The penultimate round of the NPL Men’s NSW competition promises to be highly significant, with the relegation battle growing ever more intense.
Sutherland Sharks FC vs St George City FA
4:30pm, Saturday 17 August, Seymour Shaw
Sutherland Sharks will open Round 29 with a crunch clash against St George City FA, with a win necessary in the context of the home side’s season.
Sutherland is currently only out of the bottom two on goal difference, level on points with Sydney FC and two points ahead of Hills United.
If they can’t earn a point or more here, and other results don’t go their way, Sutherland could find themselves on the bottom of the ladder, in the automatic relegation spot heading into the final round.
However, they won’t have it easy going against St George City FA, who with a victory at Seymour Shaw would secure their place in the NPL Men’s NSW finals series.
This is set to be a massive Saturday afternoon clash, with both sides looking to fight for their seasons in a thoroughly exciting fixture.
Sydney Olympic FC vs Western Sydney Wanderers FC
5:00pm, Saturday 17 August, Netstrata Jubilee Stadium
In the second of five Saturday fixtures, Sydney Olympic will host Western Sydney Wanderers at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.
Both sides have little to play for other than pride in the last two rounds, with neither able to make finals and both safe from relegation,
However, Western Sydney Wanderers will be looking to provide a good platform for 2025 and end their campaign strongly, with their last win on the 1st of June.
With both sides playing pressure-free, there could be some exciting action at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, with these ‘meaningless’ end of season games often leading to a flurry of goals.
APIA Leichhardt FC vs Hills United FC
5:30pm, Saturday 17 August, Lambert Park
APIA Leichhardt will take on Hills United in at Lambert Park in a major match in the relegation battle.
Hills United have slipped to the bottom of the ladder in Round 28, and with Sydney FC and Sutherland Sharks two points ahead, they desperately need a win to avoid automatic relegation from the NPL Men’s NSW competition.
The likes of Yu Okubo, Anthony Frangie and brothers Dimi and Yerasimakis Petratos could be crucial on Saturday evening, with their attack aiming to flourish at Lambert Park on Saturday afternoon.
And with APIA coming off the back of a Waratah Cup Final on Wednesday night, Hills will be looking to take full advantage and secure three points that could save their season.
Marconi Stallions FC vs Blacktown City FC
7:00pm, Saturday 17 August, Marconi Stadium
In a blockbuster top four clash, Marconi Stallions will take on Blacktown City as they aim to keep their feint title hopes alive.
Marconi, while 11 points clear in second place, are currently four adrift of leaders Rockdale Ilinden.
That means, to remain with a mathematical chance of lifting the title, they have to beat Blacktown on Saturday night, before hoping that Rockdale Ilinden drop points against Sydney FC.
So with a draw or a win, Blacktown City would block Marconi’s ability to become NPL Men’s NSW Premiers, giving them plenty of motivation heading into this clash.
But it will be no easy feat, with Marconi last week extending their winning run to make as they’ve taken maximum points in nine out of their last ten matches – an astonishing run into the end of the campaign.
St George FC vs Central Coast Mariners
7:00pm, Saturday 17 August, Barton Park
Barton Park will host St George FC and the Central Coast Mariners as the away side look to secure safety from relegation on Saturday night.
The Mariners’ strong recent form has seen them go unbeaten for six games, and has featured some stunning form from Arthur De Lima, who won Central Coast their last match against Wollongong Wolves with a hat-trick.
Their recent results has taken them two points clear of the bottom two, with a stronger goal difference than both Sydney and Hills United, meaning a point in this match, while not making them mathematically safe, would likely be enough to keep them in the league for another campaign.
And a draw would be a mutually beneficial exchange with St George only one point ahead, and technically still under threat if they lose their last two matches.
However, both sides will be looking to secure safety with a statement victory, setting up an exciting, tense clash at Barton Park.
Sydney United 58 FC vs Manly United FC
3:00pm, Sunday 18 August, Sydney United Sports Centre
Sydney United 58 will be looking to secure their place in the NPL Men’s NSW finals series when taking on Manly United on Sunday afternoon.
With a win in this match, United 58 would confirm their place in the top six, with the gap to Wollongong Wolves in seventh currently four points.
Manly, meanwhile, despite being four places off the bottom two, are just three points from safety, and they’ll be fighting to make sure they don’t enter Round 30 with any relegation worries or discomfort.
Therefore, this sets up an exciting match at Sydney United Sports Centre, with both sides coming in raring to go and finish the 2024 season with a bang.
Wollongong Wolves FC vs NWS Spirit FC
3:00pm, Sunday 18 August, Albert Butler Memorial Park
Wollongong Wolves will take on NWS Spirit with the aim of a victory to keep their finals hopes alive.
After their loss to the Mariners last week, Wollongong’s spot in the top six could be gone at the end of this round, if both St George City and Sydney United 58 pick up victories.
However, with rivals United 58 playing at the same time, for Wollongong, this match requires three points to give them any chance heading into Round 30.
NWS Spirit, the only New South Wales side still in the Australia Cup, will be looking towards their Round of 16 match against Melbourne Victory, with the away side safe from relegation but unable to make finals.
They will be looking to spoil Wollongong’s season here in what looks to be another exciting fixture in Round 29.
Sydney FC vs Rockdale Ilinden FC
7:45pm, Monday 19 August, Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre
To conclude the penultimate round of the NPL Men’s NSW competition, Sydney FC will take on Rockdale Ilinden in a 1st vs 2nd last on the ladder clash.
Rockdale, even with a Marconi victory, could secure the Premiership on Monday night, with a win over the Sky Blues ensuring them first on the ladder.
However, with the Waratah Cup Final on Wednesday night, Sydney will be hopeful of capitalising on either a tired or rotated Rockdale side, particularly if the Premiership is already secured for the away team.
The Sky Blues currently need points to get out of the relegation playoff spot, and could be heading into this match bottom of the ladder if Hills United beat APIA Leichhardt.
This is an absolutely vital match in the context of their season, and a perfect way to conclude the round, with this game promising high levels of intensity, tension and exciting football all across the park.
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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)
16 – Marko Jesic (Marconi)
14 – James Temelkovski (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)
10 – Joey Gibbs (Blacktown City)
By Jack George (@JackGeorge0004)
