PS4 NPL NSW Men’s 1 Grade 20s Round 9 Preview
ROUND nine of the grade 20s competition takes place this weekend, with the six matches split evenly across Saturday and Sunday.
This week’s match of the round sees Manly United travel across town to take on Sydney United 58, with both sides pushing for a place in the top six.
Match of the Round
Sydney United 58 FC v Manly United FC, 1pm Sunday at Sydney United Sports Centre
While Sydney United 58’s round seven match with Rockdale City Suns was washed out last Sunday, Manly United held Sutherland Sharks to a 1-1 draw at Cromer Park to put a stop to a run of two consecutive defeats.
Prior to their washed out match against Rockdale, United 58 were in impressive form after a series of a disappointing losses at home, and will look to extend that streak against a Manly side that has won two of its three away matches so far in 2015.
Saturday
Blacktown Spartans FC v Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC, 5.30pm at Blacktown Football Park
Blacktown Spartans take on Bonnyrigg White Eagles in a bottom-of-the-table clash on Saturdayafternoon at Blacktown Football Park, in which both sides will look to snap dismal losing streaks: Blacktown remain pointless since March, while Bonnyrigg continue to struggle for their first result of the season.
The visitors scored their first goals of 2015 in a loss to Sydney United 58 in round six before returning to poor form in a 4-0 defeat to South Coast Wolves, while their round eight match against Parramatta FC was washed out. Blacktown sit four points above Bonnyrigg in eleventh, and will be hopeful of a win this weekend despite a 3-0 loss to Sydney Olympic here last Sunday.
Parramatta FC v APIA Leichhardt Tigers FC, 5.30pm at Melita Stadium
Parramatta FC were denied arguably their best chance to put a string of wins together when their round eight match against Bonnyrigg White Eagles was washed out last Sunday, and this weekend face ninth-placed APIA Leichhardt Tigers; the visitors placed three points below the home side ahead of their match at Melita Stadium.
Last week, APIA became the fifth side in a row to succumb to the South Coast Wolves, narrowly losing 2-1 at Lambert Park. In the week before last Sunday’s wash out, Parramatta FC beat the lowly Blacktown Spartans 2-1 at Blacktown Football Park.
Sutherland Sharks FC v Marconi Stallions FC, 5.30pm at Seymour Shaw
After drawing 1-1 with Manly United at Cromer Park last Sunday, Sutherland Sharks return to Seymour Shaw determined to reclaim top spot on the ladder for the first time since round five.
Their opponents on Saturday, Marconi Stallions, are the very side that sit above them; recording three successive wins while the Sharks dropped five points over the same number of games. The Stallions’ previous victory came at Valentine Sports Park against Blacktown City FC last Saturday, where they won 2-1.
Sunday
Blacktown City FC v Sydney Olympic, 1pm at Lilys Football Centre
A hat trick from James Andrews saw Sydney Olympic record a 3-0 win over Blacktown Spartans at Blacktown Football Park last Sunday, and coach Harry Paras will be hoping for more of the same as he takes his side to Lilys Football Centre on Sunday afternoon to take on Blacktown City.
Blacktown trail the visitors by only two points on the ladder, and could move as high as fourth should they win this weekend, after a loss to Marconi Stallions last Saturday that cut short a unbeaten run of three matches.
South Coast Wolves FC v Rockdale City Suns, 1pm at Win Stadium
South Coast Wolves will look for their sixth consecutive win on Sunday afternoon at Win Stadium against the Rockdale City Suns, who were afforded a rest last weekend when their match with Sydney United 58 was washed out.
The home side have not lost either of their two home matches in 2015, and will be confident of overcoming a Rockdale side that last won a match in March.
– By Max Grieve, PS4 National Premier Leagues Grade 20s Reporter
