Round 1 Season Preview – PS4 NPL 3 NSW Men’s
It’s been a very long pre-season for fans of the newly named PlayStation 4 NPL 3 NSW Men’s competition, but the wait is finally over as the 2016 league gets underway this weekend.
There are a couple of new teams amongst the twelve clubs, as well as a host of familiar faces, as we focus this week’s review on the opening round of fixtures across Saturday and Sunday.
HAWKESBURY CITY SC – INTER LIONS SC
Saturday, April 2
David Bertenshaw Field @ 5-00pm
The early 5-00pm kick off means the first match of the season takes shape at David Bertenshaw Field, when the local Hawkesbury City SC welcome the visit of Inter Lions.
Dean Bertenshaw is back full time as coach of the Hawks, fresh from his stint as assistant in 2015 for the PlayStation 4 NPL NSW Men’s Premiers, Blacktown City FC.
The Hawks have always been the entertainers of this league, great for the neutral fan, but frustrating for the locals because they haven’t quite been able to fulfill their potential over recent years.
Plenty of goals scored, but quite a few conceded as well, although co-captain, goal keeper Daniel Schwarzer, has been in fine preseason form and will be looking to keep his backline very tight as the Hawks hope to start their season with a bang.
The other co-captain is none other than Mick McCrory, the sturdy attacker keen to lead from the front with goals as the Hawks will hope to keep their home ground as a fortress and not give visiting teams any peace.
Hawkesbury have had some pleasing performances in the preseason, none other than their comprehensive 3-0 victory over Western NSW Mariners in Round Three of the Westfield FFA Cup. McCrory, Ekehov, and Gough were the goal scorers on the night, and now the Hawks play Leichhardt Saints Senior SC in Round Four on April 6.
The Hawks hope to go better in the league than last year and at least make the finals in 2016, and with experience down the spine of the team as well as on the coaching front, don’t bet against Hawkesbury City being a threat.
Inter Lions have been the perennial under achievers of the past few seasons, but they hope to put all that behind them in 2016.
Captain-coach, Lachlan Wright, has a wealth of experience across both football and futsal, and has worked extremely hard in the preseason to make sure Inter progress off a solid foundation.
New signings include brothers Mark and Chris Pinto from Dulwich Hill, whilst their ‘go to’ man will undoubtedly be Daniel Fogarty.
Fogarty, recently of Blacktown Spartans, and of Futsalroo fame, has speed to burn and an eye for goal, so will no doubt prove a menace for opposition defences this season.
Robbie Maiorana will be difficult to beat as always between the sticks, whilst keep an eye out for young Daniel Fornito, a weapon of sorts in the attacking third with plenty of technical ability.
Throw in the experience of the tenacious Domenic Arcella and composure of Clayton Musumeci in midfield, and you can see why Inter Lions are aiming big this year, with finals football an absolute minimum target.
STANMORE HAWKS FC – WESTERN NSW MARINERS
Saturday, April 2
Arlington Oval @ 7-00pm
Stanmore Hawks will welcome the travelling Western NSW Mariners on Saturday evening at Arlington Oval, hoping to kick their season off on a positive note and make a push for finals football in 2016.
Experience abounds in the club’s leadership roles, with skipper, Steve Liavas, guiding the side on the park and coach, Soteris Mavros, off it, as the Hawks hope to go one better than their 6th place in 2015.
Most of last year’s squad are back for another crack, and there is a little noise around the signing of young speedster, Peter Yanopoulos, from Gladesville Ryde Magic, a striker with an eye for goal.
The Hawks won’t have the ‘distraction’ of the FFA Cup to worry about – Killarney Districts knocked Stanmore out in Round Three via a 4-2 result.
The Western NSW Mariners are another FFA Cup Round 3 casualty, losing to Hawkesbury City 0-3.
Since entering the league a few seasons ago, Andrew Fearnley has worked tirelessly at building a competitive squad whilst streamlining a path for the club’s juniors to progress to.
The experience of Adam Scimone continues to be invaluable, the skipper’s versatility a key strength the rest of the players can benefit from.
Keep an eye out for Matt Wood who has joined direct from the UK, whilst big things are expected of Jeremy Judge, an attacking midfielder with an eye for goals.
The Mariners would like nothing more than to make the finals at a minimum in 2016, so it’ll be key that their season starts with three points on Saturday against the Hawks.
GRANVILLE RAGE – DULWICH HILL FC
Saturday, April 2
Garside Park @ 7-00pm
Granville Rage are a club that fell away towards the latter part of 2015, and their 11th position in the final standings hurting the pride of the famous club. The Rage will be out to make amends in 2016, starting with the visit of Dulwich Hill to Garside Park on Saturday night.
Marko Miljkovic will lead the team on the park, whilst coach Miguel Sosa will be out to solidify the team’s defence as the Rage hope to continue to play entertaining football.
A young squad with finals ambitions, Manu Yel has been a standout player for Granville in recent seasons, both with his sturdy central defensive play and his spot kicks, so look for another stellar season from the centre back.
Granville got their competitive season off to a good start recently, accounting for Winston Hills in the third round of the FFA Cup, setting up a tie against PlayStation 4 NPL NSW Men’s side Hakoah Sydney City East.
Norman Tome once again has the coaching reins at Dulwich Hill, and Dully’s aspirations are nothing short of winning the league, whilst continuing to entertain the public along the way with swift moving attacking football.
Skipper George Lagoudakis is a fierce competitor, and will lead from the front, whilst the new faces to the club – Rocky Gabby and Carlo Musumeci – will both add depth and experience to a squad that finished fifth on the ladder last season, a point from third.
Dully’s run in the Westfield FFA Cup continues, a 5-1 home win over Pendle Hill in Round Three setting up a fourth round clash against Southern and Ettalong United.
RYDALMERE LIONS SC – BALMAIN TIGERS FC
Saturday, April 2
Rydalmere Park @ 7-00pm
Rydalmere Lions will be hoping to go one better than they did in 2015 when their new season gets underway at Rydalmere Park on Saturday evening.
The Lions finished second behind the North Shore Mariners in 2015, and will have the experience of the pain of going so close when they start this campaign against Balmain Tigers.
Tony Basha has assembled a talented squad to compete for the title, with the imposing figure of Lloyd Owusu leading from the front.
Shane Webb brings all of his wealth of experience from the top flight of State League football to the Lions, a fierce competitor with a great left peg and a winner by nature.
Zac Elrich will continue to be the player to watch, his speed and eye for goal hoping to replicate his excellent personal performances in 2015.
The club has big ambitions, aiming to win this league title on the way to gaining promotion, so look out for a blistering start to the 2016 season from the Rydalmere Lions.
They get an opportunity to flex their muscles against the might of APIA Leichhardt Tigers when they clash in the fourth round of the FFA Cup on April 6th.
Balmain Tigers will once again be coached by Joe Di Giulio, who took the club to the first round of the 2015 FFA Cup proper where they entertained Melbourne Victory, and he has some work on his hands in trying to prepare his players for the upcoming season.
The Tigers have had an exodus of players in the off season, and have had to work hard at recruiting the right type of players to fill the gaps.
Slaven Ljuboja brings experience to the fore, and he will don the arm band as he hopes to lead the newly assembled squad to a finals position in 2016.
The first grade squad has an unknown element to it, given quite a few acquisitions are players new to the country itself, let alone this league. Three players from Japan and just as many from Europe (Italy/Spain) give the team a multicultural flair, and the key for Di Giulio will no doubt be to create team cohesion as quickly as possible without the loss of points as the new recruits acclimatise.
Balmain have worked hard to recruit some depth and strength in the lower grades as well, in the hope of not only providing a pathway for the juniors, but to aspire to the greater heights of promotion in the not too distant future.
The Tigers have already shown some of that cohesion by progressing in to the Fourth Round of the FFA Cup, where they’ll meet Picton Rangers on April 6th.
HILLS BRUMBIES SC – SYDNEY UNIVERSITY SFC
Saturday, April 2
Lilys Football Centre @ 8-30pm
The late game on Saturday evening will take place at the pristine Lilys Football Centre, and sees Hills Brumbies welcome the visit of Sydney University SFC.
The Brumbies finished a very creditable third in the competition proper in 2015, but like many, will hope to improve this season and snag a top two spot, or better still, the title itself.
Hills have recruited the experienced Paul Downs and Dane Merrin, two astute acquisitions, whilst skipper Tom Brandon will hope to guide the team to regular weekly successes.
Greg Giovenali will continue to be the go to man, his speed and eye for goal a real threat for opposition defences, whilst Marcus Zarantonello has joined from Manly United, the young defender adding some steel to a tough defensive line.
Sydney University drop in to the PlayStation 4 NPL 3 NSW Men’s following relegation in 2015, and as a result have acquired almost a brand new squad as they attempt to gain promotion at the first attempt.
New at the coaching helm is the much travelled Brian Dene, and he will hope his new squad can jell quickly if they are to reach their objectives.
In attack the ‘students’ can boast two of the most regular scorers at this level in recent seasons, target man Scott Tonkin, and opportunist, Rosario Occhipinti. Young Josh Ginges will provide ample support, evident with his two goal show in the team’s Round Three 3-2 Westfield FFA Cup success over Kenthurst and District.
The tricky Domenic Di Mento will menace defenders with his wing play, whilst Daniel Conway takes up position between the sticks, undoubtedly one of the best shot stoppers in the league.
Tom Hyde joins the club from his successful stint at Balmain Tigers, and promptly takes on the arm band, his exemplary leadership qualities and defensive awareness a real asset for a team assembled in the off season and looking for immediate success.
New club to the division, new coach, many new players….don’t be fooled, Sydney University will be a real title threat in 2016.
GLADESVILLE RYDE MAGIC – DUNBAR ROVERS FC
Sunday, April 3
Magdala Park @ 3-00pm
An intriguing match awaits us at Magdala Park on Sunday afternoon, with consistent PlayStation 4 NPL 3 NSW Men’s high achievers, Gladesville Ryde Magic, welcoming 2015 (then known as) State League Men’s 2 Champions, Dunbar Rovers.
The Magic have been there, done that, and are always a threat to any club they come up against.
George Ganiatsas continues to be all things Gladesville, and knows what is required to achieve success, overview proceedings once more in 2016.
Kyriakou Tohouroglou will don the gloves once again, his experience invaluable to the Magic, and a real asset to the league overall. Tohouroglou has also taken over the additional duties of first team coach, assisted by Tass Fiakos, having moved over to the club from Balmain Tigers.
Hard working midfielder, Chris Gaitatzis, has taken over the captaincy duties, and he has begun to lead from the front on the park with some inspirational performances in the pre-season lead up games.
This included a two goal effort when he lead Magic to a penalty shootout victory over Pittwater RSL in Round Three of the FFA Cup, a match where Gladesville were behind in normal and extra time before snatching victory from the spot.
Gladesville’s ‘big money’ signing for 2016 is none other than Chris Tomaras – last season playing as a number 10 for the PlayStation 4 NPL NSW Men’s Premiers, Blacktown City FC. Tomaras has silky skills and a great awareness in the attacking third, and his coup will have a major impact on Gladesville’s results this season.
Dunbar Rovers are welcomed to the PlayStation 4 NPL 3 NSW Men’s after winning the Division Two title at the first attempt in 2015, suffering the solitary loss during a commanding display.
Coach Will Cullen has been furiously working his troops in the off season to accommodate the club’s elevation in to the PlayStation 4 NPL 3 NSW Men’s competition, transitioning the new recruits with his retained players in the hope of continued success in 2016.
Many of the title winning squad have returned, including Clive Delaney, as well as influential skipper, Robbie Deasy, whilst the Rovers have also recruited astutely to give themselves some depth.
Robbie Ezekiel, Marcus Naoum, Alex Nicolosi, David Adamo, and Andrew Green are amongst the new faces, and keep an eye on Andrew Doddy, a central midfielder of strong pedigree.
The Rovers preseason form culminated in a 5-0 drubbing of Chatswood Rangers in the Westfield FFA Cup Round Three recently, with a few debutants amongst the scorers in a pleasing sign for Dunbar.
Alex Nicolosi (2), Andrew Green and Robbie Ezekiel all found the net on their first competitive starts for the club, the other goal being scored by Mike Sealy.
Dunbar’s reward is a fourth round tie against Hills Brumbies in what looms as a PlayStation 4 NPL 3 NSW Men’s derby of sorts.
