Round 15 Preview – PS4 NPL NSW Men’s U20
The premiership race is beginning to shape up with eight rounds left of the regular season and leaders Sutherland Sharks could be reeled in further following this weekend’s round of fixtures.
Sutherland host Sydney United 58 at Seymour Shaw on Saturday and will have a keen eye on results at Lambert Park and WIN Stadium in particular as Sydney FC and Blacktown City look to remain in the hunt.
The match of the round is at Bonnyrigg Sports Club where APIA Leichhardt Tigers will attempt to narrow the gap against a Bonnyrigg side beginning to hit their stride.
Match of the Round
Bonnyrigg White Eagles v APIA Leichhardt Tigers, Saturday 5.00pm at Bonnyrigg Sports Club
A resurgent Bonnyrigg White Eagles will look to make it four consecutive wins when they welcome premiership chasers APIA Leichhardt Tigers to Bonnyrigg Sports Club on Saturday evening.
The White Eagles have languished on the bottom of the competition for much of the season but have strung together some genuine form and will be looking to surprise the Tigers after claiming the scalp of second-placed Blacktown City in round fourteen.
APIA Leichhardt Tigers avenged an upset defeat against Hakoah the previous weekend by edging leaders Sutherland Sharks 2-1 in round fourteen, a result that sees the Lambert Park outfit four points off top stop coming into the weekend.
Only Sutherland have scored more than the visiting Tigers who have amassed 36 goals in their fourteen fixtures so far with attackers Aedon Kyra and Jordan Morfitis contributing 10 and seven strikes respectively.
Bonnyrigg will need to be wary of one of the more physical sides in the competition as they look to keep their campaign on an upward trajectory.
Saturday
Sutherland Sharks v Sydney United 58, 4.30pm at Seymour Shaw
Competition leaders Sutherland Sharks suffered back to back losses for the first time this campaign following last Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to APIA and will be looking to get their title tilt back on track against a struggling Sydney United 58 side on Saturday.
The Reds have lost three of their last matches heading into the weekend’s contest while scoring just two in their last four in a loss of form that has seen United 58 slide into seventh position. The visitors are in danger of slipping further this weekend with eighth-placed Wollongong Wolves gathering momentum.
With the likes of Blacktown City, APIA Leichhardt Tigers and Sydney FC all making up ground on Sutherland the Sharks will need to reassert status as the team to beat with a victory over Saturday’s opponents.
Sydney FC v Manly United, 5.45pm at Lambert Park
A shock 3-0 loss to Sydney Olympic ended a formidable eight-match unbeaten streak for fourth-placed Sydney FC and the Sky Blues will be lining up three points when they host an out of form Manly United at Lambert Park on Saturday.
David Zdrilic’s side are among a cluster of premiership hopefuls needing a win to maintain pace with leaders Sutherland and will fancy their chances at bouncing back from their Olympic defeat against a Manly side who slipped into tenth position after round fourteen’s 3-0 loss to Wollongong.
Last year’s standout team have endured a poor season to date and have been severely handicapped by a defence which has leaked 32 goals in 14 matches. The reigning premiers will need to remedy their faltering rear-guard in order to have any hope of salvaging their season.
Sunday
Sydney Olympic v Parramatta, 12.45pm at Belmore Sports Ground
Sydney Olympic re-entered the top five last weekend thanks to an excellent 3-0 victory over Sydney FC and will no doubt be eyeing another three points when Parramatta arrive at Belmore Sports Ground on Sunday.
The Melita Stadium side come into the encounter on the back of a seven-match losing streak which has left Parramatta rooted to the bottom of the table, six points adrift of eleventh-placed Bonnyrigg.
The visitors have struggled for attacking returns throughout the campaign having scored just 12 in total and will need to correct that record against an Olympic team brimming with confidence following a morale-boosting victory over the Sky Blues.
Wollongong Wolves v Blacktown City, 1.00pm at WIN Stadium
Blacktown City missed their chance to go level on points with first-placed Sutherland last Sunday after falling to a surprise 2-1 defeat to Bonnyrigg and face a tricky examination of their credentials against Wollongong Wolves on Sunday afternoon.
The Wolves improved their chances at sneaking into the top five with a fine 3-0 away defeat of Manly United last weekend and have been impressing in recent weeks with attackers Jack Lombo and Tony Musumeci offering plenty of attacking threat.
Blacktown City will be wary of the improving Wolves as John Carnevale’s side look to avenge last weekend’s defeat and keep pace with leaders Sutherland.
Rockdale City Suns v Hakoah Sydney City East, 3.00pm at Ilinden Sports Centre
Hakoah Sydney City East will be shooting for three wins in a row when they travel to Rockdale City Suns in round fifteen’s final encounter.
Paul Hubbard’s side are one point away from fifth-placed Sydney Olympic and have improved their finals chances in recent weeks with wins over APIA Leichhardt and Sydney United 58. Top scorer Connor Eldridge notched a brace in their 2-0 win over United 58 in last Friday’s encounter and has proven to be a handful for defences throughout the campaign.
The Rockdale defence will need to marshal a Hakoah side capable of matching it with the best on their day when they meet on Sunday, with the Suns needing a victory to drag themselves out of mid-table.
