Round 13 Preview – NPL Men’s NSW

After a sensational weekend of NPL Men’s NSW action that featured 28 goals across eight matches, Round 13 will be looking to match the excitement 2025 has given us so far with more attacking football and drama across the ladder. 

Manly United FC vs Marconi Stallions FC

7:30pm, Friday 2 May, Cromer Park

In one of two Friday night fixtures, Manly United will host league leaders Marconi Stallions at Cromer Park.

Manly enjoyed a sensational win in their last fixture, prevailing 5-2 over Sydney Olympic to move into the top six.

However, all attention heading into this clash is on Marconi, who after beating rivals APIA Leichhardt 2-0 last weekend, are looking unstoppable, sitting six points clear at the summit of the NPL Men’s NSW ladder.

With a sensational seven league victories in a row – nine if you include cup competitions – Marconi are very much the team to beat this weekend, and it will be Manly looking to stop them and cement their place in the finals for another week in an exciting fixture at Cromer Park.

St George FC vs Sydney FC

7:30pm, Friday 2 May, Barton Park

St George FC will take on Sydney FC at Barton Park in the other Friday night fixture.

Coming off the back of two disappointing defeats, St George impressed in their last match, drawing 2-2 with fourth-placed NWS Spirit.

However, there was still frustration in this match for the top six contenders, with St George conceding a stoppage-time equaliser to lose two crucial points, which would have put them just one off a finals position.

They will be looking to respond with a strong victory this weekend over a Sydney FC side who have found form in the league, going four unbeaten with their last match seeing them prevail 2-0 over Sutherland Sharks FC thanks to goals from Marin France and Mathias Macallister.

With both sides playing progressive, exciting football, this looks to be an intriguing game at Barton Park, with both sides – level on points – looking to push closer towards finals football in 2025.

Sutherland Sharks FC vs APIA Leichhardt FC

4:00pm, Saturday 3 May, Seymour Shaw

Sutherland Sharks will open Saturday’s NPL Men’s NSW football when taking on APIA Leichhardt at Seymour Shaw.

The Sharks have been on a barren run as of late, losing their last four matches on the bounce, with their league win coming in late March, when they beat the Central Coast Mariners 1-0.

They will need to be on top form this weekend when facing APIA, who will be keen to respond to a Derby defeat with a statement victory this weekend.

NWS Spirit FC vs Wollongong Wolves FC

5:30pm, Saturday 3 May, Christie Park

Following a storied start to the season, NWS Spirit have suffered a slip in form – something they will aim to rectify when taking on Wollongong Wolves at home on Saturday evening.

Spirit have not won in the league in five matches, and with two defeats in their last three matches, they are slipping down the ladder and are now in the top six by five points.

To kickstart an uptick in form, they will have to fend off one of the sides hungry for a finals spot, with the Wolves in seventh, just one point behind sixth-placed Manly United.

With Wollongong unbeaten in three league matches, the away side will have the momentum coming into this match – particularly with the likes of Lachlan Scott and Nicholas Olsen wreaking havoc up front, and Spirit will need to produce a strong performance to experience that winning feeling once more.

St George City FA vs Central Coast Mariners FC

7:15pm, Saturday 3 May, Penshurst Park

To conclude Saturday’s fixtures, St George City FA will host the Central Coast Mariners at Penshurst Park.

Following a tricky start to the campaign, St George have overseen an increasing in form in recent weeks, coming into Round 13 off back-to-back victories, with their last being a 1-0 win over the Western Sydney Wanderers.

They will be looking for a similar result against another A-League Men’s academy side, and will be looking to capitalise on the Mariners’ rotten run of form at the bottom of the ladder.

Having lost their last five matches in a row, the Mariners will need an exemplary performance to find a result against St George away from home this weekend, particularly as the home side looks to move closer to finals, now just four points off the top six.

Sydney United 58 FC vs Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC

3:00pm, Sunday 4 May, Sydney United Sports Centre

Sydney United 58 will be looking to bounce back from their loss against Blacktown City when taking on Mt Druitt Town Rangers at home on Sunday afternoon.

With three league wins in their last five matches, United 58 still come into this clash in strong form, particularly when pitted against their opponents, who have lost their last four matches on the bounce.

Sitting only clear of the bottom two on goal difference, Mt Druitt will be looking towards the magic of Pedrinho and Joey Gibbs to escape possible looming relegation threat, as they head into this match as underdogs with United 58 looking to push towards finals.

Western Sydney Wanderers FC vs Blacktown City FC

3:00pm, Sunday 4 May, Wanderers Football Park

A struggling Western Sydney Wanderers side will take on an in-form Blacktown City outfit in an intriguing match of football at Wanderers Football Park.

The Wanderers are currently sitting in the bottom two, with a win, a draw and three losses making up their last five matches.

On the other hand, Blacktown City are currently third on the ladder, and haven’t lost a match since Round seven, and currently on a run of four successive victories in the league.

Blacktown, therefore, have to be favourites heading into this fixture, as they look to possibly capitalise on any slip-up from Marconi at the summit of the ladder, but the Wanderers will prove a worthy opponent after pushing St George City all the way in a narrow defeat last weekend.

Rockdale Ilinden FC vs Sydney Olympic FC

3:00pm, Sunday 4 May, Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre

Reigning Premiers Rockdale Ilinden will match up against Sydney Olympic in an exhilarating clash on Sunday afternoon.

Rockdale have been in sensational form of late, winning their last three matches – the last of which a 3-1 triumph over the Mariners which included a brace from Alec Urosevski and a goal from former Olympic forward Oliver Puflett.

Puflett will be aiming to haunt his previous side this weekend as Rockdale aim to continue to remain in touch with Marocni on top of the ladder, but Olympic’s squad has the quality to battle with the best in the competition.

While coming off a 5-2 victory, a team featuring the likes of Cyrus Dehmie, Jack Armson, Teng Kuol and more cannot be discarded, and it’s set to be a sensational match at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre, chock-full of attacking football.