Round 12 Preview – PS4 NPL NSW U20

Sutherland Sharks travel to Manly United and Rockdale City Suns host Sydney FC in two standout Heritage Round fixtures this weekend as we enter the second half of the season.

The Match of the Round is at Lambert Park where APIA Leichhardt Tigers face Sydney United 58.

Match of the Round

APIA Leichhardt Tigers v Sydney United 58, Saturday 5.30pm at Lambert Park

A fascinating top of the table clash between fourth-placed APIA Leichhardt and second-placed Sydney United will take place at Lambert Park on Saturday evening with both sides looking to keep pace with competition leaders Sutherland Sharks.

APIA Leichhardt assumed top spot in first grade last week and the U20s will have serious designs on maintaining their place at the right end of the table having won five of their last seven. The Tigers haven’t been as consistently sound defensively as their United 58 opponents so far this campaign but only Sutherland (36) have scored more than Michael Urulako’s men (28) who have also kept two consecutive clean sheets, a record that will boost their confidence ahead of the weekend’s fixture.

The second-placed Reds come into the affair in similarly impressive form and already hold one victory over APIA this campaign following their comfortable 2-0 win in round one. United 58 have shown great balance across the pitch and boast the equal best defensive record in the competition with only eleven goals conceded: they will have every chance at making a statement by holding off their free-scoring opponents and coming away with an upset victory at Lambert Park.

Sunday

Sydney Olympic v Bonnyrigg White Eagles, 12.45pm at Belmore Sports Ground

Olympic offered a good fight in attempting to derail leaders Sutherland in last week’s match of the round at Belmore but were ultimately outmuscled by the Sharks.

However the Blues are well placed to return to winning ways when they host Bonnyrigg on Sunday.

The White Eagles saw their round eleven fixture with fellow cellar dwellers Parramatta cancelled and will be heading into the contest hungry to lift themselves off the bottom of the table but will be well aware of an Olympic side starting to hit their stride.

Prior to last week’s defeat the Blues had overturned a shaky defensive record with wins and clean sheets over Sydney United 58 and Hakoah Sydney City East and will target nothing less than three points on Sunday.

Manly United v Sutherland Sharks, 1.00pm at Cromer Park

Manly United will hope their much-needed 3-0 win over Hakoah Sydney City East last weekend is a sign of things to come ahead of the visit of Sutherland Sharks on Sunday.

The reigning premiers lost 5-2 on the opening day to the competition frontrunners and it has since been an inconsistent season from United who have remained on the fringes of the top five.

With 23 goals conceded the Cromer Park outfit will need to improve their defensive record to climb up the table and will especially need to remain disciplined on the weekend when they come up against the best attacking side in the league.

Sutherland extended their advantage to seven points last weekend thanks to a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Sydney Olympic in Belmore and with key forward players in excellent form they’ll be typically difficult to beat.

Blacktown City v Hakoah Sydney City East, 1.00pm at Lilys Football Centre

Blacktown City remain hot on the heels of Sutherland but will be well aware their momentum is beginning to slow down ahead of their clash with Hakoah Sydney City East on Sunday.

John Carnevale’s side were held to a 0-0 stalemate with fellow chasers Sydney United 58 last weekend and have netted just one goal in their last four appearances.

The visitors may just sense an opportunity to get their campaign back on track when they arrive at Lilys Football Centre. Hakoah slipped down to ninth position as a result of last week’s 3-0 defeat to Manly but have the attacking players and tactical nous to cause Blacktown problems.

Wollongong Wolves v Parramatta, 1.00pm at WIN Stadium

Parramatta have failed to pick up a point since round five but could find themselves ahead of Wollongong on the table if they can escape WIN Stadium with a victory on Sunday afternoon.

It will be a crucial match for the tenth and ninth placed sides who are at   threat of their season slipping away should they receive another loss on the weekend.

The Wolves will need to build on their home form to resuscitate their season – the South Coast outfit have won just one match at WIN Stadium this year but will fancy their chances against the competition’s second-lowest scorers.

Rockdale City Suns v Sydney FC, 3.00pm at Ilinden Sports Centre

Rockdale City Suns host Sydney FC in the final match of round twelve on Sunday with both sides starting to feel their way into the season.

The hosts have proven increasingly difficult customers in recent times with just one loss in their last five and were unlucky to go down 1-0 to high-flying APIA Leichhardt in round eleven’s fixture.

Sydney FC are also beginning to show their mettle and have conceded just two goals in their last four. A goal difference of plus ten means David Zdrilic’s side are well poised to secure a position in the top five with a win at Ilinden Sports Centre.

-By Jacob Windon