The four-team race for the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s Premiership could be whittled down to two as Round 10 action takes place this weekend. 

The penultimate round of the regular season features two potential premiership deciders on Sunday as competition leaders Rockdale Ilinden travel to Sydney United 58, while fifth placed Sydney FC play host to second placed Wollongong Wolves.

Nothing less than a win will be an option in what is the closest premiership race in the competition’s recent history with five teams are still in the running to finish the season on top. 

The matches get underway with a triple header on Friday as Manly take on Mt Druitt at Cromer Park, Blacktown are at home against APIA Leichhardt and Marconi battles for a place in the finals against North Shore Mariners.

Finally, Sydney Olympic will take on Western Sydney Wanderers on Saturday night as they look to stay in the premiership race.

You won’t want to miss a moment of the action, with every game streamed live on NPL.TV

 

Manly United FC v Mt Druitt Town Rangers, 7.30pm Friday at Cromer Park

Manly United will be determined to claim a win in their last home game of the season when they host Mt Druitt Town Rangers at Cromer Park on Friday night.

The boys from the Northern Beaches fought back to claim a draw against Marconi last week after a sublime finish from Brendan Cholakian.

The emergence of the side’s young players such as Luca Kmet, Marley Peterson, Jordan Devries and James Georgaklis has been a bright spot in what has been a season of mixed results.

Coach Adam Griffiths will be looking for another big performance from his rising stars this week.

They will be up against a Mt Druitt side which was on the wrong side of a 5-0 demolition from Sydney FC last week.

The Franco Cosentino coached side has been a competitive outfit all season and will be looking to take maximum points from their final two games.

Rangers captain Carlos Saliadarre has been a star performer in goals all season and will be called on to lead from the back once again.

It is set to be an open contest and could go down to the wire.

 

Blacktown City v APIA Leichhardt, 7.30pm Friday at Lily Homes Stadium

Blacktown City will be out to make it back to back wins for the first time this season when they host APIA Leichhardt at Lily Homes Stadium on Friday.

It was a massive return to form from City in Round 9 as they stunned premiership hopefuls Sydney United 58 5-1.

Leroy Jennings was the star of the show for the Seven Hills based side scoring a sublime hat trick in the win.

Rhett Desilva was another player who wowed the fans after scoring a thunderous strike from range.

Both players will be ones to watch this week against a leaky APIA defence.

APIA come into the contest after a thrilling 3-2 loss to Rockdale and will be out to finish a season of struggles with a win.

Hardman Paul Galimi marked his return to the starting line-up in style with a goal last week and will be out to build on that performance against Blacktown.

Themba Muata-Marlow was another key defender who has made a recent return to the side and will be needed if APIA are to take home the win.

Both sides have had their struggles during the rebooted season, but this game will be a chance to put a positive spin on what has been a hard campaign for their players and fans alike.

 

Marconi Stallions v North Shore Mariners, 8pm Friday at Marconi Stadium

Marconi Stallion’s finals hopes go on the line as they host a gritty North Shore Mariners on Friday night at Marconi Stadium.

The Stallions are two points outside the top five and will need to win at least one of their last two matches if they are going to play in the postseason.

A draw last round against Manly was a frustrating result for the Peter Tsekenis coached side and he will be urging his players to rediscover their scoring touch.

Marko Jesic has been in fine touch upfront for Marconi but he will need support from his teammates if they are to return to their free-scoring ways.

Injuries have plagued Tsekenis’ men but they still have the likes of keeper Nenad Vekic, Anthony Costa, Connor Evans, James Andrew, Anthony Frangie, Martin Fernandez and Nathan Millgate to guide them through to a hopeful Finals Series finish.

Looking to stop them will be a Mariners team who last round held premiership contenders Sydney Olympic to a 1-1 draw.

It was a dogged performance from the Mariners highlighted by a sublime Chris Lindsay free-kick.

The Mariners will be determined to avoid the wooden spoon and will be out to make life difficult for the teams battling at the top end of the table.

Mitchell Smith will lead the team up-front and he will hope to add a couple more goals to his impressive goalscoring tally.

Marconi will be favourites at home but it won’t be easy going against a determined North Shore team.

 

Sydney Olympic v Western Sydney Wanderers, 7pm Saturday at Lambert Park

It’s crunch time for Sydney Olympic in the race for the Premiership as they host Western Sydney Wanderers at Lambert Park on Saturday night.

Olympic sits in fourth place, three points behind ladder leaders Rockdale, and will need to win both of their remaining matches to give them the best shot of finishing the regular season in first place.

A frustrating 1-1 draw against North Shore Mariners last week was a difficult result for Olympic to swallow, but they must bounce back and rediscover their attacking prowess when they take on the Wanderers.

Look to experienced strikers Fabio Ferreira and Charles Lokolingoy to lead the charge as the Ante Juric coached outfit battles to keep their Premiership hopes alive while Hagi Gligor continues to find his old self with some good performances in midfield.

Looking to stop them is a Western Sydney Outfit which has developed a penchant for challenging the competition’s best.

Central defender Tass Mourdoukoutas has held his own against the A-League’s best strikers and will be tasked with marking up against Olympic’s star frontline.

Fellow defender Mohamed Al Taay has also been solid for the Red and Black’s and he will need to be at his best to thwart out any Blues attack.

The Wanderers have some skilful attacking stars of their own in Rory Jordan, Peter Grozos and Ali Auglah.

Olympic will go into the match as favourites but the Wanderers will push them for the full 90 minutes.

 

Sydney United 58 v Rockdale Ilinden, 3pm Sunday at Sydney United Sports Centre

Sydney United Sports Centre will be host to a possible Premiership decider as Sydney United 58 go up against Rockdale Ilinden on Sunday.

United 58 led the competition before a horror 5-1 loss to Blacktown City last round which dropped them down to third on the ladder, two points behind new leaders Rockdale.

It was the first major slip-up in over month for The Reds who had previously seemed unflappable as they headed towards a premiership title.

However, last week’s major slip up means they will need to win on Sunday if they have any chance of finishing the season on top.

Patrick Antelmi continued his brilliant scoring run despite defeat last week and will again be an integral player in United 58’s chances.

Yianni Perkatis is another to keep an eye on as he pulls the strings from midfield.

For Rockdale the match is a chance to stretch their lead at the top of the competition and move one step closer to a historic title.

Their 3-2 win last week against bogey side APIA Leichhardt proved coach Steven Zoric has helped his players take their game to a new level.

Tomoki Wada has etched an important role in the centre of the park for Rockdale and will be the key player for them in this contest.

Alec Urosevski’s late winner after coming on as a substitute was another incredible showing from the talismanic striker, who for years has been the main man at Ilinden Sports Centre.

This game has so much riding on it so expect a finals-like atmosphere on the pitch.

Neither side is going to give any less than their best with a possible premiership on the line.

If you can only catch one game this week – make sure it is this one. You won’t want to miss it.

 

Sydney FC v Wollongong Wolves, 6.30pm Sunday at Ilinden Sports Centre

Premiership hopes go on the line on Sunday night as Sydney FC host Wollongong Wolves at Ilinden Sports Centre on Sunday.

Fifth placed Sydney FC are four points off the pace and must win their next two games if they are to pull off an incredible premiership run.

After a period of frustrating results, the Young Sky Blues returned to form last week with a 5-0 domination of Mt Druitt.

Thomas Fay scored a brilliant hat trick in the win, while Jordi Swibel claimed a brace.

The form of Sydney’s young strikers including current Golden Boot leader Patrick Wood is one of the side’s strengths at this crunch time of the season.

They come up against the second placed Wollongong Wolves who are n a campaign to win the premiership for the second straight year.

A hard fought 1-0 win against Western Sydney last week helped them claim a vital three points and keep the pressure on competition leaders Rockdale Ilinden.

Josh Bingham had made a slow start to his time at the Wolves, but the striker has found form when it matters most as proven by his match winning goal last week.

The pressure will be on him and Thomas James to take the match to the youthful Sydney FC defence.

With so much riding on this game neither side can afford to lose.

It is set to be a blockbuster.

It’s Round 9 in the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition and it’s crunch time in the race for the Premiership.

With only three games to play, there are still six teams in contention to finish the rebooted regular season on top making every match a potential premiership decider.

The week’s action gets underway on Friday night with Blacktown City FC hosting competition leaders Sydney United 58.

A triple header will take place on Saturday starting with Marconi Stallions at home against Manly United FC.

Saturday will also feature Sydney Olympic up against North Shore Mariners and Mt Druitt taking on Sydney FC.

Western Sydney Wanderers will travel to take on Wollonong Wolves this Sunday before Rockdale will go head to head with APIA Leichhardt in the final match of the round.

 

Blacktown City FC v Sydney United 58 FC, 7.30 pm Friday at Lily Homes Stadium.

Blacktown City will be out to prove they have turned a corner with victory against league leaders Sydney United 58 on Friday.

It has been a horror campaign for City who linger in second last place, but last week’s win against Manly has given hope they have rediscovered their magic touch.

In that match it was a pair of first half goals courtesy of captain Matt Lewis and striker Suleyman Bangura which was the difference as Blacktown made the most of their fast start to the match.

It will take a similar recipe if City are to pull off an upset this week, with early goals from the attack of Leroy Jennings, Hassan Jalloh and Charles Mendy needed to shake the usually unflappable United 58 defence.

United 58 come into this game in impressive form winning their last four matches to fly to the top of the table.

Striker Patrick Antelmi has proven unstoppable with six goals in only four games.

However, it is United 58’s dynamic midfield of Yianni Perkatis, Matt Sim and Glen Trifiro which has been the real powerhouse behind the club’s recent success.

The trio’s combination to set up Antelmi last week in the 2-1 win against Marconi is the perfect example of how easy they can dismantle a well organised defence.

United 58 will go in to this match as overwhelming favourites, but don’t write off Blacktown as they will be determined to put a spanner in the works of their rival’s premiership aspirations.

 

Marconi Stallions v Manly United FC, 4 pm Saturday at Marconi Stadium

A bounce back win will be on the agenda for Marconi Stallions when they host Manly United at Marconi Stadium on Saturday.

The Stallions went down 2-1 to rivals Sydney United 58 last week which put a big dent in their chase for the premiership.

However, The Peter Tsekenis coached side are only five points behind the ladder leaders and will believe they can win all of their remaining games to snatch an unlikely title triumph.

This game will be all about how fast Marconi can take advantage of a young Manly defence with attackers Anthony Frangie, Marko Jesic and Mitch Mallia key to their success.

Nathan Millgate has been a solid performer in the backline for Marconi in recent weeks and will provide a stable platform for the team to build off.

Their opponents are a Manly United team which has struggled for consistency as demonstrated in last week’s 2-1 defeat against a struggling Blacktown City outfit.

The boys from the Northern Beaches have shown they are capable of bringing it against the league’s best but are equally capable of conceding important goals at the worst possible occasion.

Captain Brendan Cholakian has for many years been one of the most dynamic midfield players in the competition and his recent form has only reinforced that.

He will need to lead from the front if Manly are to cause an upset along with young gun attacker Marley Peterson.

Marconi will be favourites for this clash but their own lapses in concentration this season could open the door for Manly if they are not careful.

 

Sydney Olympic v North Shore Mariners, 7 pm Saturday at Lambert Park

Nothing less than three points will be considered an acceptable result when Sydney Olympic host bottom side North Shore Mariners on Saturday night.

After leading the competition going into last round, Olympic now sits in third spot after a 1-0 defeat against Wollongong Wolves.

The pressure is on coach Ante Juric and his Olympic team to make a statement this round with a big win.

This match is a chance for the attacking trio of Fabio Ferreira, Charles Lokolingoy and Adam Parkhouse to shine.

Standing in their way is a Mariners side which has shown marked improvement as the season has progressed, but still linger at the foot of the table.

The form of Mitchell Smith has been a bright spot this campaign for the Mariners and they will rely on him to add to his goal tally this round.

This match could be a one sided affair but if the Mariners dig in and frustrate Olympic early they could be in with a shot of pulling off one of the upsets of the season.

 

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

Mt Druitt Town Rangers will be out to end Sydney FC’s finals hopes when the two sides face off this Staurday night at Popondetta Park.

The Rangers are coming off a 1-0 loss to APIA Leichhardt but a return home should be the perfect remedy as they push for a bounce back win.

Club Captain Carlos Saliadarre has been a rock for Mt Druitt in between the posts this season and the club captain will be up for another big game this week.

The possible return of John Roberts, who missed out last week, could be the difference maker for the Rangers with his dynamic play up front likely to test the inexperienced Sydney FC defence.

The Young Sky Blues have hit a few hurdles in recent matches which has seen them drop from first down to sixth on the ladder.

They remain only five points off top spot and will be pushing hard for at least a maiden finals berth.

The combination of Patrick Wood and Antonio Saracino at the top of the attack will be key if Sydney are to take all three points.

Mt Druitt has proven a tough side to beat this season and Sydney FC will need to rediscover their early season magic if they are to take all three points from this contents.

 

Wollongong Wolves v Western Sydney Wanderers, 2.30 pm Sunday at Albert Butler Memorial Park

Wollongong Wolves will be out to keep their premiership defence on track with a win against Western Sydney Wanderers on Sunday.

The Wolves knocked off last week’s ladder leaders Sydney Olympic in a hard fought 1-0 victory to keep their title hopes alive and will be determined to keep the winning run going starting with the clash against the Wanderers.

Takeru Okada has quickly become a key cog in the Wolves side with his ability to both score and assist proving invaluable.

His service to strikers Josh Bingham and Thomas James will be imperative in this match and all of Wollongong’s remaining games – James in particular will be hungry to open his goalscoring account after missing from the spot against Olympic last weekend.

Defender Nick Littler should return to the side this week after serving his suspension following his red car in Round 7.

They face off this week against an exciting Western Sydney team which has shown they are more than capable of causing an upset.

Ali Auglah scored a brace last week in a 2-1 win against North Shore Mariners and he will be one to watch this week.

Rory Jordan is another player who has earned plenty of plaudits this season and offers the Wanderers a dynamic option in attack while Dean Pelekanos has been a warrior in midfield winning aerial battles and challenges keeping his team competitive.

Wollongong is arguably the toughest road trip in the competition and the Wolves have had an incredible home record because of this.

Western Sydney have shown they don’t give up and it could be this fighting spirit which helps them snatch an unlikely victory.

 

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

Rockdale Ilinden will be determined to put their horror record against APIA Leichhardt to bed when the two sides go head to head at Ilinden Sports Centre on Sunday.

APIA has been a bogey team for Rockdale for the past few seasons, but with a possible premiership on the line the Steven Zoric coached side will be more driven than ever to take all three points.

Rockdale are second on the ladder, only one point behind league leaders Sydney United 58.

Tomoki Wada will be key to victory in this match, with the Japanese import becoming arguably the most important player in Rockdale’s line up.

The dynamic midfielder has shown the full gamut of skills in the centre of the park as well as incredible game IQ as demonstrated with his sensational goal last round as he chipped the keeper from 45 yards out after some brilliant quick thinking.

The strike force of Amaury Gauthier, Alec Urosevski and Nikola Taneski have also been in fine form as have the defensive unit of Michael Neill and Daniel Petkovski.

Looking to stop them will be an APIA side which should be full of confidence after a narrow victory last week.

It has been a difficult season for the reigning champions and with finals all but out of the picture, APIA will be focused on ending their season on a high note.

Chris Payne was a tough customer for the Rangers defence last week and will be looking to test Rockdale’s backline.

He broke the deadlock last Friday and will be hoping to extend his goalscoring run.

The club is hoping to see more of its experienced stars return with Themba Muata-Marlow looking at getting back to the pitch after an injury layoff.

APIA will use their stunning winning record against Rockdale to give themselves a mental edge but they will need more than that if they are to snatch victory on Sunday.

 

 

It’s round 8 of the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition and with only four games remaining the Premiership race is set to go down to the wire.

Sydney Olympic sits on top of the ladder going into this week’s matches, their second-week holding first place, but have only a one-point advantage ahead of Sydney United 58. 

Only three points separate first from sixth place setting up an incredible run towards the finals.

The action gets underway on Friday night with two matches as APIA Leichhardt host Mt Druitt and Manly United take on Blacktown City.

On Saturday night, competition newcomers Western Sydney Wanderers will face off against North Shore Mariners at Valentine Sports Park.

Finally three matches on Sunday will wrap up the round including Wollongong against Sydney Olympic, Sydney United 58’s clash with Marconi and finally Sydney FC going head to head with Rockdale. 

It’s another massive week of matches and you can catch all the action live on NPL.TV

 

APIA Leichhardt v Mt Druitt Town Rangers, 7 pm Friday at Lambert Park

APIA Leichhardt will be determined to claim their first win in over a month when they host Mt Druitt Town Rangers on Friday.

A 4-2 loss to Sydney Olympic in Round 7 was the fourth game in a row without a victory for the reigning champions as they remain slumped only two points ahead of last place.

Despite the defeat last weekend, there was plenty of improvement in the performance from APIA.

After weeks of toil, veteran midfielder Franco Parisi was finally rewarded with a goal against Olympic and coach John Calleja will be hoping it inspires him to bring another big performance against Mt Druitt.

APIA’s young players look up to Parisi and his leadership could be imperative to get the team performing at their best despite their morale-sapping run of poor results.

The club is hoping they can welcome a couple of its injured experienced stars as they look towards bagging their second win of the competition.

Their opponents, Mt Druitt come into the game on the back of a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Marconi Stallions and will also be looking for a return to the winner’s circle.

Jack Stewart has been in fine form this season and could be an influential player if the Rangers are to collect full points from the fixture.

Shot stopper Carlos Saliadarre is another key man for Mt Druitt and the experienced gloveman will need to be at his best to stop the likes of Sean Symons, Jeremy Cox and Chris Payne in the APIA attack.

This will be a tight match with no side standing out as favourites

APIA will be hoping the home ground advantage helps them to Victory, but if they’re not careful the Rangers are more than capable of snatching an upset.

 

Manly United v Blacktown City, 7.30 pm Friday at Cromer Park

A bounce-back win will be the only thing on the menu for Manly United when they host Blacktown City on Friday night.

Manly suffered a shock loss at the hands of North Shore Mariners last round and will be determined for nothing less than victory against competition cellar dwellers Blacktown City.

Coach Adam Griffiths will be stressing the importance of a fast start and the pressure will be on his attackers Brendan Cholakian, Dejan Pandurevic and Marley Peterson to find an early breakthrough.

Their opponents Blacktown City come into this match after claiming their first points in over a month with a dramatic late draw against Sydney FC.

It’s been a very difficult season for the Mark Crittenden coached team since the restart with Blacktown slumped at the bottom of the table

Attacker Leroy Jennings will be full of confidence after scoring a late equaliser last week and can hopefully provide the firepower his Blacktown side has been lacking so far this season.

Manly will be the favourites at home, however, Blacktown will be worthy opposition and will take any opportunity they can to snatch an upset – a club with a never say die attitude, expect club skipper Matt Lewis and co to give the young Manly United side a huge test as they look towards getting off the foot of the ladder.

 

Western Sydney Wanderers v North Shore Mariners, 7 pm Sunday at Valentine Sports Park

The newcomers to the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition on Saturday as Western Sydney Wanderers host North Shore Mariners at Valentine Sports Park.

While finals football may be out of reach for both sides, there will be no taking it easy with the Wanderers and Mariners both determined to finish the season on a high.

Western Sydney were unlucky in a 4-2 defeat to United 58 last week, but will take plenty of positives from the match including their brilliant start to the game which had their high profile opponents on the back foot.

Rory Jordan and Tass Mourdoukoutas both found the back of the net last week and will be again central to the Wanderers hopes against the Mariners.

The Mariners come into the match after a sensational 2-0 win against Manly in Round seven.

It stretched the Joe Haywood coached team’s undefeated streak to three games with the Northbridge based side showing plenty of improvement from their early-season struggles playing some organised football that has made them one tough team to beat.

Mitch Smith and Lawrence Frederick have led the scoring for the Mariners with two and three goals respectively.

The pair will need to add to their tally if North Shore make it back to back wins.

Both teams play an exciting brand of football and it is building up to be a thrilling contest between the league’s newest teams.

 

Wollongong Wolves v Sydney Olympic, 2.30 pm Sunday at Albert Butler Memorial Park

Wollongong Wolves will be determined to stay in the Premiership race with a win against Sydney Olympic at Albert Butler Memorial Park on Sunday.

Defeat last week to Rockdale meant the Wolves dropped to sixth on the ladder, four points behind Olympic at the top of the table.

Sunday’s match will give the reigning premiers a chance to cut the deficit to only one point.

Wolves coach Luke Wilkshire will be buoyed by returning striker Thomas James finding the net against Rockdale with the hope the English born marksman can rediscover his golden boot form for the run home.

They will be without defensive leader Nick Littler who was sent off in Round seven and serves his one-match suspension this week.

Standing in Wollongong’s way is a Sydney Olympic team edging closer to the peak of their powers.

A free-scoring performance in a 4-2 win against APIA Leichhardt in Round seven showed what the Ante Juric team is capable of when the make the most of their chances.

Attacking stars Charles Lokolingoy and Adam Parkhouse both scored a brace against APIA and are in incredible touch heading into the final weeks of the regular season.

Without Littler, Wollongong will have an almighty task ahead of them if they are to stop Olympic’s star-studded front three.

However, Wolves have plenty of big-name talent of their own and with the home ground advantage will be ready for a fight, but beware, Olympic have been on fire in 2020.

 

Sydney United 58 v Marconi Stallions, 3 pm Sunday at Sydney United Sports Centre

A historic rivalry will be renewed on Sunday as Sydney United 58 takes on Marconi Stallions at Sydney United Sports Centre.

However, much more than just bragging rights will be on the line with both United 58 and the Stallions in a tight battle for the premiership with only four games remaining in the regular season.

United 58 have found their stride in recent weeks and, after a 4-2 win against Western Sydney Wanderers last round, are only one point behind ladder leaders Sydney Olympic.

The incredible form of The Red’s veteran stars is sure to scare opposition sides while Patrick Antelmi is scoring for fun since his return to the squad after his stint with A-League outfit Western United.

In only his third game as United 58 coach, Anthony Crea will be determined to keep his side firing on all cylinders over the final few weeks of the shortened reboot season and for the finals.

Looking to stop United 58’s momentum will be the fourth-placed Marconi Stallions who are determined to close the three-point gap between them and first place on the ladder.

Marconi is blessed with a deep squad in all positions, with their big-name stars also in fine fettle.

Martin Fernandez has become one of the most dangerous game-breakers in the NPL NSW Men’s competition with his ability to change a match in an instant with a moment of magic.

On equal standing is veteran Mitch Mallia who put in one of the most complete attacking performances in the first half of Marconi’s round six match.

With so much firepower on each side of the pitch, this match is sure to be an absolute blockbuster and one not to miss.

 

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

Sydney FC will be determined to keep their Premiership challenge alive when they take on Rockdale Ilinden on Sunday.

A loss and a draw in their last two matches have meant the one-time competition leading Young Sky Blues are now in fifth place, three points behind Sydney Olympic at the top of the table.

Sydney coach Jim van Weeran faces an almighty task to help his youthful side discover a second wind through the final four games of the campaign.

One player who will be central to Sydney FC is striker Patrick Wood.

Wood has been in incredible form this season scoring eight goals in seven matches this season as well as providing a handful of assists.

He will be up against the league’s best defence with Rockdale only conceding four goals this season including an incredible run of five clean sheets.

Rockdale have been in brilliant form this season and showed what they are capable of in an impressive 3-1 win against Wollongong last weekend.

Japanese midfielder Tomoki Wada had his best game of the season scoring two goals including a sensational free-kick from the edge of the box.

Coach Steven Zoric has helped Rockdale discover improved consistency with their performances and they will need to display that again this week if they are to beat Sydney FC.

Nothing less than a win will be enough for either side with every competition point vital with so few games left in the season.

It’s Round 7 of the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition and with only five matchdays remaining in the regular season, the pressure is on to make every game count.

Sydney Olympic lead the competition coming into this week’s fixtures after leapfrogging Sydney FC at the top of the table.

This week’s matches get underway with two big games on Friday night as a resurgent Manly United host North Shore Mariners while Sydney FC will be out to bounce back when they go up against the bottom of the table side Blacktown City.

Marconi Stallions will also be on the hunt for a return to the winner’s circle when they host Mt Druitt Town Rangers on Saturday afternoon.

On Sunday there will be three matches with Sydney Olympic taking on local rivals APIA Leichhardt, Sydney United 58 going up against Western Sydney Wanderers and in the final match of the round Rockdale Ilinden playing host to Wollongong Wolves.

The battle for the Premiership is very much alive with only a few points separating the top six teams. It’s building up to be another blockbuster weekend of NPL NSW Men’s action.

 

Manly United v North Shore Mariners, 7.30 pm Friday at Cromer Park

Manly United will be fighting to stay in the hunt for finals football when they host North Shore Mariners at Cromer Park on Friday night.

Manly has found their groove in recent weeks winning two of their past three games and scoring nine goals in the process.

It’s a stark contrast from their opening three matches of the season where the Northern Beaches based side was unable to find the back of the net at all.

Last week Manly scored five goals in a 5-2 drubbing of APIA Leichhardt which was sure to put a smile on the face of their new coach Adam Griffiths.

Veteran attacking stars Brendan Cholakian and Dejan Pandurevic delivered exceptional performances in the win and displayed how dangerous they can be when in form.

Griffiths will be hoping the pair can carry that level of play into this match while also helping rising stars Luca Kmet and Jordan Devries who have also found their scoring touch.

Manly comes up against a North Shore Mariners side languishing towards the bottom of the table after a difficult return to action during the rebooted season.

A 1-1 draw against Mt Druitt last week was somewhat of a bittersweet result for the Joe Haywood coached side after they had taken a 1-0 lead in the match.

Haywood will be looking to Manny Peters to take his game to another level over the closing weeks of the campaign after a slow start from the talented attacker.

Manly will be favourites to take this match at home but will need to avoid complacency against a competitive Mariners outfit.

 

Blacktown City FC v Sydney FC, 7.30 pm Friday at Lily Homes Stadium

Blacktown City will be determined to fight their way off the bottom of the table with a win against Sydney FC at Lily Homes Stadium on Friday night.

It’s been a season which has gone from worse to worse for Blacktown and coach Mark Crittenden will be scratching his head as he tries to put his finger on what has gone wrong since the season restart.

A 2-0 defeat on the road against Wollongong made it four straight defeats for City who have only scored one goal during that run.

Finding a way to the back of the net seems to be Blacktown’s biggest challenge with Charles Mendy and Hassan Jalloh the club’s only goalscorers so far this campaign.

Improved contributions from attackers Mario Shabow, Leroy Jennings, Rhett Desilva, Dakota Askew and Daniel Araujo are needed if Blacktown are to improve in their final few matches.

They will be up against a Sydney FC side which has had no such issue scoring and will be driven towards reclaiming their spot on the top of the competition ladder.

A 4-2 loss against Sydney United 58 last round would’ve been a bit of a reality check for the Young Sky Blues who had been flying high since the start of the rebooted season.

Coach Jim van Weeren faces an important test in this match as he is tasked with getting his young team back on track.

Patrick Wood continues to go from strength to strength this campaign with his tally of seven goals this campaign a big part of Sydney FC’s success.

Blacktown will offer plenty of resistance in front of their fans but if Sydney FC can rediscover their scoring touch then it may be a tough night at the office for the home side.

 

Marconi Stallions FC v Mt Druitt Town Rangers, 4 pm Saturday at Marconi Stadium

A heartbreaking defeat last round will have Marconi Stallions fired up for victory when they host Mt Druitt Town Rangers on Saturday afternoon at Marconi Stadium.

Despite a dominant first-half performance, the Stallions suffered a dramatic defeat last round against Sydney Olympic who staged an incredible fightback to snatch a 2-1 victory in the final seconds of the match.

Mitch Mallia’s performance in the opening 45 minutes last week was arguably one of the best-attacking displays seen this season. If he can replicate that this week then the Rangers could be in for a tough match.

However, defensive consistency will be the message from coach Peter Tsekenis who will be hoping the loss to Olympic has taught his side the importance of staying composed for the full 90 minutes.

They go up against a Mt Druitt side whose improving performances have seen them fly under the radar into finals contention.

Coach Franco Cosentino has a team capable of testing the leagues best.

Goals have no been a concern for Mt Druitt with stars Jack Stewart and John Roberts playing impressive football in recent weeks.

Marconi will be the favourites for this match but if they let their guard down as they did last week, Mt Druitt has the firepower to cause an upset.

 

Sydney Olympic FC v APIA Leichhardt, 3 pm Sunday at Lambert Park

Niceties will be put aside when traditional rivals Sydney Olympic and APIA Leichhardt face off at Lambert Park on Sunday afternoon.

Olympic sits on top of the table after an incredible comeback win last week as they scored a last-minute goal to snatch a 2-1 victory against Marconi.

The star-studded squad coached by Ante Juric is getting better by the week and demonstrated their winning edge in last weeks triumph.

The trio of Adam Parkhouse, Charles Lokolingoy and Fabio Ferreira is an attack that sends chills down the spine of any opposing defence, while club veterans Thomas Whiteside, Jason Madonis and Chris Gligor provide plenty of steel in midfield and defence.

Their opponents APIA have experienced far different fortunes since the season restart as they go into this match slumped down in tenth on the ladder.

A tough 5-2 loss to Manly United last week was the latest frustrating result for the reigning champions who have struggled to find their feet since the competition restart.

APIA coach John Calleja has been forced to rotate his squad extensively this season due to long term injuries and suspensions with a total of24 players seeing minutes so far, the most of any NPL NSW team.

Veteran star Franco Parisi is one of only five players to have appeared in every game and his experience will be imperative if APIA is to pull off an upset.

Olympic will be heavy favourites for this match but if APIA bring their top form it could down to the wire.

 

Sydney United 58 v Western Sydney Wanderers, 3 pm Sunday at Sydney United Sports Centre

Sydney United 58 will be looking to make it three wins in a row when they host Western Sydney Wanderers at Sydney United Sports Centre on Sunday afternoon.

The departure of coach Zeljko Kalac last week could’ve derailed United 58’s season but instead they took their game to the next level with a dominant 4-2 win against premiership hopefuls Sydney FC.

It was the perfect start to new gaffer Anthony Crea’s tenure at Sydney United Sports Centre and he will be hoping for another brilliant display of attacking football this week.

Patrick Antelmi has been seemingly the final piece of the puzzle for United 58 with the returning striker taking his side’s attack to a new level.

Yianni Perkatis, who also returned to the United 58 side after an A-League stint, has also impressed in recent matches.

They will go up against a Western Sydney side full of confidence after they last week pulled off a stunning 3-1 upset of Rockdale Ilinden.

After weeks of narrow defeats, the Wanderer’s were rewarded for their enterprising play as they downed Rockdale.

Kostas Grozos scored and provided an assist to his brother Peter Grozos last week in a performance he will be determined to replicate this round.

His combination with Rory Jordan has been imperative to the Wanderers success and the pair will look to make an impact against United 58.

United 58 will be the favourites at home but Western Sydney has taken the contest to every team they’ve come up against.

This game is sure to go down to the wire.

 

Rockdale Ilinden FC v Wollongong Wolves, 4 pm Sunday at Ilinden Sports Centre

A big bounce-back performance will be on the agenda for Rockdale Ilinden when they host Wollongong Wolves on Sunday.

After going undefeated for six straight games without conceding a goal, Rockdale let it all go in Round 6 as they slumped to a 3-1 defeat against Western Sydney Wanderers.

Coach Steven Zoric would have been very frustrated with his side’s performance last week and will be making sure they bring nothing but their best this time around.

Captain Daniel Petkovski will need to lead from the back in this match against one of the league’s best attack.

Wollongong has been in strong form since the competition restart and sit in second place only one point behind league leaders Sydney Olympic.

They eased to a 2-0 win against Blacktown City last week with Josh Bingham delivering a clinical performance leading the line.

Last week featured the return of Thomas James for Wollongong who will be determined to make up for lost time after a disappointing stint with A-League outfit Perth Glory.

A very evenly matched tie, Rockdale will need to bring their best defensive effort if they are going to stop Wollongong’s high-powered attack.

 

Round 6 of the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition has arrived, and we’re now at the halfway point of the rebooted 2020 season.

Sydney FC is the surprise competition leaders after an incredible start to their campaign winning four of their first four matches including a 2-1 win against Manly United last week.

However, the chasing pack is hot on their tail with an undefeated Rockdale only one point behind in second place, while Sydney Olympic and Marconi Stallions sit in third and fourth two points behind the ladder leaders.

This week’s matches get underway on Friday night at Comer Park as Manly United host APIA Leichhardt.

Two matches have been scheduled for Saturday with Marconi Stallions taking on Sydney Olympic FC, while Mt Druitt Town Rangers go up against North Shore Mariners.

The round wraps up on Sunday with three matches scheduled including Wollongong Wolves at home against Blacktown City, Rockdale Ilinden against Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney United 58 in a clash against Sydney FC.

Manly United v APIA Leichhardt FC, 7.30 pm Friday at Cromer Park
The finals hopes of Manly United and APIA Leichhardt go on the line on Friday night when the two sides go head to head at Cromer Park.

Both Manly and APIA sit two games outside the top five and will need a near-perfect run home if they are going to secure an unlikely finals berth.

With new coach Adam Griffiths at the helm, Manly will be looking to their young squad to find a way to secure the three points.

Luca Kmet found himself on the scoresheet last round, following the goalscoring heroics of up and coming stars James Georgaklis and Jordan Devries a week earlier.

If their young players can find their touch alongside veterans Scott Balderson and Brendan Cholakian, then the struggling APIA defence could be in for a difficult night.

APIA has been a shadow of themselves since the competition restart, and the side is in a precarious position after only five matches with only four points to their name.

Injuries and suspensions have wreaked havoc on the squad which as resulted in the club playing some up and coming youngsters with the likes of Nicholas Azzone and Camil Abouchaaya getting some senior game time.

Coach John Calleja will need his players to find something extra if they are any hope of resurrecting their campaign.

Chris Payne will be determined to find the back of the net while the experienced heads of maestro Franco Parisi, Adrian Ucchino and Sean Symons will need to spur the team back to winning ways.

With their finals hopes fading away, will it be Manly or APIA who find a much needed second wind when it matters most?

Marconi Stallions V Sydney Olympic, 4 pm Saturday at Marconi Stadium
Two of the league’s most potent attacks will square off on Saturday afternoon as Marconi Stallions host Sydney Olympic at Marconi Stadium.

Third-placed Olympic and fourth-placed Marconi have both won three of their first four games and are both on ten points.

The winner of this clash could potentially finish the round in top spot if other fixtures go their way.

Home side Marconi were big winners in Round 5 as they collected a 3-0 victory against rivals Blacktown City.

The Peter Tsekenis coached side scored three goals which all could be contenders for the best of the season including a sublime solo run from Martin Fernandez.

With Marko Jesic, Anthony Frangie and Mitch Mallia all in form, expect the Stallions to create plenty of chances.

Olympic was held to a scoreless draw in a grinding contest against Rockdale last week.

Pacy winger Adam Parkhouse and veteran Wideman Fabio Ferreira were both unable to make the most of their chances against a suffocating Rockdale defence.

Thomas Whiteside was in good form against Rockdale and will be busy in the centre of defence this week.

Expect fireworks from this blockbuster clash which could be the best of the weekend’s matches.

Mt Druitt Town Rangers v North Shore Mariners, 7 pm Saturday at Popondetta Park
Back-to-back wins for Mt Druitt Town Rangers have the confidence sky-high at Popendetta Park, and they will be determined to make it three when they host bottom side North Shore Mariners on Saturday night.

The Rangers have started to buy into new coach Franco Cosentino’s style, and they are reaping the rewards on the pitch as highlighted in their 3-1 victory against local rivals Western Sydney Wanderers.

Jack Stewart is playing some of his best football for the Rangers and has three goals in his past two matches.

It has helped take the pressure off fellow attacker John Roberts who has also been in good form.

Looking to stop them is a North Shore Mariners team who would be buoyed after holding APIA to a scoreless draw last week.

Mitch Smith was dangerous for the Mariners as was Lawrence Frederick.

They will be without Zac Sfiligoi who was sent off for a cynical challenge on Franco Parisi in the dying stages of their Round 5 contest.

Mt Druitt is full of confidence and playing at home, which makes them a tough team to beat. However, don’t write off the Mariners who may be able to pull off an upset.

Wollongong Wolves FC v Blacktown City FC, 2.30 pm Sunday at Albert Butler Memorial Park
Wollongong Wolves will be out to make a quick return to the winner’s circle when they host Blacktown City at Albert Butler Memorial Park on Sunday.

The Wolves suffered a costly 3-1 defeat on the road against Sydney United 58 last week and lost rising star striker Bul Juach to a severe injury in the process.

Juach’s injury will force a shake-up of the Wolves attack, but what better replacement to have than none other than 2019 Player of the Year and Golden Boot winner Thomas James who returns to the club following his tough short-term deal at the Perth Glory.

Blacktown is struggling all over the park during this rebooted season, and coach Mark Crittenden won’t be happy with the poor discipline shown by his side.

City is in desperate need of a confidence-boosting win.

Last week Matt Lewis broke the club’s appearance record, and it will be on the club captain to inspire his side to victory.

Wollongong will be favourites at home but don’t expect Blacktown to take it easy.

Rockdale Ilinden v Western Sydney Wanderers, 3 pm Sunday at Ilinden Sports Centre
Undefeated Rockdale Ilinden will have the top spot in their sights when they host Western Sydney Wanderers at Ilinden Sports Centre on Sunday.

Only one point behind ladder leader Sydney FC, Rockdale will be driven to keep the pressure on their Premiership title rivals.

Last week the Steve Zoric coached side battled out a scoreless draw against Sydney Olympic at Lambert Park clinging on in the dying stages to secure a point.

Incredibly, Rockdale’s defence has yet to concede a goal since the competition restart with the partnership of Banri Kazizumi and Daniel Petkovski proving more reliable than ever.

The return of Micheal Neill and Alec Urosevski in recent weeks has only boosted Rockdale and given their long-suffering fans hope that this season could be their year.

Looking to end Rockdale’s unbeaten run is a Western Sydney Wanderers side who have shown glimpses of brilliance since being promoted into the state league top-flight for this rebooted season.

Rory Jordan continues to improve week to week with his dribbling and form in front of goals proving deadly.

However, the Wanderers will have a new face in charge with coach Arthur Diles departing the club after snaring a coaching position overseas in Greece.

Rockdale has been in great form this campaign and will go into the match as favourites, but the plucky Wanderers are a formidable outfit and might be the side to cause an upset.

Sydney United 58 v Sydney FC, 3 pm Sunday at Sydney United Sports Centre
Sydney United 58 will we be out to topple league leaders Sydney FC when the two sides clash on Sunday afternoon at Sydney United Sports Centre.

Bolstered by the return of star striker Patrick Antelmi, whose brace led United 58 to a 3-1 win last week was the main headlines last weekend.

Antlemi was as sharp as ever leading the attack and his stint with A-League side Western United appears to have taken his game to all new highs.

With support from Devante Clut, Glen Trifiro and Matt Sim, United 58 have the personnel to push for championship success.

The main headline that will dominate this match also will be the new face in United 58’s coaching dugout with Zeljko Kalac bidding farewell and Anthony Crea stepping in as interim coach.

Kalac is set to join Tony Popovic in Greece with second division outfit SKODA Xanthi, leaving Crea with a huge first up match against a hungry young Sky Blues outfit.

One side who will have a big say in any title talk for United 58 is current competition leaders Sydney FC.

The Young Sky Blues have been sensational since the rebooted season kicked off winning four of the first five games and scoring 12 goals in the process.

While Patrick Wood has been claiming most of the headlines for his goal-scoring heroics, coach Jim van Weeren is indeed most proud with the fact that it has not just been one playing carrying the load.

Antonio Saracino was the latest young star to stand up as he scored and help set up another in Sydney’s 2-1 win against Manly last week.

This game could be a significant litmus test for Sydney FC, and they will be determined to prove their success is no flash in the pan.