Round 10 Preview – PS4 NPL NSW Men’s U20

Round ten of the PS4 NPL NSW Men’s U20 competition sees Sutherland Sharks host strugglers Parramatta FC, while Blacktown City face APIA Leichhardt with both sides looking to keep up the pressure on the side from Seymour Shaw.

Manly United travel to Sydney United 58 on Sunday afternoon in the Match of the Round.

Match of the Round

Sydney United 58 v Manly United, 2.00pm at Sydney United Sports Centre

Manly United returned to the winner’s circle last weekend after six matches without a victory after outgunning APIA Leichhardt Tigers 4-3 at Cromer Park and the reigning champions will be looking to make it two big wins on the bounce when they arrive at Sydney United Sports Centre.

The third-placed Reds were beaten for the first time in four matches when they went down 2-0 to Sydney Olympic last Sunday and will want to bounce back to maintain pressure on second-placed Blacktown City and competition leaders Sutherland Sharks.

It promises to be an entertaining match at Edensor Park with both sides offering plenty to like so far this campaign. Sydney United 58 have surprised many after a disappointing 2016 campaign and their ten goals conceded is among the best defensive records in the competition. Antoni Zmire’s side boast plenty of goal threat and creativity too with the likes of Andre Schroeder enjoying an impressive season to date.

The Reds will need to be wary of a Manly United side who will take a lot of confidence from their win over APIA Leichhardt as they aim to climb up the ladder. Sheldon Tweedie and George Firth represent the biggest threats for the visitors, each with five and three goals this season respectively.

Saturday

Sutherland Sharks v Parramatta, 4.30pm at Seymour Shaw

Parramatta are hoping to avoid a fifth consecutive defeat but the odds will be stacked against them when they take on competition leaders Sutherland Sharks at Seymour Shaw.

Nick Dimovski’s first-placed outfit may have stuttered slightly in recent weeks with a 2-0 loss at home to Wollongong followed by a 1-1 stalemate with Sydney FC but the talented young Sutherland side still remain the team to beat so far this campaign.

The Sharks have amassed a huge 31 goals in their matches played and are capable of producing goals from anywhere on the field, with Jake Borromeo and Christian Torrelli leading the way with three apiece.

It will be a big test for Parramatta who were outclassed by Hakoah Sydney City East last Saturday. The Melita Stadium outfit may end round ten on the bottom of the ladder with Bonnyrigg steadily improving.

Bonnyrigg White Eagles v Sydney FC, 5.00pm at Bonnyrigg Sports Club

Two draws and win from their last four matches’ spells huge improvement for bottom placed Bonnyrigg who will look to drag themselves off the foot of the table when they host Sydney FC at home this Saturday.

Hamish Brown’s side collected a point from their 2-2 draw against Wollongong last weekend and will need to raise the performance levels again when the Sky Blues head to Bonnyrigg.

David Zdrilic’s men showed their quality in last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Sutherland with a late goal from Finn Ballard-McBride rescuing a valuable point but it also prolonged a run of four consecutive draws for the league newcomers who find themselves at risk of slipping down the table.

They’ll want to put a stop to that on Saturday but it will be another firm test against an improving White Eagles outfit.

Sunday

Hakoah Sydney City East v Sydney Olympic, 1.00pm at Hensley Athletic Field

Hakoah Sydney City East are quietly pressing their claim as competition dark horses and will look to continue their rise up the table when Sydney Olympic come calling on Sunday.

Paul Hubbard’s side made light work of Parramatta last weekend with forward Connor Eldridge netting his fifth goal of the season – the Hakoah frontman is one the Olympic rearguard will have to marshal carefully.

Olympic themselves broke a horrible run of form by beating high-flying Sydney United 58 2-0 last Sunday but have been shipping goals for fun in recent weeks and will need to put in a diligent display to stand any chance at Hensley Athletic Field.

Wollongong Wolves v Rockdale City Suns, 1.00pm at WIN Stadium

Wollongong Wolves will hope to extend their unbeaten run to four matches this Sunday with Rockdale City Suns making the journey to WIN Stadium.

The Wolves took the impressive scalps of Hakoah Sydney City East and Sutherland Sharks before succumbing to a 2-2 draw at home to Bonnyrigg White Eagles last weekend, an encounter the South Coast side would have had designs on taking maximum points from.

They’ll need to get back on track on Sunday against a Rockdale outfit one position below them in tenth. The Suns can overtake Wollongong with a win and will take a degree of confidence into the match following an impressive defensive display in their 0-0 draw with Blacktown City in round nine.

APIA Leichhardt Tigers v Blacktown City, 2.30pm at Lambert Park

A 4-3 loss to Manly United stopped an impressive run of form for APIA Leichhardt last weekend who prior to the defeat had netted 21 goals in their previous five matches to charge into a finals position.

They’ll face another tough test of their credentials on Sunday when second-paced Blacktown City arrive at Lambert Park. Although John Carnevale’s side will lament their failure to capitalize on Sutherland’s draw with Sydney in round nine, City have been motoring along impressively in recent weeks but are still yet to play to their maximum potential this season.

That could be an ominous sign for APIA Leichhardt, who will need to tighten up at the back for the visit of Blacktown having conceded seven in their last two.

–Jacob Windon, National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s U20 reporter