Round 20 Preview – PS4 NPL 3 NSW Men’s

Round Twenty of the PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues 3 NSW Men’s competition is saturated on Saturday, with five fixtures to be played over three timeslots, and the solitary remaining fixture due to be played on Sunday afternoon. 
We kick it off at 3pm on Saturday afternoon when Balmain Tigers make their second trek of the season to Bathurst to take on the Western NSW Mariners.
With seven points separating the teams at the foot of the ladder and three rounds remaining, it is the last chance for the Mariners to try and close the gap and avoid finishing bottom.
Balmain Tigers will be backing up after couple of losses against two of the league’s top teams, 1-5 vs Dunbar on Saturday and a 0-2 reverse on Tuesday night against Rydalmere Lions, so the last thing they needed was a long trip before playing their third game within seven days.
The Mariners triumphed by 3-2 back in Round Nine when the two teams last met, and no doubt the home contingent would be praying for a similar result this time around.  
Hawkesbury City will play host to Premiers-elect, Hills Brumbies at 5pm on Saturday afternoon, quietly confident of avoiding defeat against the league leaders for the second time this season.
The Hawks gave Hills a right old battle back in Round Nine, only a late screamer from Brumbies’ Greg Giovenali denying Hawkesbury a win with the game ending 2-2.
After a sluggish first round with very little to offer in terms of goals scored, Hawkesbury have proven a stubborn opposition in the second round and pushed themselves up to 8th spot on 20 points.
It will definitely be a contrast of styles, with Hills quick feet and counter attacking football up against Hawkesbury’s well structured, physical approach, so expect an entertaining and closely fought battle come Saturday afternoon.
Now that they have worked themselves in to outright second place, Dunbar Rovers will be hoping to maintain their spot when they travel to Arlington Oval to play Dulwich Hill at 7pm.
Dunbar have been a revelation in their first season in the NPL3 competition, their no nonsense, committed style of football proving very effective in a closely fought league.
Striker, David Desmond, has been the benefactor of their attacking football in recent weeks, getting on the end of his team’s exploits and managing to score nine goals in his past three encounters, moving him to 15 for the season and in equal third position on the charts.
Dulwich Hill will be no pushovers, especially at home, as they have looked to restore some pride in their famous jersey over what has been a tough campaign for the Inner West club.
Dunbar Rovers won 4-2 in a feisty encounter the last time the two clubs met, with nine yellows and a red card issued, so expect a similar level of intensity in this match.
Granville Rage and Inter Lions do battle at Garside Park on Saturday night, the match scheduled to start at 7pm.
The first round match back in Round Nine produced a seven goal thriller at Fraser Park, with the Rage edging it 4-3 with goals from Daniel Bittar, Jess Casey, Thomas Kasunic and an own goal.
Inter’s hot and cold season continued last weekend, with a 4-0 victory over Dully showing they are very capable on their day of producing a slick performance.
Expect a few goals from this mid table encounter from two teams who love to attack in numbers.
Four plays five at Rydalmere Park at 7pm on Saturday when Rydalmere Lions entertain Sydney University.
With both teams having three rounds to play, plus a rescheduled match each, if league positions don’t change this could very well be a rehearsal for a pending Elimination Semi Final in a month’s time.
Rydalmere did well to save a point in last week’s entertaining 2-2 draw at Stanmore, and picked up three points on Tuesday by beating Balmain 2-0, so could be a little leg weary approaching this fixture.
The ‘students’ on the other hand are well rested, with last week’s match postponed, so will have had two week’s reprieve coming in to this encounter.
Rydalmere won the first round encounter 3-0 with a brace from Lloyd Owusu, but with Gladesville Ryde Magic snapping at their heels in sixth position, you can expect an improved showing from a focussed Sydney University this Saturday. 
The only Sunday clash will take place at Magdala Park at 3pm, with Gladesville Ryde Magic meeting Stanmore Hawks.
Both sides have plenty to play for – Magic currently sit sixth on the ladder, and need the points to keep the pressure on fifth placed Sydney University. Stanmore are in third position, one point behind Dunbar Rovers, and with Rydalmere breathing down their necks in fourth.
The first round encounter was a fiercely contested battle, with the Hawks prevailing 2-1, and given there is so much at stake, expect few goals as both defences and goalkeepers will no doubt be up for the task at hand. 
MIDWEEK RESCHEDULED MATCH – Round 12
Balmain Tigers – Rydalmere Lions 0-2  Tuesday, August 9, at Leichhardt Oval @ 7-30pm
Rydalmere Lions picked up a valuable three points in a rescheduled Round 12 clash at Leichhardt Oval on Tuesday night, overcoming Balmain Tigers 2-0.
Lloyd Owusu and Amaury Gauthier got the goals which gave the Lions the win, and they have now moved to 37 points on the ladder, three behind Stanmore and four behind Dunbar Rovers, with a game in hand on both.