Round 5 Preview – PS4 NPL NSW Men’s U20

Round five of the PS4 NPL NSW Men’s U20 competition sees Sutherland Sharks aim for their fifth consecutive win, while reigning champions Sydney Olympic will look to bounce back from their first defeat of the season against Rockdale City Suns.

Meanwhile, Bonnyrigg White Eagles are searching for their first points of the campaign when they take on Sydney United 58 at Sydney United Sports Centre.

The Match of the Round is at Lambert Park where Sydney FC host Blacktown City.

Match of the Round

Sydney FC v Blacktown City, 5.45pm at Lambert Park

Both these sides will be expecting nothing less than a finals finish from the 2017 campaign and with Sydney FC and Blacktown City coming into this round five clash in third and fifth position respectively it’s sure to be an exciting encounter between two potential championship winners at Lambert Park.

Having defeated reigning premiers Manly United 3-1 last Sunday, Sydney FC come into the match with back to back victories and will be aiming for their third win in a row when they host Blacktown.

Sky Blues forward John Iredale leads the golden boot race so far with four to his name and the striker will fancy his chances at extending that tally against a City defence that has been far from convincing in their matches so far.

Blacktown managed to claw their way to a 3-2 victory over Wollongong last weekend after some defensive mishaps but John Carnevale’s side may be punished more ruthlessly should they continue to lapse in concentration against Sydney.

Saturday

Sutherland Sharks v Hakoah Sydney City East, 4.30pm at Seymour Shaw

Competition leaders Sutherland Sharks will be shooting for five consecutive wins when they welcome Hakoah Sydney City East to Seymour Shaw this Saturday.

Sutherland have begun the 2017 campaign in excellent style after scoring fifteen goals in their first four matches and will be regarded as strong favourites against the visiting Hakoah side.

Hakoah have made an indifferent start to the season with two wins and two losses leaving Paul Hubbard’s side in sixth position after four rounds, although there’s been plenty to like about the Hensley Athletic Field outfit who will undoubtedly be intent on leaving Seymour Shaw with their first big scalp of the year.

Sunday

Parramatta v Manly United, 1.00pm at Melita Stadium

There were plenty of eyebrow-raising score lines from round four’s action but perhaps no bigger than at Melita Stadium where Parramatta defeated reigning champions Sydney Olympic 2-0 to claim their first points of the season.

It makes the visit of Manly United this weekend a hugely intriguing fixture with Manly looking to get their championship assault back on track after a 3-1 home defeat to Sydney FC.

The Cromer Park outfit have had their issues at the back in the opening weeks of competition in conceding nine goals in four and could face further punishment against a Parramatta side with their tails up.

However, the visitors will be looking to remedy these issues in the coming weeks and with the likes of George Firth and Sheldon Tweedie in fine goal scoring form Parramatta may be brought back down to earth by the competition heavyweights.

Rockdale City Suns v Sydney Olympic, 12.00pm at Ilinden Sports Centre

Sydney Olympic are aiming to bounce back from their first defeat in over ten matches when the reigning champions travel to Ilinden Sports Centre to face Rockdale City Suns on Sunday.

The Blues were beaten 2-0 by Parramatta in round four and will face a Rockdale side desperate for points after a stop-start beginning to the campaign.

Stamati Glaros’ side lost 2-0 to Hakoah Sydney City East in their most recent outing but a 2-1 defeat over Sydney United 58 indicates the Suns have the potential to cause a few headaches for the big sides throughout the competition.

Sydney United 58 v Bonnyrigg White Eagles, 12.00pm at Sydney United Sports Centre

Sydney United 58 will look to regain their form after back to back defeats when bottom-placed rivals Bonnyrigg White Eagles arrive at Edensor Park on Sunday.

The White Eagles have failed to claim a single point so far this campaign and are coming off the back of a 7-0 hounding from APIA Leichhardt Tigers in round four.

However, with Bonnyrigg starting the 2016 campaign in similarly poor fashion before finishing the regular season in third place, Sydney United 58 need to be wary of a White Eagles side capable of matching anyone on their day.

Wollongong Wolves v APIA Leichhardt Tigers, 1.00pm at WIN Stadium

Wollongong Wolves were perhaps unlucky to come away from Lilys Football Centre empty handed in their 3-2 defeat to Blacktown City last weekend and the South Coast outfit will be primed for a big performance against the visiting APIA Leichhardt Tigers on Sunday afternoon.

The Wolves currently sit eleventh on the table having lost three in a row since their opening day win over Parramatta.

But it won’t be an easy task in welcoming an APIA Leichhardt side coming off the back of a 7-0 thumping of Bonnyrigg White Eagles. Former Wanderers starlet Jordan Morfitis snared his first goals in APIA colours in that victory with a hat trick and if the visitors are in the mood again Wollongong could be facing their fourth consecutive defeat.

–By Jacob Windon