday 11 August, Lambert Park
To conclude Round 28, APIA Leichhardt will host Sydney FC at Lambert Park on Sunday evening.
APIA will be coming off a mid-week Australia Cup trip to face Olympic FC in Brisbane, and Sydney FC will be looking to capitalise and escape their current position at the bottom of the table.
With APIA’s finals spot confirmed, the Sky Blues will be aiming for three points that could save their season, but will be facing a resolute outfit determined to build on their Round 27 win and create some strong form ahead of the finals series.
Don’t miss a game! Subscribe to Football NSW’s YouTube Channel at www.youtube.com/footballnsw
2024 Golden Boot Tally
29 – Alec Urosevski (Rockdale Ilinden)
18 – Roy O’Donovan (Sydney Olympic)
17 – Ben Gibson (APIA)
16 – Jak O’Brien (Blacktown City)
14 – James Temelkovski (Marconi)
14 – Marko Jesic (Marconi)
13 – Nathanael Blair (WSW)
12 – Takumi Ofuka (Wollongong Wolves)
12 – Yu Okubo (Hills United)
10 – Luka Smyth (CCM)
10 – Patrick Antelmi (Sydney United 58)
10 – Kosta Petratos (St George City)
By Jack George (@JackGeorge0004)
