Round 28 of the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s has some crunch fixtures for the teams as we edge towards the end of the season.

Here’s the rundown.

Manly United FC v Western Sydney Wanderers FC 

2:30 pm, Saturday 12 August, Cromer Park

Western Sydney Wanderers travel to Cromer Park on Saturday afternoon eager to build on their second in a row in the competition against Manly United.

The Wanderers downed Sydney FC 2-1 to move three points clear of Mount Druitt Town Rangers.

Alexander Badolato had Andrew Christiansen’s team up at halftime before the inform Zachary Sapsford added a second later on.

However, the team will be without Aidan Simmons for this weekend after he was sent off against the Sky Blues.

Manly saw their good form in the competition halted in a 3-1 defeat to Wollongong Wolves last Sunday.

They dropped into the bottom half of the table after that as a place higher up slipped further away.

It was a dramatic encounter when these teams met earlier in the season as a nine-man Western Sydney held on for a 2-1 victory over a ten-man United.

Western Sydney will want to further solidify their place in the NPL NSW Men’s for next season against a Manly team reeling from a disappointing defeat.

Bulls FC Academy v Blacktown City FC

3:00 pm, Saturday 12 August, Sydney United Sports Centre

Bulls FC Academy play Blacktown City on Saturday afternoon at Sydney United Sports Centre in another difficult fixture for the team.

The Bulls were battered 5-1 by Marconi Stallions last weekend, where they found themselves 5-0 down by the 55th minute.

Marco Arambasic scored a consolation for Zeljko Kalac’s side as their relegation from the competition was confirmed.

Blacktown’s sensational winning run came to an end in round 27 as they drew 2-2 with St George City.

Lachlan Campbell put the side in front heading into halftime before Jak O’Brien re-established Blacktown’s lead.

A stoppage-time penalty saw the points shared in a heart-breaking draw that dashed City’s hopes of a title.

Coach Mark Crittenden will also have to deal with the suspension of Ignacio Corral after he picked up two yellow cards in four minutes.

The Bulls were on the end of another smashing in Round 13 against Blacktown, going down 4-1 at Landen Stadium.

Blacktown are the strong favourite for this one up against the struggling Bulls.

Mount Druitt Town Rangers FC v Marconi Stallions FC 

3:00 pm, Sunday 12 August, Popondetta Park

Mount Druitt Town Rangers play Marconi Stallions at Popondetta Park on Sunday desperately needing some points.

The Rangers advanced to the Round of 16 of the Australia Cup on Friday evening with a 3-1 win over Canberra Croatia.

They’ll look to translate that positive result into their league form where they remain in the midst of the relegation battle.

The side played on Tuesday night against Sutherland Sharks, but they couldn’t crack their 10-man opposition, sharing the points 1-1.

The Stallions blasted away Bulls FC Academy over the weekend with a 5-1 result.

The usual suspects were crucial for the side with Jordan Swibel, Domenic Costanzo and Marko Jesic all finding the net.

With their chances of the title almost a mathematical impossibility, Peter Tsekenis will want his team to finish the season strongly.

Mount Druitt managed to upset Marconi earlier in the season with a gritty 1-0 win, and they could sorely do with the same this weekend.

It would be a monumental three points that would lift them on points with Western Sydney Wanderers in the last safe position.

Rockdale Ilinden FC v NWS Spirit FC

3:00 pm, Sunday 13 August, Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre

Rockdale Ilinden face another decisive clash on Sunday afternoon as they face NWS Spirit at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre.

There was more drama for Rockdale in round 27 as they edged past Central Coast Mariners 2-1.

Alec Urosevski stepped up yet again for the title-chasing Ilinden, scoring the winner in the final three minutes.

Paul Dee’s men are four points behind table-toppers APIA Leichhardt so they can’t afford to drop points in the remaining games.

The scorelines haven’t been emphatic for Rockdale recently, but they’ve picked up the results that keep them in the hunt.

Spirit ended their run of four matches without a win in dramatic fashion on Wednesday evening, scoring a winner deep into stoppage time against Sydney United.

That result pushed them up two places into tenth on the table, and with the competition so close they could find themselves in eighth by Sunday night.

Rockdale snatched a late win over Spirit in round 13, and they’ll be expected to claim the points again this weekend.

Sydney United 58 FC v Central Coast Mariners FC

3:00 pm, Sunday 13 August, Sydney United Sports Centre

Sydney United 58 go head-to-head with Central Coast Mariners on Sunday at Sydney United Sports Centre in an exciting matchup.

United 58 got their busy schedule off to a flyer advancing in the Australia Cup last Friday night.

However, they will be disappointed with their efforts on Wednesday night, conceding a late winner from a set piece against NWS Spirit.

Sitting right in the middle of the table, United’s league campaign could go either way in their final four matches.

A series of wins could push them into a top-five position or a poor run would see them finish towards the bottom places.

Central Coast continued to flounder in the competition as they lost their fourth match in a row last weekend.

Despite a gutsy showing against Rockdale, a late turnaround from their opponents condemned the Mariners to another loss.

After setting their sights on a high finish this year, that aspiration has fallen away in the last few weeks with a win a must for the team on Sunday.

Abbas Saad’s team earned the points against United earlier in the season with a 2-1 victory.

APIA Leichhardt FC v Sydney FC 

4:30 pm, Sunday 13 August, Lambert Park

APIA Leichhardt seek to take another big step toward NPL NSW Men’s glory on Sunday against Sydney FC at Lambert Park.

APIA outscored Sydney Olympic 5-3 last Saturday with star man Jack Stewart scoring four goals.

Stewart’s tally sits at 19 for the season, demonstrating his value as one of the players of the 2023 NPL NSW Men’s.

It’s a simple equation for APIA in these final three games; win the next two, and they’re champions irrespective of Rockdale’s results.

Sydney’s patchy form continued over the weekend with a 2-1 defeat to Western Sydney Wanderers as their arch-rivals did the double over them in 2023.

A positive result here could confirm Sydney’s spot in the top half of the table for 2023 and another successive campaign for the academy outfit.

APIA should be wary of the young Sky Blues in this match as earlier in the year, Sydney emphatically dispatched the side 4-0.

A result like that this time around would put APIA back under the pump at the top.

Wollongong Wolves FC v Sydney Olympic FC
5:45 pm, Sunday 13 August, WIN Stadium

Wollongong Wolves take on Sydney Olympic at WIN Stadium in the penultimate match on Sunday.

The Wolves put in a solid display to down Manly United 3-1 in Round 27, which pushed them up to seventh.

Samuel Riak and Lachlan Scott had the team 2-0 up by the break before Christopher McStay added a third in the second period.

It extends Wollongong’s remarkable run at home this season, having lost on just three occasions on the South Coast.

The side still have a chance of finishing in the top five having closed the gap to seven points.

Sydney Olympic were involved in a thrilling match last Saturday but ended up going down 5-3.

After taking an early lead through Roy O’Donovan, the side conceded five in a row, before scoring two late goals to make it a more respectable scoreline.

The team remain locked in a mid-table battle heading into the final three games, and some points on Sunday would see them knocking on the door of the top half.

These teams shared the points in Round 13, with both sides’ star strikers in O’Donovan and Scott scoring braces in a 2-2 result.

They’ll be plenty of attacking talent on show on Sunday with the Wolves seeking to extend their marvellous home record.

St George City FA v Sutherland Sharks FC

7:30 pm, Sunday 13 August, Penhurst Park

St George City host Sutherland Sharks at Penshurst Park on Sunday night as they look to hold down their top-five position.

City secured a late point over Blacktown City to draw 2-2 in a game where they equalised twice.

After going into halftime a goal down, Pedro Ferrari scored early in the second period before Kosta Petratos buried a stoppage-time penalty.

The side are five points away from third position, meaning an even higher finish could be on the cards if they finish the season strongly.

Sutherland played on Tuesday evening, where they ground out a 1-1 draw with Mount Druitt Town Rangers despite playing a portion of the game with 10 players.

Currently eight points clear of Mount Druitt, a victory would sew up their place in the competition for next year.

St George are in sparkling late-season form and will look to take advantage of a Sutherland team coming into Sunday with extra minutes in their legs.

Preview by Timothy Gibson, on Twitter @Timg123_

The National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s continues to provide drama with just a few games to go.

Round 27 has some more important fixtures, with it still all to play for at both ends of the table.

Here’s what to expect.

Sydney Olympic FC v APIA Leichhardt FC
4:00 pm, Saturday 5 August, Belmore Sports Ground

Belmore Sports Ground hosts a blockbuster fixture when powerhouses Sydney Olympic and APIA Leichhardt go head-to-head on Saturday.

APIA’s second defeat in a row put the pressure back on their title aspirations, now only four points clear at the top.

Despite taking the lead against Blacktown City from the penalty spot in the first half through Jack Stewart, two goals in eight second-half minutes turned the scoreline around.

After looking untouchable at the top just a couple of weeks ago, the side need to win to keep their shrinking lead intact.

Olympic are in some of their best form of the season, extending their unbeaten run to four games with a resounding 5-1 victory against Central Coast Mariners.

Roy O’Donovan opened the scoring before Jakob Cresnar, Fabio Ferreira and Adam Parkhouse all scored before halftime.

Nick Fitzgerald added a fifth late on to earn Olympic’s biggest win of the 2023 season.

The teams are currently on contrasting runs of form, giving the reigning premiers a chance to pile further angst on the league leaders.

This is one of the games of the round with plenty of quality on show and massive implications for the title race.

Marconi Stallions FC v Bulls FC Academy
7:00 pm, Saturday 5 August, Marconi Stadium

Marconi Stallions play Bulls FC Academy on Saturday night at Marconi Stadium after their title charge slipped further away last weekend.

The Stallions were edged out 1-0 by Rockdale Ilinden despite facing 10 men for most of the game.

It’s left Peter Tsekenis’ team nine points behind first place and dropping down to fourth on the table.

One win in their past seven has left Marconi with minimal chance of taking out the title, but they’ll fancy their chances against the bottom-of-the-table Academy on Saturday.

The Bulls were blown away 5-0 by Western Sydney Wanderers, with their relegation all but confirmed as a result.

The side went into the sheds 2-0 down before the team shipped a further three goals in the second half.

Zeljko Kalac’s team are 10 points adrift from safety with only 12 still to play for.

Marconi got up when the teams met earlier in the season with a strong performance in a 4-1 victory.

Marconi will be expected to win this one with the Bulls set to play for pride in the final four matches.

Western Sydney Wanderers FC v Sydney FC
1:00 pm, Sunday 6 August, Fairfield Showground

There’s a Sydney derby in the early kick-off on Sunday when Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney FC meet at Fairfield Showground.

The Wanderers secured a monumental 5-0 win over Bulls FC Academy to heave themselves out of the relegation playoff place last Saturday.

The pressure is still on Andrew Christiansen’s side who are just one point clear of the drop zone with four matches to go.

Zachary Sapsford notched a brace last weekend as he took his tally to seven in what has been a breakout season for the talented winger.

Sapsford got the winner when these teams met earlier in the season and will be a player to watch this weekend.

The young Sky Blues also snagged victory with Mitchell Glasson nailing home a stoppage-time winner in round 26.

Sydney moved just five points behind fourth as a finish higher up the table remains a real possibility.

Both teams are carrying momentum into this weekend, and there is still plenty to play for on Sunday.

Central Coast Mariners FC v Rockdale Ilinden FC
3:00 pm, Sunday 6 August, Pluim Park

Central Coast Mariners face Rockdale Ilinden on Sunday afternoon at Pluim Park, hoping to end a four-game winless streak.

The Mariners were battered 5-1 by Sydney Olympic in a disappointing outing for the academy side.

The team found themselves 4-0 down at halftime, but Aidan Milicevic picked up a consolation in the 76th minute.

Coach Abbas Saad will also be without George Daniel for this weekend after he was sent off in stoppage time last Saturday.

Rockdale made up points on league leaders APIA Leichhardt for the second week running in round 26 and are now just four behind.

It was another gutsy showing from Ilinden as they edged out Marconi Stallions 1-0 despite playing almost an hour of the game with 10 men.

Iain Ramsay put the side in front midway through the half, but less than 15 minutes later, goalkeeper David Bradasevic was sent off.

Paul Dee’s men managed to hold on at the back and snatch the points to become the nearest challengers to the top.

Dee will now though have to deal with the suspension of his experienced goalkeeper for the next few weeks.

The Mariners stunned Rockdale earlier in the season with a 3-1 win, so Ilinden will have to be wary of their opponents with the pressure on for title glory.

Blacktown City FC v St George City FA
3:00 pm, Sunday 6 August, Landen Park

Blacktown City host St George City at Landen Park as they look to pull off a title story for the ages.

The side performed a second-half turnaround to defeat APIA Leichhardt 2-1 last Saturday.

Ignacio Corral and Reuben Awaritefe each scored after the hour mark to win Blacktown’s eighth match on the bounce.

Mark Crittenden’s team moved just seven points away from first and look like an unstoppable force at the moment.

However, winning all final four games is likely their only chance of claiming the title with APIA still the favourites to take out the competition.

St George City are also in some great form, winning four out of their last five matches.

The team most recently flogged Mount Druitt Town Rangers 6-0 with six different goalscorers.

Among them was striker Presley Ortiz and the ever-reliable Pedro Ferrari from fullback.

Ferrari has stood out for Mirko Jurilj’s team, with the Brazilian defender firing home three goals in 2023.

It was a pulsating 2-2 draw earlier in the season with St George snatching a point in stoppage time.

This is another high-stakes clash at the top of the table with it hard to pick between these teams going into Sunday.

Wollongong Wolves FC v Manly United FC
3:00 pm, Sunday 6 August, WIN Stadium

Wollongong Wolves host Manly United at WIN Stadium on Sunday afternoon after suffering their first loss in three games.

David Carney’s men lost 2-1 to Sydney United 58, their ninth defeat of 2023.

Lachlan Scott scored on his return from suspension pushing him up to 12 goals for the season.

Manly continued their flurry in the latter stages of the season with their third win in a row against Sutherland Sharks.

James Oates scored the winner as he, too returned from suspension for United.

It’s been a remarkable turnaround for Manly, who were contemplating the possibility of relegation from the NPL NSW Men’s just a few weeks ago.

The teams are level on points heading into Sunday, but Wollongong were convincing winners in the reverse fixture.

The Wolves earned a dominant 3-0 result that day and will be eager to do the same on Sunday.

There’s not much between these teams heading into this game so it should be one to keep a watch for.

Sutherland Sharks FC v Mount Druitt Town Rangers FC
7:30 pm, Tuesday 8 August, Seymour Shaw

Mount Druitt Town Rangers travel to Seymour Shaw on Tuesday night to face Sutherland Sharks in a crucial game in their relegation battle.

The Rangers copped a 6-0 battering from St George City in round 26 which saw them slump into the relegation zone.

In these final four games, it will be a desperate scrap for Stewart Montgomery’s men starting with the Sharks in round 27.

Sutherland were narrowly edged 1-0 by Manly United over the weekend as they fell to 13th on the table.

The Sharks have won only once since round 16, instigating their fall down the places.

They remain eight points clear of the Rangers in the relegation zone, but a defeat here would see danger draw too close for comfort.

The Shire club took the points against Mount Druitt earlier in the season with a tight 2-1 win which was one of only six times the team have scored at least two goals.

Mount Druitt have a chance to drag Sutherland into the relegation battle and set up a grandstand finish in the battle for safety.

Matches Postponed due to Australia Cup: 

• NWS Spirit v Sydney United 58

Round 26 of the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s presents a crunch set of fixtures in the battle for the title and relegation.

There are several key matches to keep a watch for, making it one of the rounds of the season so far.

Here’s what’s coming up.

Sydney FC v NWS Spirit FC
7:30 pm, Friday 28 July, Valentine Sports Park

Sydney FC take on NWS Spirit on Friday night at Valentine Sports Park, with both sides reeling from a big defeat over the weekend.

The A-League Academy side went down 6-2 to Wollongong Wolves on Sunday, having conceded five goals in the first half.

It sees the team drop down to sixth on the table with the sides in the middle drawing much closer as well.

The result also highlights Sydney’s defensive woes this season, having conceded the fifth-highest of any team in the competition.

NWS Spirit will look to pick themselves up this weekend hoping to end a three-game winless run.

David Perkovic’s men lost their second game in a row as they were blasted away 5-1 by Marconi Stallions in round 25.

While they are a comfortable distance from the drop zone, they will want to make it a strong finish to the campaign with a top-half finish still on the cards.

Spirit have similarly struggled at the back in 2023 conceding one more goal than Sydney so far.

These teams are showcasing some defensive frailties, but they haven’t been shy of goals at times setting up a potential thriller to start the round.

Sydney Olympic FC v Central Coast Mariners FC
3:00 pm, Saturday 29 July, Belmore Sports Ground

Sydney Olympic play Central Coast Mariners at Belmore Sports Ground on Saturday having added to their better form over the weekend.

Olympic grabbed a last-minute equaliser against Mount Druitt Town Rangers to draw 3-3.

Roy O’Donovan and Darcy Burgess both scored first-half goals before the experienced Fabio Ferreira buried that late goal to snatch a point.

The point took Olympic 11 points clear of the relegation zone and within touching distance of plenty of the teams above them.

Victory on Saturday could see them up into the mid-table and represent a marked improvement on their position over the course of this season.

After an outstanding run in the competition, the Mariners have hit a rough patch, failing to win any of their last three fixtures.

The side failed to score for the second game running in their 2-0 loss to St George City in round 25.

After getting into the sheds 0-0, the side conceded at both ends of the second half to go down.

It’s seen Abbas Saad’s team slip to eighth on the table and another defeat could spell a further fall into the bottom half of the competition.

There were plenty of goals when the teams met in round 11 as they played out a 2-2 draw at Central Coast Stadium.

Bulls FC Academy v Western Sydney Wanderers FC
3:00 pm, Saturday 29 July, Sydney United Sports Centre

Bulls FC Academy and Western Sydney Wanderers go head-to-head at Sydney United Sports Centre on Saturday in the defining match for the 2023 relegation battle.

Currently eight points ahead, a win for the Wanderers would all but ensure their safety from the automatic relegation spot the Bulls occupy now.

The Wanderers were edged out by Sutherland Sharks last weekend in a 2-0 defeat.

A goal on either side of halftime proved too much for the team to overcome as they slumped to their 15th loss of the year.

The Bulls were also downed 2-0 in round 25 as two goals before halftime confirmed their seventeenth loss of 2023.

This is a must-win for Zeljko Kalac’s team as they risk falling potentially 11 points away from the chance of safety with just 15 points still to play for.

There is added tenseness as former Wanderers’ Frans Deli and Ariath Piol will line up against their former side on Saturday having made the move across earlier this season.

This is a must-watch encounter in round 26 as the pressure couldn’t be higher on these teams to avoid dropping into the FNSW League One Men’s.

APIA Leichhardt FC v Blacktown City FC
5:45 pm, Saturday 29 July, Lambert Park

Attention should be on the top of the table as well with the first of two key clashes seeing league-leaders APIA Leichhardt lock horns with high-flying Blacktown City.

APIA stumbled in round 25 being blown away by mid-table Manly United 4-0.

It was a disastrous second half where the usually consistent table-toppers conceded three goals.

It’s not been the start that Jason Romero would have wanted back in APIA colours either.

The former Macarthur FC forward has failed to score in any of his six games back at the club but there would be no better time than Saturday to break his duck.

Blacktown City’s late-season form has seen the team shove their way into a late title charge now only 10 points off their opponents.

It was another strong showing from the reigning champions last Sunday as they completed a late turnaround to defeat Sydney United 58 3-1.

Finding themselves 1-0 down heading into the 70th minute, goals to Lachlan Campbell, Carlos De Oliveira and Ignacio Corral helped City to victory.

There is a lot on the line for this game as a win Blacktown would send the title race into a four-way sprint for glory.

St George City FA v Mount Druitt Town Rangers FC
7:00 pm, Saturday 29 July, Penshurst Park

Mount Druitt Town Rangers travel to St George City with three points a must as they seek to stay out of the relegation zone.

The Rangers ended their losing streak with an enthralling 3-3 draw against Sydney Olympic in round 25.

With the Rangers leading into stoppage time, a heart-breaking equaliser from their opponents saw the points shared.

Mount Druitt are two points above Western Sydney Wanderers in the relegation playoff place.

The Wanderers face last place this weekend and if they win and Mount Druitt fail to do so, Stewart Montgomery’s team will fall into the danger zone.

St George City made it three wins in their last four getting past Central Coast Mariners 2-0 last Sunday.

Franco Maya and Marley Peterson scored in the second half to secure the result that pushed the team up to fifth.

City’s good form also means the side are only eight points off second place giving Mirko Jurilj’s men a chance to add further gloss to an outstanding first season in the NPL NSW Men’s.

The pressure is on Mount Druitt to win this one, but St George have lost the equal second-fewest games of any team in the 2023 competition.

Manly United FC v Sutherland Sharks FC
7:15 pm, Saturday 29 July, Cromer Park

Manly United host Sutherland Sharks at Cromer Park on Saturday night in a battle for a spot in the middle of the table.

United stunned league-leaders APIA Leichhardt with an emphatic 4-0 victory last weekend.

Harry McCarthy continued his sparkling late-season form bagging a hat-trick and further demonstrating his value to Manly this season.

Up to ninth, United have higher places in sight and a win on Saturday could see them as high as seventh depending on the margin of victory and other results.

The Sharks ended their poor run in the competition with a 2-0 win against Western Sydney Wanderers in round 25.

Defender Nathan Grimaldi gave the team the lead just before halftime before Jonty Busch added a second early in the second period.

Now 10 points clear of the relegation battle, the Sharks are just a couple of points off Manly.

A run of good results could see them into the top half of the table come season’s end.

This is set to be a tight game on Saturday night which could go either way.

Rockdale Ilinden FC v Marconi Stallions FC
3:00 pm, Sunday 30 July, Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre

The other crucial title fixture is between Rockdale Ilinden and Marconi Stallions on Sunday at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre.

Ilinden moved three points closer to first place with a 2-0 win over Bulls FC Academy last Sunday.

Daniel Collins opened the scoring half an hour in before Alec Urosevski made it two on the stroke of halftime.

Marconi ended their patchy form in the competition with a resounding 5-1 win over NWS Spirit.

The side put their recent goalscoring troubles behind them as Martin Fernandez notched a brace while Jordan Swibel and Domenic Costanzo were among the other scorers.

However, Peter Tsekenis will be without midfielder Aleksander Duricic after he was sent off with only three minutes to play.

These teams are separated by two points with Rockdale in second and Marconi in third.

With APIA in action against Blacktown, there’s a big chance to put some pressure on at the top.

Marconi picked up the points when they faced Rockdale in round 11 with a 3-1 victory courtesy of a blistering first half.

This is a huge game in the fight for top spot making it more essential viewing in round 26.

Sydney United 58 FC v Wollongong Wolves FC
3:00 pm, Sunday 30 July, Sydney United Sports Centre

Sydney United 58 play Wollongong Wolves on Sunday afternoon at Sydney United Sports Centre seeking important points to push back up the table.

United lost 3-1 to Blacktown City last Sunday which was their 11th defeat of 2023.

The team were 1-0 up heading into the latter stages but conceded three quick goals to see the points slip away.

Stuck in 10th, United are still just a win away from the top half of the table making it a vital fixture for them this Sunday.

The Wolves kept their fine form going as they swatted Sydney FC aside 6-2 last Sunday.

Christopher McStay starred for Wollongong in a more advanced role than his usual holding midfield position, scoring a hat-trick.

David Carney’s team have leaped into seventh spot after that which is a testament to only seven points dropped from the last twenty-one available.

The sides played out a 0-0 stalemate in round 11 in a scrappy game at Albert Butler Memorial Park, and it will be close again on Sunday.

Preview by Timothy Gibson, on Twitter @Timg123_