Westfield FFA Cup Round 5 Preview
Round 5 Preliminary matches of the Westfield FFA Cup will continue on Wednesday night with two games were played on Tuesday.
Men’s State League One outfit Hawkesbury City defeated Football South Coast Association side Woonona FC 2-0 in what was a hard fought game at David Bertenshaw Field.
The South Coast side did give it their all on what was a chill Sydney Tuesday evening, but Hawkesbury held their own coming home with the victory.
While there was almost a huge scare for PS4 NPL NSW Men’s 2 side Bankstown City FC as they needed an extra time goal to defeat Eastern Suburbs Association side Coogee United 3-2.
All eyes will be at Blacktown Football Park come Wednesday night though as the biggest match of round 5 takes place. The first Blacktown derby for 2015 see’s City make the short drive to take on the Spartans in an all NPL 1 clash.
Both sides enjoyed comfortable wins in Round 4 as the Spartans destroyed North Sydney United 7-0 while City took care of Ararat FC, coming away with a dominant 6-0 win.
City are yet to taste defeat in the State’s top tier and we should be in for a real blockbuster matchup, with the Spartans keen to avenge their 7-0 thrashing in the last round of the NPL season last year.
Illawarra Premier League outfit Wollongong United will take on it’s second consecutive Men’s State League 1 opponent after defeating the Stanmore Hawks in Round 4, meeting the Inter Lions at The Crest. The Inter Lions needed a shootout to get through their last match against association team Auburn FC.
St George Association team Arncliffe Aurora make the short trip down West Botany Street to take on local rival and PS4 NPL NSW Men’s 1 side Rockdale City Suns at Illinden Sports Centre.
Aurora have already caused a stir in the Cup, knocking out State League 1 side Gladesville Ryde Magic in Round 3 and then easily accounting for fellow Association side Hurstville Glory 5-0.
The out-of-sorts Suns have secured only one win this season, coming in the Cup where they had to come from behind against Rydalmere FC, scoring a stoppage time goal to move into round 5 of the Cup competition.
At Pluim Park on Wednesday night, Central Coast Association team Gosford City take on PS4 NPL NSW Men’s 2 side Macarthur Rams.
City recorded an impressive 6-1 win in their round 4 Cup match and will look to make home field advantage count against the Rams. Gosford will look to Jared McNee and Ian McAndrew to continue with their goal scoring form.
The Rams had minimal problems in their opening Cup match, comfortably accounting for Padstow United with a 4-0 win.
The Mounties Wanderers, a team renowned for being Cup specialists over recent years travel to Belmore on Wednesday evening taking on NPL 1 side Sydney Olympic.
Mounties Captain and no nonsense defender Mark D’Alessandro is no stranger to big games and will make sure his Wanderers team is pumped for this massive fixture.
State League 2 team Prospect United have perhaps caused the biggest shock of the competition so far, knocking out PS4 NPL 2 side Central Coast FC last week by the odd goal. Their round 5 opponents will be fellow State League 2 team Hurstville FC with both keen to progress.
State League 1 team Nepean FC welcome Canterbury Association team Leichhardt Saints to Cook Park. Nepean has somewhat snuck through in their opening two fixtures, also against association teams, while the Saints took care of Marrayong Sports in round 4.
A PS4 NPL NSW Men’s 1 clash takes place in round 5 at Sydney United Sports Centre as Sydney United 58 take on Parramatta FC.
This will be the second time in as many days both teams have locked horns with United 58 defeating Parramatta 1-0 on Sunday in the league. Both teams had fantastic runs last year in the Cup and will be keen that something similar transpires this time.
Another all PS4 NPL 1 match up see’s the Bonnyrigg White Eagles travel to Cromer Park to take on Manly United FC.
Last year’s Cup defeat to United is still a fresh wound for most Bonnyrigg fans and they’ll be hoping they can turn the tables this year. A repeat of the 2014 Cup run would be welcomed with open arms by Paul Dee and his men.
Undefeated Illawarra Premier League outfit Port Kembla FC welcome the might of PS4 NPL NSW Men’s 1 team Sutherland Sharks to Wetherall Park, Primbee on Wednesday night.
Port coach Stuart Beedle is happy to take the underdog tag ahead of the game and will be hoping his side can spring a surprise and progress towards a round 6 place.
The Sharks destroyed Marconi in the earlier round and will look to bounce back after a tight league loss over the weekend.
On the 26th of April, the regional city of Wagga will play host to the round 5 clash between State League 2 side Wagga City Wanderers and Bankstown Association’s Yagoona Lions.
It will be a true test for the Lions who came through an epic match in round 4 after a 5-5 draw in normal time, finding the winner in the added 30 minutes.
The Wanderers, one of the state’s newest clubs, have had a good Cup run, winning their opening two games with little fuss.
Tuesday 14/04/15
Hawkesbury City FC 2 v Woonona FC 0 @David Bertenshaw Field
Bankstown City 3 v Coogee United 2 @Jensen Park
Wednesday 15/04/15
Blacktown Spartans v Blacktown City @Blacktown Football Park
Wollongong United v Inter Lions @Crest Athletic Centre
Kenthurst and Districts FC v The Entrance Bateau Bay United FC @Christie Park
Arncliffe Aurora v Rockdale City Suns @Illinden Sports Centre
Sydney Olympic v Mounties Wanderers @Belmore Sports Ground
South Coast Wolves v Spirit FC @John Crehan Park
Balmain Tigers v North Epping Rangers @5 Sports Caringbah
Hurstville FC v Prospect United @William Lawson Drive
Sydney United 58 v Parramatta FC @Sydney United Sports Centre
Port Kembla v Sutherland Sharks @Whetherall Park, Primbee
Nepean FC v Leichardt Saints @Cook Park
Manly United v Bonnyrigg White Eagles @Cromer Park
Western NSW Mariners v Hakoah Sydney City East @Proctor Park
Gosford City v Macarthur Rams @Pluim Park
Bulli FC v Sydney University @Balls Paddock
Northern Tigers v Bankstown Berries @Mills Park
Tuesday 21/04/15
Hursville City Minotaurs v North Shore Mariner/Dapto Dandaloo Fury @5 Sports Caringbah
Sunday 26/04/15
Wagga City Wanderers v Yagoona Lions @ Gissing Oval
