Round 3 Preview – PS4 NPL NSW Men’s U20
Sutherland Sharks will look to continue their perfect start to the season when they host APIA Leichhardt Tigers unfortunately the Bonnyrigg White Eagles v Blacktown City clash has been rescheduled for Thursday 30th of March at 8:30pm at the Bonnyrigg Sports Club.
The Match of the Round sees Hakoah Sydney City East host Sydney United 58 on Saturday afternoon.
Match of the Round
Hakoah Sydney City East v Sydney United 58, Saturday 1.00pm at Hensley Athletic Field
After defeat at home in the opening round to Blacktown City Hakoah Sydney City East opened their account for the season last weekend with an away victory over APIA Leichhardt.
Hakoah were good value for their 2-1 win at Lambert Park, with a late APIA consolation adding some respectability to the score line after second half goals from Nathan Roberts and Connor Eldridge put the visitors in cruise control.
Sydney United 58 began their campaign with a solid 2-0 win over APIA Leichhardt in round one and with the Reds round two fixture postponed by wet weather they will be hungry to return to action at Hensley Athletic Field.
Keep an eye out for Hakoah’s Satchel Kolt and Connor Shaddock, two members of Hakoah’s 2016 championship-winning U18 side who been impressing in the season’s early stages.
While for Sydney United 58, the likes of Jack Stewart and Andre Schroeder were impressive in their round one fixture and look set to play key roles in lifting the Reds up the table this campaign.
Saturday
Sutherland Sharks v APIA Leichhardt Tigers, 4.30pm at Seymour Shaw
Sutherland Sharks are laying an early claim to the tag of championship favourites after starting the season with two resounding wins over Manly United and Blacktown City.
With nine goals scored in two fixtures Nick Dimovski’s side are hot property and it will be a hugely difficult test for the visiting APIA Leichhardt side who have begun the campaign with two 2-1 losses to Sydney United 58 and Hakoah Sydney City East.
Sutherland’s top scorer from the 2016 campaign Jeremy Cox notched his first two goals of the season in last Saturday’s 4-1 hammering of Blacktown City and the APIA defence will need to carefully marshal the speedster, and the likes of Matias Da Silva Santos and midfielder Thomas Papa, if they are to avoid a third straight defeat at Seymour Shaw.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles v Blacktown City, (Thursday 30th March 8.30pm) at Bonnyrigg Sports Club
These two traditional heavyweights have started the 2017 campaign in indifferent fashion with Blacktown suffering one loss and one win, while Bonnyrigg have been defeated twice, conceding seven goals and scoring one in the process.
It therefore shapes up as a big game for two sides aiming for top five finishes. Blacktown City were beaten 8-0 by Bonnyrigg White Eagles last season in what was one of the standout fixtures of last campaign, and remaining members of the Blacktown squad will no doubt be fixed on banishing those memories when they arrive at Bonnyrigg Sports Club on Saturday evening.
The hosts will be without suspended key arrival Alex Mooy after the former Spartans midfielder picked up a red card against Manly United last week.
Sydney FC v Sydney Olympic, 5.45pm at Lambert Park
Sydney FC will face a real test of their quality when they host reigning champions Sydney Olympic at Lambert Park this Saturday. Olympic are on a ten-match winning run that dates back to round 17 of last season and have scored seven goals in their opening two fixtures whilst conceding just the solitary goal.
With Olympic attackers Nikita Andricopoulos and Sebastian Malfara in sensational form, the Sky Blues will have to be at their best to get a result. David Zdrillic’s side had their round two fixture with Parramatta postponed – an extra week of preparation might be just what Sydney need to scupper Olympic’s run and assert themselves as the competition’s team to beat.
Sunday
Wollongong Wolves v Manly United, 1.00pm at WIN Stadium
It’s been a far from ideal start to the season for Wollongong Wolves with the South Coast outfit going down 4-0 to Sydney Olympic in round two after their opening round fixture with Parramatta was abandoned mid-game.
They’ll be hoping to get things back on track when Manly United arrive at WIN Stadium. The 2016 Premiers are fresh off a 4-0 thumping of Bonnyrigg White Eagles and will be intent on flexing their championship muscles against the Wolves, whom they beat twice last season.
Rockdale City Suns v Parramatta, 3.00pm at Ilinden Sports Centre
It might be round three but Parramatta’s trip to Ilinden Sports Centre may well feel like the opening weekend for the Eagles who have had their opening two fixtures abandoned due to a head injury suffered against Wollongong in round one and last weekend’s rain.
The Melita Stadium outfit will no doubt be raring to go come Sunday afternoon as they search for some consistency during the 2017 season. Having added the talented Leandro Guzman from Bonnyrigg and retained leading goalscorer Nicholas Chymiak, who scored nine goals in 18 appearances last season, Parramatta are a chance of cracking the top five if they improve upon last season’s respectable mid-table finish.
They’ll first have to navigate this tricky venture to Rockdale, who are looking to get off the mark themselves after a round one loss to Sydney FC.
–By Jacob Windon
