Round 17 Preview – PS4 NPL 3 NSW Men’s

Round Seventeen of the 2017 PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues 3 NSW Men’s competition this weekend includes five matches which are scheduled for Saturday evening at 7pm.

The remaining two matches are due to be played on Sunday at the unorthodox kick off times of 4-30pm and 7pm.

Two sides that have become used to avoiding defeat will go head to head in Marrickville, when Fraser Park host Hawkesbury City on Saturday night.

Fraser Park of course have not lost a competition fixture all season, winning 13 and drawing 2 of their fifteen matches, and sit 2^nd on the ladder on 41 points, with a game in hand on leaders, Rydalmere Lions.

Hawkesbury City have been on a great run in recent months, and have only lost once since April 8, with their results catapulting the Hawks into 4^th position on the ladder on 25 points, and with a game in hand themselves against 3^rd placed Dulwich Hill.

The loss of a couple of key players seems to have had very little impact on Fraser, as they have continued on their winning ways, putting pressure on Rydalmere Lions at the top.

There will be plenty of key match ups on the night, but two players who have been instrumental in the results of their respective sides are the two keepers. Chris Becerra was given his chance when first choice Anthony Costa suffered an injury earlier this season, and he has not disappointed with some telling saves in recent weeks for Fraser, whilst Hawkesbury’s Daniel Schwarzer has long been, and continues to be, one of the competition’s best shot stoppers.

The first-round encounter ended in a closely fought 2-0 win for Fraser Park, but expect an even closer battle this time around come Saturday.

SD Raiders welcome the visit of Inter Lions to Ernie Smith Reserve on Saturday, knowing three points will well and truly put them in the mix for a finals spot.

Following a drab run which lasted the best part of a month, the Raiders have bounced back with two consecutive wins against fellow top half combatants, Sydney University and St George City, putting them within two points of three sides above them on the ladder.

Inter Lions will be out for revenge of sorts, given they lost the first-round encounter 1-4, but they will have to be on song if they are to take anything away from this match.

Dunbar Rovers will be praying for a case of dejavu on Saturday evening, when they travel to Proctor Park to tackle the Western NSW Mariners.

It’ll be the second time this season that Dunbar have travelled to Bathurst, given they did so back on April 1^st, where they won handsomely to the tune of 3-0. Hayden O’Kelly was Dunbar’s hero, scoring a hatrick to give his side the spoils.

But the Western NSW Mariners will come in to this match buoyant following their 3-0 win last weekend against Stanmore Hawks, where Matthew Hobby starred with a brace. The Mariners are still in 13^thposition on the ladder, but are now sitting on 12 points, just three points behind three teams who are above them on 15 points. One of those sides is Dunbar Rovers, so expect another spirited showing by the Mariners in what is in effect, a ‘six pointer’ for both sides.

Two sides who have had contrasting fortunes over the past four weeks will clash at Arlington Oval on Saturday night, with Dulwich Hill meeting Sydney University.

Dulwich Hill have had four wins on the bounce, and picked up the scalps of Rydalmere Lions, SD Raiders and St George City in the process, which has seen them move in to clear 3^rd positon on the ladder on 28 points.

Sydney University on the other hand have only managed the one point from their past five matches, seeing them drop to 8^th spot in the process.

But write off ‘the students’ at your own peril, as they do have enough quality across key positions to drag themselves out of this mini slump, and what a great time to start their ascent this week against Dully.

Dully won the corresponding fixture last time around, winning 4-3 in an exciting match for the neutral, but less goals and more defensive focus could be the likely ingredients this time around.

Rydalmere Lions will host Granville Rage at Rydalmere Park on Saturday night, knowing nothing but a win will be required if they are to continue to keep Fraser Park at bay.

The Lions have been ruthless in recent weeks, winning their last four matches on the trot and netting 19 goals in the process at an average of just shy of 5 goals per match.

Ahmad Elrich has been in especially good form, the ex-Socceroo really finding his feet and combining his experience with that of skipper, Matthew Mayora, to make sure the Lions meet their own high entertaining expectations each week.

Samuel Bortolazzo is a big reason why Granville Rage have such a low ‘goals conceded’ column this season, with the young keeper proving a real hurdle for opposition attacks, week in week out. Bortolazzo will have to be at his absolute best if the Rage are to take anything away from this match.

A derby of sorts will take place at Magdala Park on Sunday afternoon at 4-30pm, with Gladesville Ryde Magic welcoming the visit of Stanmore Hawks.

The two clubs have moved past each other in opposite directions in recent weeks, with Magic climbing to equal 5^th on 24 points on the back of a seven match unbeaten run, whilst Stanmore Hawks have dropped to 9^th courtesy of two defeats, 0-5 against Fraser and 0-3 vs the Mariners.

The corresponding first round fixture ended 1-1 at Valentine Sports Park, with Petros Stefadouros netting for Stanmore whilst young Peter Voukidis grabbed Gladesville’s only goal.

Expect the usual tension that goes hand in hand with a derby as both teams look to grab the spoils in this Sunday afternoon six pointer.

Round Seventeen will come to a close at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday evening, with Balmain Tigers hosting St George City FA at Leichhardt Oval at 7-00pm.

Balmain Tigers will be desperate for the three points on offer, and will no doubt look to recent midfield signings, Jacob Di Mento and Gavin Wenyon, to win the midfield battle and give their strikers some much needed service.

Even though St George City FA have suffered three defeats on the bounce, they still reside in 5^th position on 24 points, and will hope to use this match as a catalyst towards getting back on track.

The first round encounter back in Round Four finished in a St George  City victory, with Juan Chavez netting a hatrick in a 4-1 result, but expect a much closer tussle come Sunday evening.