We’ve officially reached the halfway point of the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s season and the Premiership race is proving to be a tight one!

As the teams match up for a second time this season, there will be plenty on the line.

Manly United FC v Sydney Olympic FC

7:00pm, Friday 20th May, Cromer Park

Manly United defeated Sydney Olympic 1-0 at Belmore Sportsground in Round 1 of the competition, and with the home-game advantage they will be dangerous as the two sides match up once again in 2022.

Sitting tightly together on the ladder, the two sides will be fighting for valuable points as they continue their campaigns.

Jimmy Oates and Kieran Paull were standouts in Manly United’s win over Rockdale Ilinden in Round 11, featuring in the league’s Team of the Week alongside Olympic’s Darcy Burgess & Nicholas Sorras and are likely to be top performers in this clash after impressive seasons so far.

Will Olympic be able to secure a crucial victory away from home or will Manly United defeat them for a second time this season?

APIA Leichhardt FC v Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC

7:00pm, Friday 20th May, Lambert Park

After a late comeback saw them come away with a point against Sydney United 58 on Sunday, APIA Leichhardt will be looking to get back to winning ways when they host Mt Druitt Town Rangers on Friday night.

The last match up between the two saw a 5-3 scoreline in favour of APIA Leichhardt with plenty of goal and entertainment on the park.

Currently in third position, the hosts will be leaning on the likes of Jason Romero, Sean Symons, Diego Celis and Jack Armson to net some goals for them against Mt Druitt Town and keep them well and truly in the Premiership race.

The Rangers however will be looking for some points to get them back to a respectable position on the ladder after a string of poor performances turned into a draw with Sydney FC in Round 11, where they only conceded one goal against a side known for their prolific scoring ability.

Will the Rangers cause an upset for APIA Leichhardt or will the Inner West side get back to their impressive form?

Northbridge Bulls FC v Sydney FC

3:00pm, Saturday 21st May, Sydney United Sports Centre

It’s top versus bottom as the two young sides face up on Saturday afternoon.

In what is set to be a highly technical and high-calibre game of football, the sides will be able to rely on their tactical and technical skill to get them through the match.

Patrick Wood featured in the Round 11 Team of the Week for Sydney FC, while Northbridge Bulls had Lachlan Rose representing them in the team after an impressive performance against Marconi since dropping into the side last week.

While they may be at opposite ends of the ladder, this could be a tight match that will surely be filled with plenty of goals and entertainment.

Sydney FC managed a narrow 3-2 victory when the teams last met – will they be able to do it again and get back to winning ways?

Marconi Stallions FC v Sutherland Sharks FC

7:00pm, Saturday 21st May, Marconi Stadium

Marconi started off their season with a 3-2 victory over Sutherland Sharks and will be looking to repeat the feat on Saturday when they two match up for a second time.

With seven NPL NSW Men’s games undefeated, Marconi have settled into the season well and started to reap rewards for their efforts, sitting in a healthy sixth place on the ladder.

Marko Jesic has been instrumental in the Stallions’ success with 11 goals in as many matches and will be leading the charge for Marconi as they look to work their way into the top five.

Sutherland, coming off a recent coaching change, will be looking for redemption in this clash as they try to get something from the season before it completely slips away.

With plenty of potential on the park, the Sharks could put up a good fight at ‘The Palace’ but Marconi will be just as hungry.

Rockdale Ilinden FC v Blacktown City FC

4:00pm, Sunday 22nd May, Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre

After losing the top spot when they fell to Manly United last weekend, Rockdale will be hoping for a big result against Blacktown City in this week’s ‘Match of the Round’ to get them back into the lead.

With an incredible season so far, Rockdale have proven they have the depth to make a long-lasting impact in this year’s competition and this will be a real test as Blacktown City are one of only two teams to have defeated them this season.

An uncharacteristic two consecutive losses have Blacktown City sitting in seventh place heading into the clash – a position they will be determined to improve.

With an immense amount of experience and talent across both sides, this is a must-see match for NPL fans as two dangerous sides face up.

Will Blacktown be able to secure a second win over Rockdale or will the home advantage give Rockdale the lift they need to silence Mark Crittenden’s men?

Wollongong Wolves FC v Sydney United 58 FC

7:00pm, Sunday 22nd May, Sir Ian McLennan Oval

On what is expected to be a cold Sunday night in Wollongong, Sydney United 58 will make the trip down as they look to get a second victory over the Wolves in the 2022 season.

It will be a tough feat as they face a Wollongong side that are hitting their stride, with two consecutive wins and Team of the Week performances from Josh Macdonald and Senna Stevenson.

After dropping a two-goal lead against APIA in Round 11, United 58 will be wanting to prove they can reach their full potential this season under the guidance of interim coach Miro Vlastelica.

Sitting slightly away from the pack on the NPL NSW Men’s ladder, the win would mean crucial points for both teams in their 2022 campaigns.

Will Sydney United 58 be able to upset Wollongong yet again or will the Wolves send United 58 back up the highway without a win?

It’s the final round before the halfway mark of the season and things are only getting more exciting!

As the new National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s ladder leaders, Rockdale Ilinden will have a target on their back this week as the competition heats up and the tight battle at the top of the ladder continues.

Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC v Sydney FC

7:00pm, Friday 13th May, Popondetta Park

After being knocked off the top of the table by Rockdale, Sydney FC will be fired up and ready to wreak havoc on Mt Druitt Town on Friday evening.

As the young sky blues head out to Popondetta they’ll be hoping to capitalise on the struggling defence of the Rangers’ to knock home the goals they’ve shown they are capable of.

Jaiden Kucharski, Zac Sapsford and Clayton Taylor have been netting plenty for Sydney FC and will be looking to add to their goal tally and stay in contention for the top spot.

Mt Druitt Town have been watching their hopes of a successful season slip away from them as they’ve struggled through recent weeks, with a 4-0 loss to Sydney Olympic in Round 10 the latest in a string of losses.

While they have the goal-scoring power, they will need to keep a tight defensive line to contend with the scoring power of Sydney FC.

Will the Rangers be able to pull off a big upset or will Sydney FC bounce back and Kucharski especially add to his goal scoring tally after not hitting the net last weekend.

Sutherland Sharks FC v Wollongong Wolves FC

3:30pm, Saturday 14th May, Seymour Shaw

Both the Sutherland Sharks and Wollongong Wolves will be riding high on the winning feeling heading into this Round 11 clash at Seymour Shaw.

Both teams sit at the lower end of the table and will be hoping to build some momentum to give them a chance at finals football.

Sutherland’s Lukman Ahmed-Shaibu and Michael Neill were featured in the Round 10 Team of the Week after their performance against Northbridge and will be looking to repeat the performance this week.

Wollongong’s Josh Macdonald was also featured in the team after his side managed a crucial 3-1 victory against league heavyweights Blacktown City FC.

Luke Wilkshire’s move to the Central Coast Mariners in 2023 was the big story last week but rest assured ‘Wilko’ will be doing all that he can to guide his troops to a finals series finish in his last year with the club.

The Wolves have been riding high and will look at this match which is a derby of some sorts as a big three pointer in keeping that dream alive.

With a win to build on, will Sutherland or Wollongong manage to build crucial momentum heading into the second half of the season?

Marconi Stallions FC v Northbridge Bulls FC

7:00pm, Saturday 14th May, Marconi Stadium

Marconi will be looking to make it five consecutive in the NPL NSW Men’s wins when they welcome Northbridge to ‘The Palace’ on Saturday night.

After an important 4-1 victory over APIA Leichhardt in Round 10, Marconi have plenty of momentum behind them which should help them as they look to extend their undefeated run.

Marko Jesic and Nathan Millgate both represented the Stallions in the Team of the Week after impressive performances in Round 10 and will be among those to watch in the Marconi lineup alongside the likes of Charles Lokolingoy, Connor Evans and Domenic Costanzo.

Their experience and physicality will be a stark comparison to the youth and technicality Northbridge will be leaning on as they look to get a win to lift them off the bottom of the ladder.

Having fallen to Sutherland last week, Northbridge will need to regroup as they prepare for the clash if they have any hope of crushing an in-form Marconi side.

The Bulls will be aided by the possible inclusion of a couple of senior youth stars who may well feature now that their A-League journey has ended.

Will experience be able to conquer youth or will Northbridge manage to end Marconi’s momentum?

Blacktown City FC v Sydney Olympic FC

3:00pm, Sunday 15th May, Blacktown City Sports Centre

Blacktown City will be looking to redeem themselves on Sunday afternoon when they host Sydney Olympic after a trip down to Wollongong saw them fall 3-1 to the Wolves in this week’s ‘Match of the Round’.

The ten-man Blacktown City side conceded three goals last round, the most they have conceded in a game so far this season, and will need to get back to their typically strong defensive line to defeat Olympic.

While they will have to do so without regular starter Daniel Collins due to his red card, Blacktown City have plenty of depth to lean on to get a result.

While Blacktown conceded the most, Sydney Olympic scored the most goals in a game so far this season in their 4-0 defeat of Mt Druitt Town.

Roy O’Donovan, Oliver Puflett and Sam McIllhatton all featured on the scoresheet, while McIllhatton and Nikola Ujdur made the Round 10 Team of the Week for solid performances.

In what is set to be a high-calibre matchup, it’s anyone’s game as these two top-six teams match up.

Sydney United 58 FC v APIA Leichhardt FC

3:00pm, Sunday 15th May, Sydney United Sports Centre

In their first home game since the departure of coach Joe Haywood, Sydney United 58 under Miro Vlastelica will be looking to make a statement as they take on league heavyweights APIA Leichhardt.

With a string of losses not reflecting the amount of talent they have on the field, it could be the challenge of an experienced team like APIA Leichhardt that gives United 58 the fire they need.

While United 58 will be looking to get an all-important victory before the season hits the halfway point, APIA Leichhardt will be hoping for a big win to reprieve them after their 4-1 loss to Marconi in Round 10 and keep them in the premiership race.

Lining up without Themba Muata-Marlow, who has been a constant pillar of strength for the inner west side throughout the season, APIA struggled against the Stallions, conceding three penalties and another goal.

While Romero scored a hat trick in Round 9, the dynamic attacker could only manage one at ‘The Palace’ and will be hungry to prove that he can consistently score as APIA head out to Sydney United Sports Centre.

With no Australia Cup journey to look forward to, all eyes will be fixed on APIA wanting to win silverware as the club expects trophies for 2022.

Both sides should bring out the best in each other in the clash as the historic teams match up in what is set to be a stellar match.

Rockdale Ilinden FC v Manly United FC

4:00pm, Sunday 15th May, Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre

New league leaders will have their first opportunity to hold on to the top spot for consecutive weeks but will have to hold out Manly United to do so.

After a victory over Sydney FC in Round 10, Rockdale Ilinden will return to Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre on Sunday afternoon as they hope to give their loyal home fans another win.

Alec Urosevski managed an incredible four-goal haul last week and after a successful season of netting goals, will be hoping to continue doing so to put away a hungry Manly side.

The depth of the Rockdale squad has been a talking point all season and has been valuable to the side as they continue an impressive unbeaten run.

Alongside Urosevski, Brayden Sorge was featured in the Team of the Week for Rockdale, while Seiya Kambayashi was the only representative from Manly United as the lone goal scorer in the Round 10 victory.

Manly United’s victory over United 58 should give them some momentum heading into this clash, but they’ll need to bring their A-game if they want to infiltrate Rockdale’s strong defence.

Captain Jimmy Oates will be readying his troops for the big clash, but with the top spot on the line, Rockdale will surely be a tough team to crack.

We’ve hit double digits as Round 10 of the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition is ready to ignite. 

The 2022 competition has seen many amazing performances from clubs and individuals and we’re in for a treat as Round 10 promises to be one of the best yet.  

Manly United FC v Sydney United 58 FC

7:00pm, Friday 6th May, Cromer Park

It will be the start of a new era when Sydney United 58 make the trip to the Northern Beaches after the departure of coach Joe Haywood this week.

After a less than ideal start to the season, United 58 have four consecutive losses coming into Round 10 and will be hoping a fresh start gives them what they need to ignite their season.

Manly United have shown their ability this season and, sitting in sixth position on the ladder, are in good standing to make a run for finals.

A hat-trick from Bruno Mendes in Round 9 will have the Brazilian star with plenty of confidence coming into the Friday night clash. Seiya Kambayashi will also be one to watch after being named in the NPL NSW Men’s Team of the Week.

A defeat of Sydney United 58 would give Manly valuable points in their efforts to climb the table, while a win to the visitors will give them home to turn around their season – who will come out on top?

Wollongong Wolves FC v Blacktown City FC

7:30pm, Friday 6th May, WIN Stadium

An in-form Blacktown City will make the trip down to WIN Stadium on Friday night to take on the Wollongong Wolves for this Round 10 clash.

Wollongong have only one win from their last five games and will need to be in top form with a home ground advantage to knock down Blacktown City, who are coming off the back of a 10-man victory.

Hiroaki Aoyama and Daniel Collins were impressive in their defeat of Sutherland and were featured in the Team of the Week, while Jordan Smylie was unlucky not to get on the scoreboard after an energetic performance.

Mark Crittenden’s men sit at third position on the ladder at the conclusion of Round 9 and will be looking to continue adding points to their tally with a win against Wollongong, but will the Wolves be able to stop City from their climb?

One player missing will be the suspended Mario Shabow but Crittenden will have enough depth to ensure they do their best in capturing the three points.

Northbridge Bulls FC v Sutherland Sharks FC

3:00pm, Saturday 7th May, Sydney United Sports Centre

In a 12 v 10 clash, there will be plenty of fire in this clash as the young Northbridge Bulls host the Sutherland Sharks on Saturday afternoon.

Both sides have plenty to prove and have the ability to score goals and make for an entertaining match.

Sutherland will likely be disappointed they couldn’t capitalise on having an extra man for the second stanza of their match against Blacktown and will be looking for a way to recover from the performance with a win over Northbridge.

A lot has been expected from Nick Sullivan and coach Nick Dimovski hopes his star midfielder can be the difference in this clash.

Northbridge fell at the hands of Rockdale but put up a good fight in a 4-2 battle and will look to improve in their Round 10 clash at home.

All eyes will be on ace young marksman Diego Bonilla who will be out to do his best in adding more goals to his 2022 tally.

The technically talented youngsters have only one win this season – can they make it two and get off the bottom of the table or will Sutherland turn around their losing streak?

Sydney Olympic FC v Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC

5:00pm, Saturday 7th May, Belmore Sportsground

A big 4-0 loss to APIA Leichhardt at the Festival of Football in Round 9 will have Sydney Olympic fired up as they host Mt Druitt at Belmore Sportsground on Saturday evening.

Having enjoyed some success this season, Olympic will be disappointed with their performance and will be looking to prove to the competition that they are still contenders.

Having held the title of best defence in the league for the majority of the season so far, Olympic will be hoping to keep out Mt Druitt, who have proven that scoring is not their issue.

Mt Druitt will be looking to climb off the bottom end of the ladder with a win over Olympic and will need their goal scoring prowess to do so, but will more importantly need to sure up their defence.

Jack Stewart and Fumoto Kamada will be key players should the Rangers have any chance of salvaging points here.

Darcy Burgess and Roy O’Donovan will be ones to watch as Olympic look to make it rain with goals at Belmore, while former Olympic attacker Jack Stewart will be Mt Druitt’s best hope.

With the ability to provide valuable points and momentum heading into the second half of the season it will be a big game for the boys in blue as they look to send off loyal CEO John Boulous on a good note.

Marconi Stallions FC v APIA Leichhardt FC

6:00pm, Saturday 7th May, Marconi Stadium

With three consecutive wins, Marconi are in the best form they have been in this season and they will need to maintain it against a dangerous APIA Leichhardt side in the ‘Italian Derby’.

Unbeaten in five NPL NSW Men’s games, Marconi have plenty of momentum heading into the clash and will be looking to their attacking threats in the clash.

Charles Lokolingoy, Thomas James, Marko Jesic and Dominic Costanzo have all been impressive for the Stallions and will be looking to wreak havoc on a strong APIA defensive line.

APIA will of course be looking to hat-trick hero Jason Romero, who made an incredible impact when he took to the field in their Festival of Football clash in Round 9.

Ivan Necevski was incredibly valuable for the second placed team in the clash as the shot-stopper kept Sydney Olympic at bay.

With teams full of NPL experience and talent, it is set to be a high-calibre clash at The Palace.

Sydney FC v Rockdale Ilinden FC

6:30pm, Sunday 8th May, Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre

In this week’s Match of the Round the top of the table Sydney FC side will take on Rockdale Ilinden FC on Sunday evening.

While the youngsters will technically host the match, there will be no home side advantage at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre in what is set to be an action-packed clash.

The young sky blues have lost only one game this season and will be looking to stick to their success against a fiery Rockdale Ilinden side that are on an impressive undefeated streak.

Sydney FC’s Jaiden Kucharski secured a hat trick in their 6-1 defeat of Sydney United 58 at the weekend and will be a big threat to Rockdale, alongside Clayton Taylor and Zac Sapsford who have consistently impressed throughout the season.

Rockdale’s Jaden Casella featured in the Round 9 Team of the Week, but the depth of Ilinden’s squad including the likes of Alec Urosevski and David Bradasevic gives them plenty of options to upset the top team.

As they look to put a stop to the prolific goal scoring that Sydney FC have put on display so far this season, Rockdale’s impressive defence will need to be at the top of their game.

The match is a must-see for a football fans and is sure to provide plenty of entertainment as the battle for the top spot heats up.

It’s time for Round 8 of the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition and things are heating up with a new league leader.

APIA Leichhardt took the top spot after a strong Round 7 display and Blacktown City broke Sydney FC’s unbeaten run with three goals in ten minutes, stirring up some big chances in the competition ahead of what’s set to be an exciting Round 8 on all fronts.

Wollongong Wolves FC v Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC

7:30pm, Friday 22nd April, WIN Stadium

After getting their first win of the 2022 season in Round 7, Mt Druitt Town Rangers will be hoping to build some momentum as they head down to Wollongong to open Round 8 of the NPL NSW Men’s competition.

Both with a game in hand, they sit just one point apart in the bottom three of the ladder.

As one of the league’s top scorers, Mt Druitt certainly have the potential to do some damage against the Wolves, especially as Wollongong have scored just over half the amount of goals.

The Rangers’ 18 goals conceded is double that of Wollongong, whose tight defence has done little to help them get ahead in the league as they head into Round 8 with three consecutive losses.

Fumoto Kamada was a standout for Mt Druitt and will be one to watch in this clash after his Team of the Week selection.

Both sides will be eager to salvage their season, it’s set to be an entertaining battle.

You can be sure Luke Wilkshire’s men will be battling hard to get back to winning ways with the likes of Lachlan Scott, Josh Macdonald and Leroy Jennings hoping to fire.

Will Mt Druitt be able to continue to turn around their season or will Wollongong get the lift they so desperately need?

Sutherland Sharks FC v Rockdale Ilinden FC

3:30pm, Saturday 23rd April, Seymour Shaw

Rockdale Ilinden have established themselves as real contenders in this year’s competition in the past few rounds in particular, without a loss since Round 1.

With two consecutive wins heading into this match, Ilinden will be a force to be reckoned with as they head into the Sharks territory on Saturday afternoon.

The Sharks have struggled in recent rounds, with three consecutive losses heading into Round 8.

While Sutherland have been able to net 12 goals this season, they’ve conceded 17 – something they will need to work on as they face up against a fiery Rockdale attacking line spearheaded by Alec Urosevski.

Urosevski featured in this week’s Team of the Week, while a 3-0 loss to league leaders APIA saw Sutherland without any representation.

Will Sutherland be able to use the home advantage to silence an in-form Rockdale or will the visitors be able to stay safe in the shark-infested waters?

Marconi Stallions FC v Sydney United FC

7:00pm, Saturday 23rd April, Marconi Stadium

Marconi have put on some impressive performances in recent weeks but haven’t been able to convert their chances leaving them without a win in five games.

The return of Thomas James from injury gave home fans a beacon of hope as the strong forward line looked poised to wreak havoc on the competition, but despite impressive attacking talent, the Stallions have struggled to find the winning form they need.

Taylor McDonald and Nenad Vekic both featured in the Round 7 Team of the Week, showcasing the talent in their defence, however they’ll need to bring their A-game all over the park if they want to defeat Sydney United 58.

Coming off the back of a big 3-0 loss to Sydney Olympic with a red card to Yianni Fragogiannis in the final moments of the match, United 58 will need to use this clash to get back on track.

Inconsistency has plagued United 58 in the start of the competition and while they have shown their potential, they have struggled at times.

This match is historically a fiery feature and this Saturday promises a lot of entertainment as the two Western Sydney sides go into battle as they look to find a win they both need to get on track for the season they have the potential for.

Northbridge Bulls FC v APIA Leichhardt FC

3:00pm, Sunday 24th April, Sydney United Sports Centre

It’ll be top against bottom in this clash on Sunday evening as Northbridge Bulls look to cause a huge upset in the competition and secure only their second win of the season.

The hosts will be looking to tighten up their defence in this match against a dangerous APIA side as their league-leading 21 goals conceded has made it nearly impossible to get points so far this season.

Having already pulled off a big upset against Sydney United 58, Northbridge have shown they have the ability to match up against the stalwarts of the league, but it will be a big task against an in-form Leichhardt side.

APIA, who have lost only two games this season, are coming off a convincing win over Sutherland where they demonstrated the strength they have all over the park.

Themba Muata-Marlow has been a huge player for APIA this year and featured in the Round 7 Team of the Week alongside back-line teammate Walter Scott.

The two have made it difficult for most teams this season and will cause a headache for the young and ambitious forward line of Northbridge Bulls.

Will the youngsters be able to pull off a major upset or will the league leaders stay on top?

Sydney FC v Sydney Olympic FC

4:30pm, Sunday 24th April, Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre

Second and third matchup this week at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre this week as Sydney Olympic look to continue their winning ways against a depleted Sydney FC.

Sydney FC are missing some fire power after losing several usual starters to the senior squad currently playing in the AFC Asian Champions League.

Adrian Segecic, Patrick Wood, Corey Hollman, Jake Girdwood-Reich, Clayton Taylor and Adam Pavlesic were all absent from the squad when the young sky blues fell to Blacktown City at the weekend – their first loss all season.

Jaiden Kucharksi and Zac Sapsford were strong for Sydney FC as usual in their loss to Blacktown City and will likely be the stars when they line up against Olympic.

Olympic had Roy O’Donovan and Michael Glassock in the Round 7 Team of the Week after a 3-0 defeat of Sydney United 58 and will be key to Olympic’s chances of taking down Sydney FC.

After a perfect start to the season, will Sydney FC get back to their incredible form or will Sydney Olympic secure their fourth in a row as they climb up the ladder?

Blacktown City FC v Manly United FC

5:00pm, Sunday 24th April, Blacktown City Sports Centre

In the Round 8 Match of the Round Blacktown City will host Manly United on Sunday evening.

With two wins and a draw from their last three matches, Blacktown City are gaining some momentum and will be using it as they look to take down the Northern Beaches outfit.

The midfield strength of both teams will likely be the shining light of the match after imports Bruno Mendes and Hirokai Ayoyama both featured in the Team of the Week for their clubs after impressive showings in Round 7.

A Lucas Rainbird screamer against Marconi put the Manly United young gun on the map but the incredible feat will be hard for the 21-year-old to replicate.

Manly United are unbeaten from their last four games and will be chasing a fifth as they head out west and look to jump up the league ladder with a big win.

It’s certain to be an entertaining match between these two and Mark Crittenden and Adam Griffiths will be using their high-calibre tactical methodology to make what should be a quality game of football.

A must-see for any football fan, this match is anyone’s game.