Round 21 Preview – PS4 NPL 3 NSW Men’s
Round Twenty One of the 2017 PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues 3 NSW Men’s competition includes some intriguing clashes as teams scurry for a final push towards finals football come September.
Two sides on the fringes on the top six will go head to head at David Bertenshaw Field on Saturday afternoon, with Hawkesbury City welcoming Gladesville Ryde Magic for a 5-30pm kick off.
Both sides have been in solid form over the past two months, both suffering just a solitary defeat as they catapulted themselves into final contention.
Separated by a point and one place on the ladder – the Hawks are on 32 points in 5th spot just above Magic – there is plenty riding on this encounter, with Magic especially keen to grab the spoils knowing Hawkesbury still have one match in hand.
The first round match back on April 30 finished scoreless at Magdala Park – expect a similarly closely fought encounter this time around with neither team giving an inch.
Dulwich Hill entertain Dunbar Rovers this Saturday at Arlington Oval, with the club hosting a special day of festivities all aimed at gathering funds to support the McGrath Foundation.
Both the U14s as well as the first grade side will don an all pink strip, which will be available for auction at half time, and the club will be hosting a ‘legends’ game at 6-15pm between ex-players of both clubs.
Further details of the day can be found by clicking on the following link;
On the pitch, after a superb run which produced eight successive wins over the past two months, Dulwich Hill came unstuck last weekend when they lost 2-3 to Stanmore Hawks. They are still in 3rd spot on the ladder, with 37 points, but the chasing pack are now within 4 points and they won’t want that gap to get any closer.
Stephen Deasy was at his best last week to help Dunbar grab a point against the Raiders, and the Rovers goal keeper will need to replicate that form if he is to keep out the star-studded Dulwich Hill attack.
SD Raiders meet Fraser Park in what looms as a very interesting clash at Ernie Smith Reserve on Saturday night at 7-00pm.
SD Raiders remain undefeated in the second round of football, which has seen them win four matches at home, and draw three matches away during a seven-week spell. This has put them on 31 points in 7thposition on the ladder, but they are only within three points of three teams above them, and closing in fast.
Fraser Park have been a yardstick in many ways this season, but lost their first match of the campaign last weekend, 1-2 at home against Rydalmere Lions, and will hope to bounce back immediately and keep the pressure up on the Lions at the summit of the competition.
The first round match finished 0-0 at Fraser Park – the only time this season that Fraser Park have been kept scoreless – so expect another fiercely contested battle this time around.
The match against Fraser Park on July 29th will also be commemorating the ‘Ramsin Shamon Memorial Cup’. Ramsin Shamon began his coaching career at Kemps Creek, before taking on a role as SAP Head Coach, moving on to First Grade coach before becoming the Technical Director, firstly of the club and then of the Association.
Sadly, Ramsin passed last year after a short battle with cancer, but his influence and positive impact will always be remembered fondly throughout not only the Southern Districts Football Association, but the wider football community. Please get down to Ernie Smith Reserve this Saturday night to commemorate one of footballs’ genuine nice guys.
In Saturday night’s other fixtures, all kicking off at 7-00pm, St George City FA will hope to consolidate their 4th spot on the ladder when they meet Granville Rage at Fraser Park; the Western NSW Mariners will have their work cut out for them when they travel to Sydney to meet the high flying league leaders, Rydalmere Lions; and something has to give at the Sydney University Football Ground when two teams who have been struggling for points come head to head, as the ‘students’ welcome the visit of Inter Lions.
One final match on Sunday will complete Round Twenty-One as the improved Balmain Tigers – with two draws in their past two games – tackle Stanmore Hawks at Wentworth Park at 3-00pm, with the Hawks ending their five-match losing streak last week on the back of an impressive 3-2 triumph over Dulwich Hill.
