Round 3 Preview – NPL 3 NSW Men’s

The early season cobwebs are still evident in some clubs as we approach this weekend’s round of football in the National Premier Leagues 3 NSW Men’s competition.

Following the completion of two rounds of football, three clubs have yet to earn a point, five clubs are yet to register a win, whilst no club in the league has kept successive clean sheets.

I’m certain we will see more excitement in Round Three, which has six matches scheduled for Saturday evening – five of them at 7pm and one at the early kick off time of 5:30pm – whilst the remaining fixture will be played at 4pm on Sunday afternoon.

Two clubs without a win in their first two outings will meet at Garside Park at 5:30pm on Saturday, with Granville Rage hosting the Western NSW Mariners.

These clubs meet with interesting statistics behind them so far. Granville Rage have started the season with two very narrow losses, losing 0-1 to Inter Lions and 0-2 to Gladesville Ryde Magic in very closely fought affairs. Worryingly for the Rage, they have yet to find the net this season.

The Western NSW Mariners have netted five times, no less, in 2018, but are without a win, having leaked nine goals on their way to a draw and big loss in the first two rounds.

Both sides are desperate to snatch the three points and begin their ascent, so something will have to give at Garside on Saturday.

Stanmore Hawks will have their hands full at Arlington Oval on Saturday night when they welcome the visit of Bankstown City Lions for a 7pm start.

Stanmore recorded their first win of the season last week with a morale boosting 3-1 triumph over Sydney University, showing real character to bounce back from an opening day drubbing. Experienced campaigners such as Neil Jablonski – scorer of two goals last week – and Sam Awad have been there and done that, and will look to guide some of the Hawks’ youngsters to an upset over the Lions.

Bankstown have made their intentions very clear during the pre season – they are looking to bounce straight back to the NPL 2 competition after being relegated last year. The Lions have started rather ominously – with six points from six and sitting atop of the ladder – and the other teams know that Bankstown can only improve as the season carries on. One player that has sparked up the club has been club captain Nikola Todoroski, he has banged in two goals in two games, he along with former Sydney United 58 star Ante Tomic have further strengthened the club’s chances of promotion this year.

It would seem the fans would be right to expect a glut of goals at Ernie Smith Reserve on Saturday night when SD Raiders play host to Camden Tigers at 7pm.

Both sides have the equal best attack in the NPL 3 NSW Men’s competition with nine goals each after two rounds. The Raiders netted eight times on day one against the hapless Hawks, whilst Camden put seven past WNSW on day two, including five second half goals.

With no issues going forward, a glut of goals may just be a little premature given I have a hunch that the coaches of both clubs would no doubt have spent some time at training focussing on their teams’ respective defensive duties.

Three points and a continuance to climb up the ladder will no doubt be the objective for both when they meet at Ernie Smith on Saturday.

Inter Lions entertain Hawkesbury City at Fraser Park on Saturday night at 7pm, with both sides hoping for their second win of the season to keep themselves in the top half of the ladder.

The Hawks have had a range of factors affect their playing roster in the first two rounds, but coach, Dean Bertenshaw, would surely be reasonably content given his troops have picked up four points from arguably two of the competition’s heavyweights – Dulwich Hill and St George City FA.

But Inter Lions are no slouches and are a different proposition this year under coach, Michael Urukalo. Their increased fitness levels and determination have produced a 1-0 win and a narrow 1-2 loss, a far cry from the side that leaked plenty of goals last year.

A tense match on Saturday will do the finger nails no favours for fans of either side.

It doesn’t get any easier for Dulwich Hill when they travel to Jubilee Oval on Saturday night to clash with St George City FA at 7pm.

Dully made a host of signings in the off season, and were many of the bookie’s favourites when we kicked off three weeks ago. Their odds have changed somewhat after two successive defeats, but you would be foolish to write them off, given the talent at their disposal, such as Jovan Blagojevic, Gosue Sama and Ben Vidaic.

Credit to St George City FA, who have managed to obtain Jubilee Oval for the majority of their home matches, with the pristine surface probably suiting both sides in this match in terms of the entertaining type of football they both try to play.

Four points from a win and a draw is a solid start for St George, and if they continue their momentum, they could very well take this opportunity to put some decent space between themselves and Dully.

Two teams yet to sing their victory song this season will meet on Saturday night at Sydney University Oval, with the Sydney University hosting the visit of Fraser Park at 7pm.

After some shrewd acquisitions during the summer – including Will Cullen and Tommy Hyde as the coaching staff – the ‘students’ would be very disappointed to be 0 and 2 after the opening couple of rounds.

There was much noise made about the mass clear out at Fraser Park, with the first grade side a totally new outfit, including a host of youngsters. Two draws from two games means they are one of only six undefeated sides, and a win would do their confidence a world of good whilst catapulting them in to the top half.

In the only Sunday afternoon match up, Gladesville Ryde Magic take on Dunbar Rovers at  Magdala Park, kicking off at 5pm.

Magic are one of only two teams with a maximum six points from six after two rounds, and are building steadily each week in terms of cohesion and performance.  Gladesville are a side that can score from many angles, and with players like Johnny Gowdy supplying the service, there is no reason why that won’t continue on Sunday.

Dunbar Rovers returned to the winner’s circle last week with a narrow 2-1 win versus Inter Lions, but would be a little concerned with their second half effort, allowing Inter back in to match where they nearly snatched a draw, despite playing with ten men. Nothing other than a collective focus will be required if they are to take anything home from Magdala other than a famous and delicious Greek souvlaki.