It’s week eight in the National Premier Leagues NSW men’s competition, and the battle for the Premiership is heating up.

Rockdale Ilinden is back in top spot for the first time since week two, but Manly United and Sydney United 58 are in close pursuit.

This week’s matches get underway with four games on Saturday night, starting with Northbridge Bulls hosting Manly United and Sutherland Sharks at home against Rockdale.

Later on Saturday, Marconi and Sydney Olympic go head to head at Marconi Stadium while Mt Druitt Town Rangers and Sydney United 58 face off at Popondetta Park.

On Sunday afternoon, it’s Wollongong Wolves v Blacktown City, and in the final match of the round, APIA Leichhardt heads to Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre to play Sydney FC.

Remember, NPL.TV has live streams and replays of every National Premier Leagues NSW match, so there is no reason to miss any competition action.

 

Northbridge Bulls v Manly United FC, 3 pm Saturday at Sydney United Sports Centre

Northbridge Bulls will be looking to return to the winner’s circle when they host Manly United at Sydney United Sports Centre this Sunday.

The Bulls need the competition points to move back into the top five after dropping to seventh following last week’s loss against Marconi.

A dominant win against Sydney United 58 in round six sent shockwaves around the competition and was signs of what the Mile Sterjovski coached side is capable of on their day.

Northbridge has been able to share the goalscoring around this season, with eight different players finding the back of the net and four scoring two or more goals.

Rory Jordan is the Bulls leading scorer this season and has been a handful for opposition defences.

Moudi Najjar is another player who has been in top form and will be looking to carry that on against Manly.

Manly United come into this match on the back of their first defeat of the season as they went down 2-0 to Sydney Olympic.

It was the Northern Beaches side’s first slip up of the campaign, but coach Adam Griffiths will be confident his side will be back to business and keep the pressure on the Rockdale and Sydney United in the premiership race.

Experienced striker Richie Cardozo has been a strong veteran presence for Manly this season, and his ability to both score and create opportunities remains invaluable.

Manly will be favourites for the match, but Northbridge is more than capable of pulling off an upset.

 

Sutherland Sharks FC v Rockdale Ilinden FC, 3.30 pm Saturday at Seymour Shaw Park

A return home to Seymour Shaw Park could be the perfect formula for Sutherland Sharks as they host competition leaders Rockdale Ilinden this Saturday.

It could prove to be a chance for Nick Dimovski’s side to get back to basics and hopefully end their run of games without a win.

A dramatic 2-2 draw against Sydney FC last week helped the Sharks avoid suffering their third straight defeat with James Andrew scoring an incredible injury-time equaliser.

It was Andrew’s second goal of the game, and continues his impressive run of form.

Chris McStay has been a brilliant signing for Sutherland and is a true general in the middle of the park.

They will be up against a Rockdale team that is back on top of the table and will be determined to stay there.

A 1-0 win against Northbridge Bulls, courtesy of an Alec Urosevski penalty late in the contest, was a valuable three points for the reigning Premiers in their endeavour to defend their title.

Urosevski and the entire Rockdale attack were stifled by a desperate Northbridge defence last week, but the veteran striker could still find his way onto the scoresheet.

It is this game-changing ability that makes Urosevski such an important member of the team.

Tomoki Wada will be the man creating the midfield chances for the Steven Zoric coached side, and the Japanese maestro will be a tough man to contain.

Matches between these two sides are always exciting, and this one will be no different.

 

Marconi Stallions v Sydney Olympic, 6 pm Saturday at Marconi Stadium

Marconi Stallions will be looking to turn their fortunes around on Saturday night when they host Sydney Olympic at Marconi Stadium.

The Stallions have only won once this campaign and in dire need of three competition points if they are to remain in the playoff hunt.

A 1-1 draw against APIA last week was a frustrating result for the Peter Tsekenis coached outfit, who were reduced to ten men for the final 25 minutes after the send-off of Mark Rodic.

Connor Evans remains the key man in the midfield centre for the Stallions and will play an important role in containing Sydney United’s slick ball movement.

Mitch Mallia scored his second goal of the season against APIA and will hope it is the start of more goals to come.

They will face off against a Sydney Olympic team that will be riding high after a 2-0 win against Manly United in round 7.

The Ante Juric coached outfit are on the hunt for more victories for the 2021 campaign.

Olympic struggled to get going earlier in the campaign, but after their 2-0 win against Manly will be hoping it is the start of a quick climb up the ladder.

Jason Madonis has been rediscovering his best form in recent weeks and will be looking to add to his goal tally again this round.

Juric will hope his dynamic attackers Brendan Cholakian, Oliver Pufflet, Fabio Ferreira and Peter Kekeris can follow the lead of Madonis and improve his side’s goalscoring output.

This will be a tough contest between two sides brimming with talent. You won’t want to miss this.

 

Mt Druitt Town Rangers v Sydney United 58, 7 pm Saturday at Popondetta Park

The Mt Druitt Town Rangers tasted derby delight last round and will be out for back to back wins when they host Sydney United 58 on Saturday night.

A 1-0 win against local rivals Blacktown City helped the Rangers claim Mayoral Cup honours, and coach Stewart Montgomery will be hoping it is the start of plenty more winning results.

Jack Stewart has been a game-changer for Mt Druitt on several occasions this season, and it was his goal that snatched victory last round.

His ability to turn a game with a moment of brilliance is a true asset to the Rangers, and one opponent must consider when up against Mt Druitt.

Making the most of opportunities is something the Rangers will need to focus on against a talented side such as United 58, who won’t give their opponents many chances.

United come into this game needing a win to end a recent drop in form after taking only a point from their past two games.

Tomi Vidovic needs to find a way to get his team performing at both ends of the field and return to their earlier form, which saw them net an incredible 12 goals in four games while only conceding three.

Striker Chris Payne will be absent after receiving a red card last round, putting the pressure on Patrick Antlemi, who was subbed last week due to injury, to shoulder the goal-scoring load.

Mat Sim has had some impressive moments in recent weeks and was a real handful in the dying stages of last week’s 0-0 draw with Wollongong.

There is a lot on the line for both teams so expect this one to go down to the wire.

 

Wollongong Wolves v Blacktown City FC, 2.30 pm Sunday at Albert Butler Memorial Park

Wollongong Wolves will be desperate to move away from the bottom of the table, starting with a win against Blacktown City at Albert Butler Memorial Park this Sunday.

The Wolves have won only once this season and would have been left frustrated they didn’t add to their win tally last week against a Sydney United 58 side, which was forced to play with only ten men for nearly an hour.

Coach Luke Wilkshire’s young outfit has been lacking a winning edge, and a return home to Wollongong could be the perfect formula to rediscover their form.

Despite the difficult results, Taylor McDonald has been a leader for the Wolves and will once again be a vital part of their game plan.

They will take on a Blacktown City side desperate to bounce back after a loss.

Blacktown slumped to a 1-0 loss against Mt Druitt last week to end a run of winning results.

Coach Mark Crittenden will be determined to get his side to rediscover their winning ways as quickly as possible to remain in the playoff picture.

Suleyman Bangura and Carlos De Olivera have been two of City’s stand out players this season, with the young stars proving to be important cogs in the Blacktown machine.

Travis Major will again be the centrepiece of the Blacktown City attack, and his combination of speed, strength and finishing should create plenty of headaches for the Wolves backline.

Blacktown will be favourites for this match, but at home, Wollongong could pull off an upset.

 

Sydney FC v APIA Leichhardt FC, 6.30 pm Sunday at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre.

Sydney FC will be out to get the better of APIA Leichhardt when the two sides face off at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre this Sunday night.

The Young Sky Blues were left heartbroken as they conceded an equaliser in Injury time to settle for a 2-2 draw against Sutherland Sharks.

The result stretched their run of games without a win to four and left them only three points above APIA at the bottom of the table.

Coach Jim van Weeran will need a big performance from his side and will look to players such as Callum Talbot, Jaiden Kucharski and Jordi Swibel to lead from the front.

They take on an APIA side that has failed to get going this season with only one win so far this campaign.

New coach Paul Dee has had a few weeks to find his feet, but results are needed sooner rather than later with the side at the bottom of the table.

Paul Galimi has had some brilliant performances this season and will once again be a rock at the back for APIA alongside another top performer for the club Josh Symons.

The pressure will be on Blake Powell to find his scoring touch, with goals so far being in short supply for the Lambert Park based side.

This is a crucial game for both teams, so neither side will want to leave with anything other than the full three points.

We are seven rounds into the 2021 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition, and the battle for the Premiership is heating up.

Adam Griffiths’ Manly United took the top spot at the end of last week’s matches and are the only undefeated team left.

Sydney United 58 will be looking to regain their position leading the competition, while Rockdale and Blacktown City will also have their eye on the frontrunners.

Manly United kicks off the action this week on Friday night as they host Sydney Olympic at Cromer Park, while on Saturday Northbridge will go head to head with Rockdale Ilinden FC.

Four games will take place on Sunday starting with three 3 pm kick-offs including APIA v Marconi at Lambert Park, Blacktown v Mt Druitt at Lily Homes Stadium and Sydney United 58 v Wollongong Wolves at Sydney United Sports Centre.

Sydney FC closes out the round on Sunday night as they play host to Sutherland Sharks at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre.

Remember NPL.tv has live streams and replays of every National Premier Leagues NSW match so there is no reason to miss any of the competition action.

 

 

Manly United v Sydney Olympic, 7 PM Friday at Cromer Park

Competition leaders Manly United will be out to add to their unbeaten streak with a win against Sydney Olympic at Cromer Park this Friday.

Manly have climbed to top spot on the back of three wins from their past four games and are in good form early in the season.

Coach Adam Griffiths has his team playing quality football and they’ll be determined to prove themselves against Olympic.

Manly have cruised under the radar a bit this season but will now need to prepare for life with a target on their back as rival sides look to knock them off their perch.

Jack Fulton and Ben Gibson were the goal scorers for manly last week and Griffiths will be hoping his young team continues their form in front of goal.

Looking to stop them is a Sydney Olympic side that has struggled for consistency so far in 2021.

Coach Ante Juric will have one eye on his Sydney FC W-League side who are set to play in yet another W-League Grand Final this Sunday but will want to get on the front foot with a victory in Manly before that clash.

Back to back wins in rounds four and five were undone by a poor performance in a defeat at Mt Druitt in round six.

Olympic’s goalscoring woes have returned and despite creating brilliant chances for Jason Madonis and Yu Hasegawa, couldn’t find the back of the net against Mt Druitt.

Sitting in ninth place on six points, Olympic will need a win to stay in touch with the competition leaders if they are going to keep their premiership hopes alive.

Manly United will be tough to beat at home and will be favourites for this clash.

A thrilling match-up to kick-off round seven.

 

Northbridge Bulls v Rockdale Ilinden FC, 7 PM Saturday at Sydney United Sports Centre

Northbridge Bulls claimed the upset of the season last week and will be out for another big scalp when they host Rockdale Ilinden on Saturday night.

The Bulls sent shockwaves through the competition in round six with their incredible 5-1 upset of competition leaders Sydney United 58.

It was a landmark victory for the Mile Sterjovski coached side and could be a major turning point in their season.

Michael Ruhs was in inspired form scoring two against his former side in a whirlwind opening first 45 by the Young Bulls.

Sterjovski will be looking to recapture the energy shown by his side this week against a talented Rockdale outfit.

It all depends on who Ante Milicic will use for this Bulls squad this Friday which will mean we will see more young gun youth stars from the senior squad take part in this game.

We were treated to the Jake Hollman and Rory Jordan show last week with both boys set for big games this weekend as will big defender Theph Theph.

Rockdale returned to winning ways in Round six with a victory against APIA.

Tomoki Wada and Kyle Cimenti were on the scoresheet as the Steven Zoric coached outfit took home all three points.

It was a return to Rockdale’s defensive best with shot-stopper David Bradasevic having an easy afternoon between the sticks.

Rockdale will be cautious of a Northbridge side brimming with confidence.

Ilinden will be favourites for this match but as the Young Bulls demonstrated last round, anything is possible.

 

APIA Leichhardt FC v Marconi Stallions FC, 3 PM Sunday at Lambert Park

A struggling APIA Leichhardt will be hoping to turn their season around with a win against Marconi Stallions this Sunday in the traditional ‘Italian Derby’.

APIA went down 2-0 to Rockdale last round days after they snagged their first win of the season against Sutherland Sharks.

Hard work will be the plan from coach Paul Dee as he pushes his side to find the high energy performance required to beat a side like Marconi.

APIA is still adapting to Dee’s style of football but signs are there that the team, in its rebuilding phase, will get the engine going shortly.

Ivan Necevski once again has been one of the club’s few standouts while the club will look forward towards seeing Josh Symons return to the squad after a week lay-off due to illness.

The club is hoping this will be the game Blake Powell breaks his goal scoring drought, with Will Mutch, Matheiu Cordier and Corey Biczo hoping to service the marksman.

Harry Callahan has yet to take flight at his new club since his move from the Wollongong Wolves, this game could be a turning point for him.

Marconi comes into this match desperate for a win after being forced to settle for a draw against Wollongong last round.

The Stallions have struggled to consistently deliver this season but a big 90-minute performance could be the first step towards turning their season around.

Marko Jesic netted a brace against the Wolves and has been in great scoring touch this season.

The aggression of defender Nathan Millgate will be there once more and his battle against yet another tough defender Paul Galimi in the opposing dressing room will be one to look out for.

The Speranza brothers Roberto and Giorgio have also been in decent form and will be key if the Stallions are to take anything from this game.

Don’t forget to keep your eyes on tricky attacker Anthony Frangie and his fancy footwork.

Marconi will be the favourites for this clash but APIA has plenty to play for.

This game could go either way. One you don’t want to miss.

 

Blacktown City FC v Mt Druitt Town Rangers 3 PM Sunday at Lily Homes Stadium

Derby honours go on the line as Blacktown City host local rivals Mt Druitt Town Rangers at Lily Homes Stadium this Sunday for the annual Mayoral Cup.

A win against Sutherland Sharks in round six lifted City into the top four and they will be looking to carry on their climb to the top of the ladder.

Mark Crittenden’s side have won back-to-back games and are starting to find their form.

Mario Shabow was the star against the Sharks, scoring a brace in a breakout performance.

Daniel Collins is another player to keep an eye on with the veteran defender a key piece in the Blacktown backline.

Mt Druitt will be out to cause an upset on Sunday and come into this game on the back of a solid win against Sydney Olympic.

The Rangers have struggled over the past month and their round six win was a much-needed morale boost for the Stewart Montgomery coached side.

Japanese imports Fumoto Kamada and Tsujimur Takumu are beginning to hit their straps and Kamada’s goal against Olympic is exactly what Mt Druitt fans have been waiting for.

Jack Stewart was another strong performer and his ability to break down an opposition defence will be vital for the Rangers chances against Blacktown.

Blacktown will be the favourites for this match but Mt Druitt will be up for this contest against their rivals.

 

Sydney United 58 FC v Wollongong Wolves, 3 PM Sunday at Sydney United Sports Centre

Sydney United 58 will be desperate to bounce back after their round six humiliation with victory against Wollongong Wolves on Sunday which saw the famous former NSL club slump to a second successive loss for the 2021 campaign.

United 58 suffered a 5-1 boilover to a young Northbridge Bulls side in a result nobody could’ve predicted.

Rookie NPL NSW Men’s 1 coach Tomi Vidovic will be pushing his side to respond positively against a Wolves side that has struggled.

Mat Sim showed some late enterprise to win a penalty against the Bulls in one of only a few bright moments for United 58.

More is expected from Patrick Antelmi this week after being subbed last weekend.

The Reds know what they need to do to win the respect for their vocal and passionate fans once more, many of which were left disappointed after last weekend’s display when a chorus of boos echoed out around the stadium.

The Wolves come into the game after a brilliant fightback to snatch a 2-2 draw against Marconi.

It was a great display of resilience from Wollongong who did not give up when they were 2-0 down.

Coach Luke Wilkshire will be hoping for more of the same from his side.

Stefan Dimoski played well last week and was a solid presence upfront.

Despite last week’s defeat, United 58 will be expected to win this game.

Wollongong will need another big performance but have shown they can take it to the best teams on their day.

 

Sydney FC v Sutherland Sharks FC 6.30 PM Sunday at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre

Sydney FC will be out for a return to the winners circle when they host Sutherland Sharks at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre this Sunday.

The Young Sky Blues have lost their past two games and have not tasted victory in over a month.

Coach Jim van Weeren will need to get his side hitting their straps once again and will target this match against a Sharks team that has also struggled to get results.

Goalkeeper Tom Heward-Belle was Sydney FC’s best in the defeat to Manly making several big saves to keep his team in the game.

Midfielder Jaiden Kucharski is a player who can turn a game for Sydney FC and he will be key to their chances on Sunday night.

The Sharks have suffered a similar fate to the Young Sky Blues in recent weeks with only one win from their past four matches.

Two losses last week in the space of a few days would’ve been a morale hit for the Shire based club and they will be desperate to get their season back on track.

Captain Lachlan Everett had a strong performance in the 2-0 defeat to Blacktown City, while Chris McStay has been consistently good all season.

Coach Nick Dimovski has praised the fighting spirit of his team but they will need to turn that into results if they are to stay off the bottom of the ladder.

This is a very evenly balanced match with either team a good chance of taking victory.

 

It is round six of the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition and another six blockbuster fixtures are scheduled for the Easter long weekend.

The round kicks off on Good Friday with Marconi Stallions hosting Wollongong Wolves before Manly United goes head to head with Sydney FC later that night.

Sutherland Sharks will be at home against Blacktown City on Saturday afternoon. At the same time, Sydney Olympic makes the trek to Western Sydney to face-off against Mt Druitt Town Rangers at Popondetta Park on Saturday night.

Rockdale Ilinden FC and APIA Leichhardt will go head to head on Easter Sunday, while Sydney United 58 will wrap up the weekend’s action on Monday afternoon against Northbridge Bulls. 

Remember, you can catch all the action from every NPL NSW Men’s season game live on NPL.TV.

 

Marconi Stallions FC v Wollongong Wolves, 4pm Friday at Marconi Stadium 

Back-to-back wins will be on Marconi Stallions’ agenda when they host Wollongong Wolves at Marconi Stadium on Good Friday.

The Stallions stunned league leaders Sydney United 58 last week 2-0 to notch their first win of the season and will be riding high going into this week’s clash.

After four weeks of inconsistent results, Marconi finally found their attacking groove as Anthony Frangie and Giorgio Speranza found the back of the net to end United 58’s flawless start to the campaign.

Coach Peter Tsekenis had challenged his players in the lead-up to the Round 5 match to give everything for 90 minutes which was evident in the victory.

It will be similar advice this week against the Wolves.

Anthony Frangie’s goal should be the boost the tricky forward needs to take his campaign to another level, while defender Nathan Millgate is another one delivering for Marconi.

They will be up against a Wollongong Wolves side that has struggled so far this season.

A shock 1-0 loss to Northbridge Bulls last week was another frustrating blow to what has been a topsy turvy season for the Wolves who have really missed their influential striker in the currently suspended Thomas James as well as the creative flair of their former Japanese import Takeru Okada.

Poor discipline against the Bulls proved costly for Wollongong, but not as much as the late defensive lapse, which allowed the visitors to snatch a winner in the 92nd minute.

Coach Luke Wilkshire was not happy with his side’s performance and will be pushing his players in a big way at training this week.

Shot stopper Hayden Durose was one Wollongong player who stood out and could be in for a big day against a dangerous Marconi attack.

Marconi will be the favourites at home, but can they find the consistency required to win two in a row.

An exciting contest to open the week’s fixture and one worth tuning in for.

 

Manly United FC v Sydney FC, 7pm Friday at Cromer Park

Manly United will be determined to close the gap to top spot on the ladder with a win against Sydney FC this Friday night at Cromer Park.

The boys from the Northern Beaches have gone under the radar early this season but are the only undefeated side remaining in the competition.

The Adam Griffiths coached side is in second spot after five weeks and added another win to their record with victory against APIA last round.

Dejan Pandurevic was at his attacking best with two goals in the 2-0 win at Lambert Park.

The attacker is one of Manly’s primary outlet’s in attack and is beginning to take up the mantle of chief chance creator.

Luka Kmet has stepped up this season and was unlucky not to have scored against APIA.

Sydney FC will be out to hand Manly their first defeat.

A 2-1 loss to Sydney Olympic last week was the young Sky Blues first defeat in three weeks, and coach Jim van Weeren will be encouraging his youthful squad to find their next level as the competition moves towards the middle rounds.

Strikers Jordi Swibel and Antonio Saracino will need to find their scoring touch again if Sydney is to take home all three points against Manly.

Patrick Yazbek has been in strong form this season, as has Callum Talbot.

Manly will be favourites at home, but Sydney FC should never be written off.

 

Sutherland Sharks FC v Blacktown City FC, 3.30pm Saturday at Seymour Shaw Park

Sutherland Sharks will be in a confident mood when they host Blacktown City at Seymour Shaw Park on Saturday.

The Sharks claimed a comprehensive 4-1 win against a ten-men Mt Druitt in round 5.

It was a breakout performance for striker James Andrew who scored a hat-trick in the comprehensive win.

Andrew will be going up against one of his former clubs and will be motivated to carry on his brilliant scoring form.

Jeremy Cox was another goalscorer for the Sharks, and the Blacktown defence shouldn’t underestimate his influence.

Blacktown also had a big win in round five with a 4-1 win against Rockdale Ilinden.

It was a performance that was a long time coming for City and ended a run of defeats.

Coach Mark Crittenden will be encouraging more of the same from his players this week.

Club captain Matt Lewis has been a fixture on the Blacktown team sheet for years, but his influence has yet to wane.

Travis Major added to his tally last week, while Mario Shabow had his best game of the season so far.

If Blacktown can get it together consistently, they will be a finals contender.

This game is very evenly matched and could go either way.

 

Mt Druitt Town Rangers v Sydney Olympic FC, 7pm Saturday at Popondetta Park

Mt Druitt Town Rangers will be desperate to turn their early-season struggles around when they play Sydney Olympic at Popondetta Park on Saturday.

A 4-1 loss albeit with ten-men to Sutherland Sharks was the latest blow to the Rangers season so far, with coach Stewart Montgomery searching for answers.

Mt Druitt is desperate to fight their way out of their slump and will be up for a big game against Olympic.

Suspensions will force a bit of a reshuffle this week for Montgomery, with Solomon-Johnn Monohan-Vaiika to miss this match after seeing red against the Sharks.

Composure is key for this team and if they can keep it together for 90 minutes have the talent on the pitch to collect all three points.

Looking to stop them is a Sydney Olympic side looking for its third straight victory.

The Ante Juric coached outfit seems to have found its rhythm after a slow start to the campaign.

Ben van Meurs and Jason Madonis were on the scoresheet last round, but Juric will still want to see more scoring from his big-name attacking players.

Adam Parkhouse had his best game so far this season, and the speedster will be one to watch against a Rangers defence that has leaked goals in recent weeks.

Olympic will be favourites despite being on the road; however, the Rangers won’t be giving up without a fight.

 

Rockdale Ilinden FC v APIA Leichhardt FC, 3pm Sunday at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre

A return to winning ways will be the primary goal for Rockdale Ilinden this week as they host APIA Leichhardt at Ilinden Sports Centre this Sunday.

Last week, a shock 4-1 loss to Blacktown City was a wake-up call for the reigning premiers, and coach Steven Zoric will be determined to have his team ready to bounce back.

The defence will likely be the main focus on the training paddock this week, with pressure on star backs Banri Kanaizumi, Mitchell Stamatellis and Daniel Petkovski to hold strong against a struggling APIA attack.

Alec Urosevski cannot stop scoring and will have one eye on the prize yet again as he hopes to deliver more goals and excitement in front of what should be a vocal crowd on Sunday.

APIA will be desperate for a victory in what will be a tricky opponent but wins really need to kick start their push for a finals finish.

With all its glitz and glamour after seeing major upgrades to Lambert Park, the club is hoping that victories on the pitch will settle the squad.

It has been tough going for the Inner West club who will be backing up for their second game in only a matter of days after they take on Sutherland on Wednesday night.

APIA have struggled to get it together at both ends of the paddock and will need a big turn around under new coach Paul Dee.

Blake Powell has failed to hit the ground running on his return to APIA, but a few goals for the talented striker could easily get him back on track.

Ivan Necevski has been a champion underneath the sticks and his influence too will be a big bearing on how this match will go while new recruit Harry Callahan will need to find that form he had with the Wolves to propel the club back to winning ways.

Rockdale will be big favourites in this game; however, APIA has long dominated matchups between these two sides.

It could be the perfect fixture for APIA to find their way, or it could just be the game that gets the Rockdale machine up and running again.

Either way, it is one you don’t want to miss.

 

Sydney United 58 v Northbridge Bulls FC, 4pm Monday at Sydney United Sports Centre

Sydney United 58 are looking for a big bounce-back performance when they take on Northbridge Bulls at Sydney United Sports Centre this Monday.

United 58 came tumbling down to earth after suffering a loss to local rivals Marconi in round 5, ending their flawless record to start the season.

While the Tomi Vidovic coached side remains in top spot, they will be hoping the defeat was just a blip in what has been so far building towards a very successful year at Edensor Park.

Patrick Antelmi failed to find the target for the first match this season, but he still leads the golden boot race with five goals.

Daniel Nizic in the Reds goal was kept busy against Marconi and made several really good saves to keep his side in the contest. He is beginning to make the number one shirt his own this season.

A knock to Glen Trifiro suffered in the first half of the match against Marconi will be a concern for Vidovic this week. Andrea Agamemnonos was his replacement last week and could be called on this round if the talented Trifiro is unavailable.

Northbridge were winners in round five and will be pushing for another three competition points this week.

Their incredible 1-0 victory deep in injury time courtesy of Moudi Najjar was a dramatic victory on the road for the Mile Sterjovski coached team.

Theph Theph had a breakout performance for the Bulls in that game, claiming man of the match honours, while goalkeeper Ryan Wood also delivered a big performance.

Captain Rory Jordan missed a penalty against the Wolves and will be out to bounce back in a big way in this match.

Sydney United 58 will be tough to stop at home and will be the favourite to win this one.

This game is set to be an exciting way to wrap up the round and one not to miss.

It’s round five in the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition, with another big weekend of football action ahead.

Sydney United 58 are the competition leaders going into this week’s fixtures with a flawless record of four wins from four matches.

They will be a tough team to catch this season, but there will be plenty of challengers looking to end their perfect start.

Seymour Shaw will host the first of Saturday’s two matches when Sutherland Sharks take on Mt Druitt Town Rangers, while APIA will play its first 2021 home match with new manager Paul Dee as they face Manly United.

There are four games on Sunday, with Wollongong Wolves taking on Northbridge Bulls, Blacktown at home against Rockdale Ilinden, Marconi Stallions facing off against rivals Sydney United 58 and Sydney FC close out the round at Ilinden Sports Centre with a clash against Sydney Olympic.

Remember, you can catch every game of the NPL NSW Men’s competition live on NPL.TV. 

 

Sutherland Sharks v Mt Druitt Town Rangers, 3.30 pm Saturday at Seymour Shaw Park

After an impromptu week off, Sutherland Sharks will be looking to get back to business with a win against Mount Druitt Town Rangers at Seymour Shaw Park this Saturday.

The Sharks’ had a week to rest and recover after their match against APIA was postponed due to the extreme weather experienced across Sydney during the weekend.

It could prove to be a chance for Nick Dimovski’s side to rest and reflect on what has and has not worked in their opening matches.

Chris McStay has been a brilliant signing for Sutherland and is a true general in the middle of the park.

James Andrew has yet to hit the heights truly he is capable of this season but is always a threat to find the back of the net and shouldn’t ever be overlooked.

Looking to stop Andrew, and the Sharks will be a Mt Druitt Town Rangers side full of potential but lacking consistency.

The Rangers fought back to claim a draw in heavy rain and gale-force winds against Sydney FC last week but should’ve had the win after spurning more than their fair share of chances.

Making the most of opportunities is something the Rangers will need to work on, especially against a Sharks outfit that won’t give much away.

This is set to be an exciting clash to open Round 5.

 

APIA Leichhardt FC v Manly United, 5.15 pm Saturday at Lambert Park

New APIA Leichhardt Coach Paul Dee is set for a thrilling first match at Lambert Park against his former club Manly United this Saturday.

Dee, who was named John Calleja’s replacement in Leichhardt last week, will be out to make a positive start to his tenure at the struggling powerhouse who remain slumped at the bottom of the ladder.

A rained out round 4 match gave APIA a timely extra week off to help Dee get his squad together ahead of his first match in charge.

Fans will be looking to see what side Dee names for his first match and if he makes many changes to the team which has struggled in the opening weeks which is usually the case when new managers enter the fray.

Blake Powell has yet to truly fire this campaign, and a lot is riding on the shoulders of the marquee marksman.

Manly United will be determined to spoil their old boss’ party.

They will be full of confidence after a gallant 1-1 draw against Rockdale Ilinden last round.

Dejan Pandurevic found himself on the scoresheet and will be looking to keep his scoring run going against an APIA defence that has struggled to find its way.

Manly shot-stopper Sam Benton was in inspired form against Rockdale and should be up for another big game. Having replaced Dylan Mitchell as the number one for the club, Benton continues to impress week upon week with great performances underneath the sticks.

There is plenty on the line in this match for APIA, and with Manly out to cause an upset, expect plenty of action.

 

Wollongong Wolves v Northbridge Bulls FC, 1 pm Sunday at WIN Stadium

WIN Stadium will be the scene as Wollongong Wolves go head to head with Northbridge Bulls this Sunday.

The match, which will be on the undercard, of the A-League clash between Wellington Phoenix and Macarthur Bulls, so there should be a strong local crowd on hand to cheer the Wolves to victory.

The Wolves were out of action last week, with their game postponed due to the extreme wet weather, which inundated NSW.

While Luke Wilkshire’s side struggled in their opening two games, a big 3-1 win in round three has shown there is still plenty of life in this team.

Lachlan Scott was back on the scoresheet, which should only boost the confidence of the striker.

Hamish Lamberton’s first goal of the season was another positive sign as the Wolves look to regain their groove in attack while new signing Leroy Jennings is in need of a goal to his goalscoring tally in tact for the 2021 seaason.

Their opponents are a Northbridge Bulls side still hunting for their first win of the season.

It will be their second match this week after a thrilling midweek clash against Marconi Stallions on Wednesday night.

Coach Mile Sterjovski’s young squad has shown plenty of potential so far, but the challenge has been to turn that potential into results.

Rory Jordan remains their standout option in attack, but players such as Bul Juach and Michael Ruhs give the Bulls plenty of scoring talent.

The Wolves will be tough to beat at home, but with the travelling Macarthur faithful in the stands, it could lift the Bulls to an upset win.

 

Blacktown City v Rockdale Ilinden FC, 3 pm Sunday at Lily Homes Stadium

Blacktown City will be determined to get their season back on track with a victory against Rockdale Ilinden at Lily Homes Stadium this Sunday.

City slumped to a 4-1 defeat against rivals Sydney United 58 last week, their second consecutive loss after going down 1-0 at Manly United in week three.

Coach Mark Crittenden will be determined to get his side out of their slump and rediscovering their winning ways.

Suleyman Bangura and Carlos De Olivera have been two of City’s stand out players this season, with the young stars proving to be important cogs in the Blacktown machine.

Travis Major will again be the centrepiece of the Blacktown City attack, and his combination of speed, strength and finishing should create plenty of headaches for the Rockdale backline.

Rockdale comes into this contest after a 1-1 draw with Manly United and requires three competition points to stay in touch with runaway league leaders United 58.

After two wins to start the season, Rockdale has taken only one point from their past two matches.

Alec Urosevski was stifled by a desperate Manly defence last week, but that will only make him more determined to find the back of the net this week.

Tomoki Wada will be the man creating the midfield chances for the Steven Zoric coached side, and the Japanese maestro will be a tough man to contain.

Matches between these two sides are always exciting, and this one will be no different.

 

Marconi Stallions v Sydney United 58, 5 pm Sunday at Marconi Stallion

Old rivalries will be renewed on Sunday night as Marconi Stallions go head to head with Sydney United 58 at Marconi Stadium.

The Stallions have yet to find their groove this season, but all form goes out the window when these two sides face-off.

It will be Marconi’s second game this week after their midweek clash against Northbridge Bulls.

Coach Peter Tsekenis would’ve been happy with his side’s attacking output in their game against Rockdale in round three. However, he would’ve been less impressed with how his defence performed in the 3-3 draw.

Connor Evans remains the key man in the midfield centre for the Stallions and will play an important role in containing Sydney United’s slick ball movement.

United come into this game on top of the table and in scintillating form.

Tomi Vidovic has his team performing at both ends of the field with an incredible 12 goals scored in four games while only conceding three.

Strike partners Chris Payne and Patrick Antelmi are scoring at will so far this campaign and are a headache for opposition defences.

Matt Sim has also been in strong form, as displayed in his brace against Blacktown last week.

There is always plenty of feeling in games between these two, and it is set to be a match you don’t want to miss.

 

Sydney FC v Sydney Olympic, 6.30 pm Sunday at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre

Sydney FC will be looking for their third win of the season when they host Sydney Olympic at Ilinden Sports Centre on Sunday night.

Since their first years in the NPL NSW competition, the Young Sky Blues have come a long way and are legitimate finals contenders this season.

Coach Jim van Weeren has moulded his youthful squad into a team capable of taking down anyone in the competition.

They will be out to take down another giant this week against Olympic, buoyed from their dogged 1-1 draw in testing conditions against Mt Druitt.

Patrick Yazbek has been in solid form this campaign and put his skills on display with a sublime lofted ball into the box to set up Callum Talbot for the equaliser last round.

Goalkeeper Levi Kaye is another player going through a purple patch of form. He made save after save against Mt Druitt despite the brutal winds and rain.

However, Sydney Olympic will be a completely different test, with the Ante Juric coached outfit desperate to make it back to back wins.

Olympic struggled to get going this season, but after a 1-0 win against APIA in round three will be hoping it is the start of a quick climb up the ladder.

While boasting plenty of attacking talent, it was central defender and captain Thomas Whiteside who has scored their only goal this campaign.

Juric will hope his dynamic attackers Brendan Cholakian, Oliver Pufflet and Jason Madonis find their scoring touch sooner rather than later.

Sydney FC has been in good form this season and will be a true test for an Olympic side struggling to get it together in the attacking third.

It will be an exciting contest to close out round five.

Week four of the National Premier Leagues NSW competition has arrived, and it set to be another big week of action in NSW’s premier state league competition.

Sydney United 58 are on top of the table going into this week’s games after leapfrogging Rockdale Ilinden in round 3.

United 58, Rockdale and Manly United are the only remaining unbeaten teams, with all three determined to keep the streak alive as long as they can. 

The matches get underway on Saturday evening as APIA Leichhardt hosts Sutherland Sharks at Lambert Park.

Mt Druitt Town Rangers are at home against Sydney FC in Saturday’s late match.

On Sunday, Rockdale Ilinden play host to Manly United. Wollongong Wolves travel to Belmore to play Sydney Olympic , Sydney United 58 will take on Blacktown City FC. While Marconi Stallions will host the Northbridge Bulls at the Palace to close out the round. with a match against Blacktown City FC.

Remember, you can catch all the action from every game, every round live-streamed on NPL.TV.

 

APIA Leichhardt v Sutherland Sharks, 5.15pm Saturday at Lambert Park

APIA Leichhardt will be desperate to turn around their poor start to the campaign when they host Sutherland Sharks at Lambert Park on Saturday.

It is APIA’s first home game of the season, and a return to the familiar surrounds of Lambert Park may be the solution to their early-season struggles.

A carnival like atmosphere has been promised by the hosts who hope their senior men’s side can put on a party for all at 5:15pm.

Two defeats and a draw from their opening three games have APIA slumped to the bottom of the ladder and cost coach John Calleja his job with the club announcing his exit earlier this week.

Injuries to Hassan Jalloh and Themba Muata-Marlow have hampered APIA, forcing big minutes from their veteran players as they attempt to fill the gaps.

One player hoping to break his barren run is the club’s 2021 signing Blake Powell.

Powell will hope he can sting the back of the net against his former club to propel his form in front of goals.

New faces Harry Calahan, Will Mutch and Mathieu Cordier will also look towards asserting their authority in stabilizing a starting role at APIA with the trio hoping to make a difference on Saturday.

Looking to heap further woe on APIA is Sutherland Sharks, who come into the game after a 2-0 loss against Sydney United 58.

The Nick Dimovski coached outfit has yet to win a game this season but has shown their potential flashes.

Chris McStay could be one of the buys of the season with the box-to-box midfielder a machine in the centre of the park.

Chris Lindsay has also been a constant presence for the Sharks; his ability to create from the left flank a headache APIA’s defence will be desperate to deal with.

With a first win of the season on the line, both teams will be fired-up for this contest. APIA will be favourites at home, but if the Sharks can show the same determined performances of previous weeks, this match could go either way.

 

Mt Druitt Town Rangers v Sydney FC, 7pm Saturday at Popondetta Park

Mt Druitt Town Rangers will be looking for a big bounce-back win this Saturday night when they host Sydney FC at Popondetta Park.

The Rangers suffered a 3-1 defeat at the hands of a resurgent Wollongong Wolves last week and will be determined to make a return to the form, which helped them to a win and a draw in their previous two games.

Coach Stewart Montgomery will be working on his team’s finishing as their struggles converting opportunities during the first half proved costly in the loss.

Now four games into the season, the expectation is starting to rise for Japanese imports Takumu Tsujimura and Fumoto Kamada. The pair has had time to adapt to the league and will need to begin contributing more regularly if the Rangers are to taste this campaign’s success.

One pleasing aspect was the return from injury of marquee player Tarek Elrich, look for the former Socceroo to give Montgomery’s men that extra lift on Saturday.

They take on a Sydney FC team that has won two of its first three games and is brimming with confidence.

Last week, another strong display helped the Young Sky Blues to a 3-2 win against Northbridge Bulls.

Jaiden Kucharski had another good game and will again be a key contributor as will the talented Patrick Yazbek.

Like their rivals the Bulls, the young Sky Blues outfit will also feature a few senior A-League young guns so if the likes of Jordi Swibel, Harry van der Saag, Callum Talbot and keeper Tom Heward-Belle play, this game will certainly lift a gear.

Mt Druitt will be favourites at home but don’t be surprised if Sydney FC comes away with all three points.

 

Rockdale Ilinden FC v Manly United, 3pm Sunday at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre

A return to winning ways will be on the agenda for Rockdale Ilinden as they host Manly United at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre on Sunday.

A draw against Marconi Stallions ensured the Steven Zoric coached side remained undefeated to start the season.

After keeping a clean sheet in their first two games, Rockdale shipped three goals against a potent Marconi attack.

Captain Daniel Petkovski and Banri Kanaizumi will be pushing the defence to step up this round and claim another clean sheet.

Alec Urosevski has been in sublime form and will again be one to watch out for at Rockdale.

They play a Manly team coming off their opening win of the season against a solid Blacktown City outfit.

Daniel Fabrizio was a breakout performer for the boys from the Northern Beaches and will be one to watch in his contest.

Manly remain undefeated and will not go down without a fight.

This game is set to be a blockbuster.

 

Sydney Olympic v Wollongong Wolves, 4pm Sunday at Belmore Sports Ground

Back-to-back wins will be on the Sydney Olympic agenda as they play host to Wollongong Wolves this Sunday at Belmore Sports Ground.

Olympic claimed their first victory of the season with a narrow 1-0 victory against local rivals APIA Leichhardt with captain Tom Whiteside nodding home to collect all three points.

The win was a major relief for the Ante Juric coached side, who had slumped to back-to-back defeats in it’s opening two matches.

While they only scored one goal against APIA, Olympic’s attack was much improved, with Oliver Puflett a standout in what was a relentless performance from the home side.

It is good signs ahead of this week’s match with the combination between Puflett, Jason Madonis and Brendon Cholakian imperative to Olympic’s success.

Juric could have a few selection decisions to make again this week after Hagi Gligor and Adam Parkhouse sat out the APIA match, while Chris Parsons kept a clean sheet in his debut covering for the injured Nick Sorras.

Wollongong also comes into this game on the back of their first win of the season.

The Luke Wilkshire coached side nabbed a 3-1 victory against Mt Druitt after a flurry of second-half goals.

It was a brilliant return to form for the Wolves, who had struggled to find their groove in the opening matches.

Lachlan Scott’s big performance upfront was the catalyst to the second-half blitz, and WIlkshire will be relying on him to lead from the front again this round.

Leroy Jennings is starting to find his feet at his new club, which is a good sign for Wollongong moving forward.

With their first three-pointers in the bag, these competition heavyweights will feel free to play their own games when they go head to head on Sunday.

Olympic will be favourites at home but write off Wollongong at your own peril.

 

Sydney United 58 v Blacktown City FC, 4pm Sunday at Sydney United Sports Centre

Sydney United 58 will be looking to get one over rivals Blacktown City this Sunday when the two sides face off at Sydney United Sports Centre.

United 58 will be pushing for four wins from their opening four games and further cement their spot at the top of the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition ladder.

A brilliant brace from Patrick Antelmi eased United 58 to a 2-0 win on the road against Sutherland Sharks in round three.

The striker has started this season in incredible fashion scoring four goals to be equal top of the golden boot standings.

His strike partner Chris Payne is right up there as well, with three goals going to show how prolific this Sydney United attack has been.

Coach Tomi Vidovic will be looking for more of the same this week against a traditionally stout Blacktown City defence.

Jordan Roberts has been a key part of the attack with his supply from the flank, something to watch out for this week.

Blacktown City comes into this game on the back of a disappointing defeat at Manly United last Friday.

The 1-0 loss was a frustrating result for City, who was forced to play nearly the entire second half without Jak O’Brien, who received his marching orders after receiving a red card.

Coach Mark Crittenden would’ve been impressed with Carlos de Oliveria and Suleyman Bangura’s performances, who were impressive during the first half.

This week will be a chance for Crittenden’s side to retool and get their gameplan back in check. Defensively this is a Blacktown team that is difficult to break down, and they will want to make it hard for the high flying United 58 attack.

Huge news coming out from Blacktown City off the park was the appointment of one of Australia’s most recognisable and respected sports personalities in former NBL Basketball legendary coach Bob Turner as part of the club’s new restructure – a massive coup for not just the club but the league itself.

These two teams have developed a fierce rivalry over the past decade after huge matches in the FFA Cup and Finals games.

United 58 will be favourites but don’t expect anything short of a huge Blacktown performance. This one could go down to the wire.

Marconi Stallions v Northbridge Bulls FC, 5pm Sunday at Marconi Stadium

A maiden win for the season will be on Northbridge Bulls’ agenda as they take on Marconi Stallions at Marconi Stadium on Sunday to close out the round.

The Bulls nearly pulled off a second-half fightback last week as they fell to a 3-2 loss against Sydney FC.

While the results haven’t been exactly what coach Mile Sterjovski would’ve hoped for, his Bulls side has delivered several impressive performances across their opening three matches.

Rory Jordan was back amongst the scorers in round 3 after a brilliant display which could’ve easily featured three or four goals from the former Western Sydney Wanderers dynamo.

If the young attacker adds a clinical edge to his game, he will be a handful for opposition defences.

It will also depend on which current Bulls A-League first team players will come down to assist with club’s push for victory. With talented players such as Liam Rose, Moudi Najjar, Jake Hollman, Michael Ruhs and former Stallions stars Lachlan Sepping and Yianni Nicolaou all possibilities for this match-up.

Looking to stop the Bulls push for their first three-pointer is Marconi Stallions, who are also yet to win a game this season.

The Peter Tsekenis coached side were moments away from getting the job done against Rockdale last week before conceding an equaliser in the 90th minute.

While it was a bittersweet result for the Stallions, they showed signs of their incredible potential.

A key aspect to Marconi’s performance was their attacking stars Mitch Mallia, Anthony Frangie and captain Marko Jesic all finding the back of the net.

When these three are firing on all cylinders, then Marconi will be hard to stop.

Emmanuel Peters also had a promising debut and will be one to watch as he tackles his former teammates.

This game is set to be an exciting clash and a great game to close the NPL NSW round 4.