Round 7 Preview – NPL Men’s NSW
Round Seven of the NPL Men’s NSW competition looks to be up there with the best yet, with plenty of storylines emerging across a massive weekend of fixtures.
St George FC vs Wollongong Wolves FC
7:30pm, Friday 21 March, Barton Park
St George FC will jointly kick off the weekend when looking to become the first side to defeat Wollongong Wolves FC in the 2025 NPL Men’s NSW competition.
The home side for this match picked up a valuable point away to APIA Leichhardt last weekend, with a brace from captain Troy Danaskos securing a stunning comeback after they conceded three goals in 10 minutes to start the second half.
Those lapses in concentration will need to disappear for St George this weekend, with Wollongong Wolves ending a run of three draws in style, defeating the Western Sydney Wanderers 4-0, with Solomon Island striker Raphael Lea’i netting a brace.
Both sides come into this match in good form, and Barton Park looks set to host an electric match on Friday night.
Manly United FC vs NWS Spirit FC
7:30pm, Friday 21 March, Cromer Park
Manly United will face league leaders NWS Spirit FC in what looks to be an exhilarating clash in yet another Friday night match.
Manly has gone on a strong run in recent weeks, with their impressive 2-1 victory against St George City last weekend making it four unbeaten, having won twice and drawn twice.
However, no one’s form can be compared to Spirit’s, who, while ending their perfect record last weekend in a 1-1 draw against Sydney United 58, have won their five beforehand to sit four points clear at the top of the ladder.
It was a stoppage-time goal from Jamie Percevski that kept Spirit unbeaten in Round Six, and they will need to harness that belief and fight once more this weekend, in a 1v3 match-up between two of the NPL Men’s NSW’s most exciting sides.
Sydney Olympic FC vs Sydney FC
6:30pm, Saturday 22 March, Belmore Sports Ground
Sydney Olympic will take on Sydney FC in an exciting match at Belmore Sports Ground on Saturday evening.
Olympic have gone four games unbeaten, with their last two matches seeing them pick up impressive draws against Marconi Stallions and Blacktown City respectively.
Sydney FC, meanwhile, have struggled thus far, with their impressive Round Two win over United 58 being followed by just one point from four games.
The Sky Blues, however, have good quality in their young team, and will be looking to take the game to Olympic in a bid for their second win of the season to avoid the bottom of the ladder.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC vs St George City FA
5:00pm, Saturday 22 March, Popondetta Park
Mt Druitt will take on St George City FA at Popondetta Park in the other 5pm match on Saturday.
The home side for this match picked up their fifth point of the season last weekend, with Pedrinho netting another stunner to equalise scores in the 83rd minute.
St George City, on the other hand, have struggled in their start to the season, having lost their last three games to be on the joint-lowest points in the competition.
St George will be turning to the likes of Marc McNulty, Fumoto Kamada and Louis Khoury to get them back on track, with a win away to Mt Druitt necessary as they look for form to push themselves towards the top six.
APIA Leichhardt FC vs Western Sydney Wanderers FC
6:30pm, Saturday 22 March, Lambert Park
APIA Leichhardt will take on the Western Sydney Wanderers in another exciting Saturday fixture.
APIA has had a difficult beginning to the campaign, currently sitting in 8th place, and will be looking to pick up their third win of the season over an out-of-form Wanderers side this weekend.
However, three points won’t be easy for the home side, with the Wanderers heading into this fixture motivated to escape the bottom of the ladder, having suffered four defeats in a row.
With both sides looking to recover up the ladder, it’s set to be a game full of exciting, positive football at Lambert Park.
Rockdale Ilinden FC vs Blacktown City FC
7:00pm, Saturday 22 March, Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre
Rockdale Ilinden will take on Blacktown City as two of the biggest teams in the NPL Men’s NSW competition face off to complete Saturday’s fixtures.
Rockdale continued their storied start to the season with yet another come-from-behind win, while Blacktown City are in fine form, having not lost in four matches.
Before kick-off, there will be a minute’s silence at the Ilinden Sports Centre to reflect on the tragedy nightclub fire in Macedonia, which tragically resulted in 59 deaths and 155 injured, with the club also having a donation box at the ground.
Sydney United 58 FC vs Marconi Stallions FC
3:00pm, Sunday 23 March, Sydney United Sports Centre
To conclude Round Seven of the NPL Mne’s NSW competition, Sydney United 58 and Marconi Stallions will face off in a massive standalone Sunday match.
United 58 have struggled in the opening stages of the season, with their late concession to Spirit depriving them of what would have been their second win of the campaign in their last match.
Marconi – the reigning Champions – have had a strong start to the season, currently unbeaten with three wins and three draws to their name.
However, form can often go out the window for these kinds of fixtures, with both sides set to come into this match with intensity and fire, in what promises to be a thrilling fixture at Sydney United Sports Centre.
Sutherland Sharks FC vs Central Coast Mariners FC
4pm, Sunday 21 March, Ilinden Sports Centre
Sutherland Sharks will be looking to rediscover their form against a building Central Coast Mariners side at Ilinden Sports Centre in another Sunday fixture.
After a positive start to the season, Sutherland have now suffered three defeats on the bounce, with their last match seeing the Sharks become the latest victim of a Rockdale surge in the final few minutes.
After keeping two clean sheets in their first three games, they’ve conceded 11 goals between rounds four and six, and will need to sharpen up in defence against a Mariners side full of attacking quality.
And after making it three unbeaten with a draw against Mt Druitt Town Rangers last weekend, Central Coast will be coming looking to capitalise on Sutherland’s weak form in what will be an intriguing fixture.
