Round 18 Preview – PS4 NPL 3 NSW Men’s
Some enticing battles await us this weekend as we prepare to welcome Round Eighteen of the 2017 PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues 3 NSW Men’s competition.
With just two points separating 4thand 7th positions on the ladder, all eyes will be at David Bertenshaw Field on Saturday afternoon, where Hawkesbury City welcome the visit of St George City FA.
St George City do occupy 4th spot, and returned to the triumphant list last weekend when they defeated Balmain Tigers after suffering three successive defeats. The Hawks occupy 7th spot, just two points behind, and endured the opposite emotions, coming to earth with a thud after copping six against Fraser last Saturday, and that was on the back of a very fruitful run over a few weeks.
In the corresponding fixture last round on April 8, St George City prevailed with a 5-2 thumping, helped by a Alex Jovovic hatrick. Ominous signs for the Hawks indeed, given Jovovic returned to the fray last week after a long absence through injury, scoring a goal to boot, and the home side will do well to keep the St George marksman quiet if they are to avoid a similar outcome.
After having one of the best defensive records in the division, things have gone downhill for Stanmore Hawks over recent weeks, and the challenges don’t get any easier with the visit of league leaders, Rydalmere Lions, to Arlington Oval on Saturday night at 7-00pm.
Stanmore have lost their last three matches, conceding thirteen goals in the process, a far cry from the clean sheets of the first round, and have tumbled down the ladder to 9th position in the process. With Lloyd Owusu still sidelined through injury, and the departure of Michael Toscano to Hills Brumbies, the Hawks will be need to regroup quickly and show some collective tenacity to avoid continuing this bleak run.
Rydalmere Lions have continued to go about their business without fuss, leading the competition on 46 points, two ahead of Fraser Park, and scoring goals at will with an average of four per match. The Lions won the first round encounter 5-0 on the back of a Yoel Silvestre double, and will be confident of replicating that performance this time around.
In the other Saturday night matches – all scheduled to kick off at 7-00pm – the Western NSW Mariners come to town, knowing they will have to put up a Herculean effort if they are to stop the Fraser Park juggernaut at Marrickville ; SD Raiders will hope to continue their ascent up the ladder but face a stern test at Garside Park when they come up against the stubborn Granville Rage, the two sides sharing the spoils 1-1 in the first round ; and Dunbar Rovers will hope to put on a good show in front of their own fans, and derail Gladesville Ryde Magic’s momentum, which has produced no defeats in their last eight outings. The two teams shared six goals in an absolute thriller during their first round clash, and with plenty of attacking weapons on both sides, expect more of the same front third action at Hensley Athletic Field come Saturday night.
The two remaining Round Eighteen fixtures will be played on Sunday.
Two sides desperate for a win will go head to head as Sydney University meet Balmain Tigers at the Sydney University Football Ground at 3-00pm. Jovan Blagojevic grabbed a hatrick last time these two sides played, spearheading the ‘students’ to a narrow 3-2 win, but Balmain’s improved showings of late will give them the confidence needed to snatch the points in what promises to be yet another closely fought encounter.
In the late game at Fraser Park, Inter Lions will hope to get their season back on track when they meet the resurgent Dulwich Hill at 7-00pm.
It has been a bleak run for Inter in recent weeks, and it doesn’t get any easier this weekend, facing a Dully side that is riding the crest of a wave, winning their past five matches on the trot to charge to outright 3rd spot on the ladder.
But beware the wounded Lion, and there is no better time for Inter to refocus and build confidence than by taking something from this match on Sunday night.
