Round 11 Preview – NPL Men’s NSW

The Easter weekend is set to feature plenty of exciting NPL Men’s NSW football, with eight fixtures across Friday and Saturday containing plenty of rivalry, intrigue and excitement.  

Sydney FC vs Wollongong Wolves FC

1:30pm, Friday 18 April, Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre

Sydney FC will kick off the weekend of action early on Friday afternoon when taking on Wollongong Wolves at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre.

The Sky Blues enjoyed a crucial win over the Central Coast Mariners last weekend, with a goal from Mathias Macallister moving them up to 11th on the ladder, three points clear of the bottom two.

Wollongong, meanwhile, ended a three-match losing streak in style, prevailing 4-0 as a brace from Lachlan Scott was supplemented by goals from Nicholas Olsen and Alex Masciovecchio.

The negative for the Wolves on the weekend came as Raphael Le’ai was sent off, meaning he will be unavailable for this weekend as they look to move closer to the top six with a win in Round 11.

Manly United FC vs APIA Leichhardt FC

6:00pm, Friday 18 April, Cromer Park

Manly United will face off against APIA Leichhardt in the second and last Friday fixture, kicking off at Cromer Park at 6pm.

Both sides came into Round 10 with double-digit wins in the Australia Cup Preliminary Rounds, with Manly defeating Milton Ulladulla 11-0 and APIA thrashing Nepean FC 10-0 on Wednesday night.

On the weekend, however, the two teams experienced different results, with Manly losing 2-0 to the Wanderers and APIA scoring another five, this time against Mt Druitt Town Rangers.

This Friday evening will depict an exciting 6th vs 5th clash, as both sides look for another three points to continue to cement their spot in the top six as we near the halfway point of the campaign.

Sutherland Sharks FC vs St George City FA

4:00pm, Saturday 19 April, Seymour Shaw

In the first of six Saturday fixtures, Sutherland Sharks will host St George City FA at Seymour Shaw.

Sutherland has struggled with league results over the last few weeks, with their last victory coming against the Mariners back in Round Seven.

Last weekend, they suffered a disappointing defeat to the Wolves, and will need to rebound and re-energise ahead of this weekend, with the Sharks now just three points off the bottom two.

Opponents St George City are one of four sides below the Sharks on the ladder, currently sitting on the same points as Mt Druitt in second-bottom.

After picking up an important 1-1 draw with Sydney Olympic last weekend, St George will be longing for a victory this weekend to escape the dreaded drop zone and get their season back on track.

Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC vs Blacktown City FC

5:00pm, Saturday 19 April, Popondetta Park

Mt Druitt will take on the an in-form Blacktown City in an exciting match at Popondetta Park to continue Round 11’s fixtures.

The home side for this match has suffered a difficult couple of weeks, losing 4-0 and 5-0 to Sydney Olympic and APIA respectively in the league, and suffering defeat to St George Premier League side Arncliffe Aurora in the Australia Cup Preliminary Rounds.

Blacktown City, meanwhile, have emerged victorious in their last two league fixtures – beating UNSW FC in the Cup in between – and will come into this match with plenty of confidence as they look to push up the ladder.

Sydney Olympic FC vs NWS Spirit FC

5:00pm, Saturday 19 April, Belmore Sports Ground

Sydney Olympic FC will be looking to capitalise on NWS Spirit’s first loss of the season when taking them on at Belmore Sports Ground on Saturday evening.

Olympic picked up a point in their Round 10 fixture, with a 90th-minute goal from Teng Kuol crucial in 1-1 draw against St George City.

But the big story of last weekend was Spirit, who after nine games unbeaten at the top of the ladder, were finally usurped by Marconi Stallions, who pushed the away side for this match down into second place with a 2-1 victory.

Spirit will be looking to respond quickly with a win in this fixture to remain in touch with Marconi at the top of the ladder, but will not have it easy, taking on an Olympic side chock-full of quality from front to back.

St George FC vs Sydney United 58

7:00pm, Saturday 19 April, Barton Park

In an exciting Saturday night fixture, St George FC will host Sydney United 58 at Barton Park.

St George FC have enjoyed an exceptional start to their season, but suffered their first league loss in since Round Three last weekend as Blacktown City defeated them 3-2.

Sitting just one point off the top six, and with 5th and 6th playing each other this weekend, a win here could push them into a finals place, while taking points against Sydney United 58, a strong contender.

They will need to rebound strongly but will be facing a United 58 side who also experienced defeat in Round 10, making this an exciting match-up at Barton Park.

Marconi Stallions FC vs Central Coast Mariners FC

7:00pm, Saturday 19 April, Marconi Stadium

The new NPL Men’s NSW league leaders will host Central Coast Mariners FC at Marconi Stadium as they look to continue their sensational league form in Round 11.

Following their victory over now second-placed Spirit, Marconi are the only unbeaten side left in the competition, having made it 10 games without defeat – a sensational achievement.

They have won all of their last five games, and will come into this match as strong favourites over the Central Coast Mariners, who are currently bottom of the ladder, three points away from safety.

However, stranger things have happened in this league than last on the ladder beating first, and Marconi will have to be sure not to drop the ball in this fixture after a major victory last weekend.

Rockdale Ilinden FC vs Western Sydney Wanderers FC

7:00pm, Saturday 19 April, Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre

In a joint-conclusion to Round 11, Rockdale Ilinden will face off against Western Sydney Wanderers at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre.

Rockdale’s last match saw them emerge victorious thanks to another classic late goal, with Blake Ricciuto’s 89th-minute winner being supplemented by an Ali Auglah goal in stoppage time as the home side for this game prevailed 3-1 over Sydney United 58.

Currently sitting in third position, six points off the top, the reigning Premiers will be aiming for another victory this weekend, as they look to capitalise on any slips from the top two.

But the Wanderers will be doing everything they can to prevent that from happening, and will head to Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre with confidence, after ending a run of six straight defeats with a draw and then a win over Manly United last weekend.