Round 25 Preview – NPL Men’s NSW

Another gargantuan round of the NPL Men’s NSW competition will feature eight mouthwatering fixtures, highlighted by an exhilarating top of the table clash between Marconi Stallions and NWS Spirit. 

Manly United FC vs Western Sydney Wanderers FC

7:30pm, Friday 25 July, Cromer Park

Manly United FC will open Round 25 when hosting the Western Sydney Wanderers at Cromer Park.

The home side is coming into this game with just one win in their last five, as they were defeated by Wollongong Wolves 2-0 last weekend.

Western Sydney Wanderers, meanwhile, will come into this game off the back of a necessary 2-1 victory over Sydney FC.

It was a crucial three points, but wins to the two teams around them mean they remain second-bottom on the ladder, level on points with Mt Druitt in last.

Once again, it’s a major fixture for the Wanderers, as they look to do everything they can to remain in the NPL Men’s NSW competition with just six games to go.

Sutherland Sharks FC vs Wollongong Wolves FC

4:00pm, Saturday 26 July, Seymour Shaw

Sutherland Sharks will take on Wollongong Wolves at Seymour Shaw to begin Satruday’s fixtures.

Coming in off the back of two straight defeats, Sutherland are just three points off the bottom of the ladder, in fourth-last.

While relegation hasn’t been a worry for them for much of the season, the Sharks are now in an awkward position, and will want three points this weekend to try and steer themselves clear of the scrap.

However, they won’t have it easy this weekend, taking on a Wollongong side who are four matches unbeaten.

Just three points off the top six, they have plenty to play for, and will bring the top of their game to Sutherland this weekend.

Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC vs APIA Leichhardt FC

5:00pm, Saturday 26 July, Popondetta Park

Mt Druitt Town Rangers will continue Round 25 when facing off against APIA Leichhardt on Saturday evening.

The home side for this match picked up a crucial victory over Sydney Olympic last weekend, and while they remain bottom of the ladder, they are level on points with the Wanderers and one point off the Central Coast Mariners above them.

Unbeaten for three games, they will be looking to produce another upset this weekend when taking on APIA Leichhardt, who haven’t lost since Round 18 in the league.

With a 2-2 draw against Sydney United 58 last weekend, APIA missed a chance to go just one point off the top of the ladder, but are still in touching distance, three points away from Marconi Stallions and NWS Spirit.

A win this weekend will be necessary for the Italian club, as they look to push on for the Premiership.

Sydney Olympic FC vs St George City FA

5:00pm, Saturday 26 July, Jubilee Stadium

In an exciting fixture, finals hopefuls Sydney Olympic and St George City will clash at Jubilee Stadium on Saturday evening.

Just two and three points of sixth place respectively, Olympic and St George will both deem a win absolutely necessary this weekend, as they look to continue their late charges for a finals position.

Sydney Olympic missed a big chance to take sixth spot last weekend, losing 2-1 to Mt Druitt at home, while St George City picked up a major victory over Marconi Stallions, and come into this match four games unbeaten.

With plenty of quality between the two sides – with the standout Marc McNulty, who as an astonishing eight goals in his last seven games – this promises to be another exceptional match in the NPL Men’s NSW competition.

Marconi Stallions FC vs NWS Spirit FC

7:00pm, Saturday 26 July, Marconi Stadium

To conclude Saturday’s fixtures, Marconi Stallions will host NWS Spirit in an exhilarating top-two encounter.

It’s a match that will be crucial for the Premiership, with Spirit and Marconi level on points at the top of the table, with the away side for this match ahead just on goal difference.

Spirit took the lead in the race last weekend, sensationally dispatching Rockdale Ilinden 6-3 thanks to braces from Takumi Ofuka and Yu Okubo, as well as goals from Michael Konestabo and Jordan Perez.

With Marconi losing to St George City, they gave away the top of the ladder to this weekend’s opponents, but will have the chance to take it back at their home ground on Saturday night.

With just three points between the top four sides, and a chance to inflict a loss on a direct rival while solidifying the lead in the Premiership race, it truly is all to play for at Marconi Stadium in Round 25.

Central Coast Mariners FC vs Sydney FC

3:00pm, Sunday 27 July, Pluim Park

In one of three Sunday afternoon encounters, Central Coast Mariners will take on Sydney FC at Pluim Park.

The Mariners are coming in off an astonishing five-game unbeaten run, with their last fixture seeing them defeat St George FC 4-2 courtesy of a brace from Michael Paragalli and goals from Muginga Mpota and Noah Peacock.

But despite their good form, they still remain firmly in the relegation battle, currently evading both of the bottom-two by just one point.

This weekend, they will be aiming to continue their unbeaten streak against a fellow academy side, and put distance between themselves and the relegation zone in their bid to remain in the NPL Men’s NSW competition.

Rockdale Ilinden FC vs Sydney United 58 FC

3:00pm, Sunday 27 July, Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre

Rockdale Ilinden and Sydney United 58 will go head to head in another gargantuan NPL Men’s NSW encounter at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre.

The home side for this match has fallen off the top of the table as a result of back-to-back defeats, with the latter being a 6-3 defeat to NWS Spirit.

Now three points off first, they need a win at home to return to form and remain strongly in contention for what would be a second successive Premiership.

However, they will be facing a motivated United 58 side, who need a victory of their own.

Currently in sixth spot, with Olympic two points off them and Wollongong and St George City just three, a loss would put them at major risk of losing their finals position.

After a 2-2 draw against APIA, they will come into this match with confidence, as the Waratah Cup Champions, coming off a Wednesday-night Australia Cup clash, look to keep their spot in the top-six for another week.

St George FC vs Blacktown City FC

3:00pm, Sunday 27 July, Barton Park

To jointly conclude Round 25, St George FC will host Blacktown City at Barton Park.

St George have suffered a difficult recent period of form, not winning in six matches, and losing all of their last four games.

Having fallen out of the finals race, they will be looking for a statement win this weekend over Blacktown City, who have three victories and two defeats to their name in their last five games.

Blacktown are in an unusual position on the ladder, with seven points between the team below and above them, and look to be cruising home to another season of finals.

But with six games still to play, they will be aiming to secure their spot as soon as possible, with St George the next team to defeat on their road to the top-six.