Finals Series Round 3 Preview – PS4 NPL NSW Men’s
A Grand final spot and Championship glory will be on the line when Rockdale City Suns take on Manly United FC this Saturday at Cromer Park (5pm) in the Preliminary Final.
It’s the penultimate game of the PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s season and both teams will need no inspiration to deliver a big performance with their season on the line.
APIA Leichhardt Tigers confirmed their spot in the PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s Grand Final last week and now they must wait to see who they will play in the decider that will take shape on Sunday 10th of September at Leichhardt Oval.
Preliminary Final
Rockdale City Suns FC v Manly United FC
There are no second chances at this point of the PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition.
Rockdale City Suns and Manly United will go head to head to decide who will take on APIA Leichhardt Tigers in this season’s Grand Final at Leichhardt Oval on September 10.
Rockdale will have their eyes on qualifying for their first Grand Final since 2013, but Paul Reid’s side will have plenty of work to do if they are to bounce back from last week’s comprehensive 5-0 loss to APIA in the Major Semi-Final.
Despite a solid performance in their 4-2 win a week earlier against Blacktown, Rockdale were not at their best last week.
A second half capitulation saw them concede four second half goals. A similar showing against Manly would result in a similar scoreline.
Rockdale though shouldn’t be written off because of one off colour performance as they have the squad to take out this season’s Championship.
The attacking trio of Jordan Figon, Alec Urosevski and Harris Gaitatzis have scored a combined total of 31 goals this season which is nearly three quarters of Rockdale’s 46 goals this season.
Player-coach Paul Reid could also make a return to action this week after injury forced him to miss last week’s match. The experience of the former England League One and A-League midfielder will be invaluable for the Suns in such a crucial match.
Rockdale’s opponents Manly will come into the match beaming with confidence after winning two straight finals matches to make it 9 wins from their past 10 matches.
The Cromer Park based side has hit a purple patch over the closing stages of the season and are playing some of their best football as they set out to win the club’s first Grand Final in over 20 years.
Brandan Cholakian’s return to Manly’s line-up after suspension has injected an extra wrinkle to his side’s attack.
Flanked by Scott Balderson and Dejan Pandurevic, as well as veteran striker Dylan Macallister leading the line, Manly’s attack know their way to the back of the net.
Manly’s substitutes bench is arguably the strongest in the PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition and boasts talented attacking players Nikola Taneski and Marco Sama.
It will be composure and focus which will prove the key to victory.
Will Rockdale be able to bounce back and curtail Manly’s winning form, or will the boys from the Northern Beaches have too much momentum.
Either way it’s sure to be a thrilling clash.
