NSW Premier League Grade 20s Round 19 Preview

The top three places are still up for grabs with four rounds remaining, whilst six sides in the mix for two more finals places. Each week the competition becomes closer and closer and with just a month remaining, each match takes on renewed importance.
MATCH OF THE ROUND 
APIA LEICHHARDT TIGERS VS BLACKTOWN CITY, 1PM SUNDAY, LAMBERT PARK
Sunday afternoon sees two of the best footballing sides in the competition do battle, as APIA Leichhardt Tigers host Blacktown City at Lambert Park.
APIA are coming off a very late win against Rockdale City Suns last weekend, a match in which Wiltar Jajaw’s goal in the 90th minute saw them take a smash-and-grab three points at the Ilinden Sports Centre.
Rod Williams’ side are coming home strongly and know that the momentum is with them heading into the final four rounds of the season. Further to that, they gave Blacktown City a footballing lesson at Lily Homes Stadium in the reverse fixture, trouncing them 3-0. 
Long established at one of the favourites to win the competition, Mark Strachan’s Blacktown City have struggled in recent weeks, their play lacking the incisiveness of earlier in the season. They possess one of the most potent attacks in the league, but have failed to take advantage of Sutherland Sharks’ recent slip ups and so remain second, three points adrift. 
Key to this match will be the battle between APIA’s hugely talented In Yong Jang and Blacktown City’s captain Harry Brown in midfield, as well as whether Blacktown’s defence can deal with the threat of APIA striker Nick Taneski, who has been scoring goals at an alarming rate since his arrival from Canberra Olympic.
ROUND PREVIEW
SATURDAY
BONNYRIGG WHITE EAGLES VS MARCONI STALLIONS, 5PM, BONNYRIGG SPORTS CLUB
Bonnyrigg’s top fives hopes took a dive last week when they were defeated, leaving them with an uphill battle to make the finals.
They host Marconi Stallions on Saturday evening at Bonnyrigg Sports Club, knowing that they must take three points to keep any slim hopes alive.
Marconi have had a steady season and sit in sixth place, three points in arrears of Rockdale City, but having played a game extra. After a barnstorming start to the season, a change of coach meant that they had to regroup and as a result they sit in mid table. A victory here would place even more pressure on Rockdale City above them.
MANLY UNITED VS BLACKTOWN SPARTANS, 5PM, CROMER PARK
Fourth hosts third in this Saturday evening clash on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, as Manly United play Blacktown Spartans.
Nigel Mahoney’s Manly United have been the quiet achievers of this season’s competition and head into this match one point behind their opponents. 
Spartans are in good form and have had an excellent season and now sit just one point behind their cross town rivals Blacktown City who are in second place, meaning that a win at Cromer Park would really place the pressure on the team above them, who play on Sunday afternoon.
SOUTH COAST WOLVES VS SYDNEY OLYMPIC, 5PM, JOHN CREHAN PARK
South Coast Wolves young squad has had a successful season under Richard Lloyd, playing possession based, attacking football. The finals may just about be beyond them this season, but given the nature of the competition, a few wins to round out the season could change that.
Sydney Olympic’s shock victory over Blacktown City last weekend at Lily Homes Stadium lifted them above Sydney United 58 in the battle to avoid finishing last.
They have proven themselves very capable of upsetting the form guide on various occasions this season and could easily do so again on Saturday evening.
SUTHERLAND SHARKS VS PARRAMATTA FC, 5PM, SEYMOUR SHAW PARK
League leaders Sutherland Sharks have dipped in form of late, but chasing Blacktown City haven’t been able to take advantage. 
They face a very tricky fixture against Parramatta FC on Saturday evening, a side who are clinging on to their hopes of making the top five. Paul De Lucca’s Parramatta have been in strong recent form and have surged up the table, when at one point the looked odds on to finish last. 
Sutherland need to win to put the pressure back on Blacktown City, whilst anything less than a point for Parramatta would virtually extinguish their finals hopes, though they do have a crucial game in hand against Rockdale City.
SUNDAY
SYDNEY UNITED 58 VS ROCKDALE CITY SUNS, 2PM, EDENSOR PARK
Sydney United 58 are sitting rock bottom and they host Rockdale City Suns in the other Sunday afternoon fixture. 
Rockdale City went down in the last minute to APIA Leichhardt last weekend, whilst Sydney United 58 grabbed a point against Manly United.
Rockdale need to win to remain in pole position for the final spot in the top five, whilst Sydney United will be looking to overtake Sydney Olympic and avoid the ignominy of finishing on the bottom of the table.
– By Matthew Connellan