Round 12 – National Premier Leagues 2 NSW Men’s Preview
The transfer window is open and already we’ve seen some of the most dramatic transfers the NPL 2 NSW Men’s has seen in recent years.
Will those fresh faces bring a change in fortune to their struggling sides, or will the big boys continue to flex their muscle at the top of the competition table?
Find out in another compelling weekend of football in the NPL 2 NSW Men’s.
GHFA Spirit FC v North Shore Mariners – 7pm, Saturday 19th May – Christie Park
The bruised egos have healed – slightly – after both sides endured heavy defeats last weekend.
Spirit FC can’t seem to stop the bleeding after three successive defeats has seen them fall worryingly behind the race for a finals’ place.
And, in worse news, the Christie curse lives on.
Just as Tottenham Hotspur struggled in their new Wembley home in season 2017/18, it seems as though Spirit FC have caught the same disease, having lost all three encounters there this season.
But with their next 5 fixtures all at home, the Christie curse will need to be broken soon or they will find their season is over by June.
North Shore were taught a footballing lesson last week by their academy brothers, Central Coast.
How well did they pay attention to that lesson?
This match will surely tell.
Can Spirit FC break the Christie curse or will the North Shore Mariners maintain their grip on that last finals’ place?
St George vs Central Coast Mariners – 7pm, Saturday 19th May – Ilinden Sports Centre
The question on everyone’s lips is:
How well can St George do without the Spanish Bandidos?
Juan Carlos Romero and Raul Romero have lit up the NPL 2 NSW Men’s this season, scoring 23 goals in just 11 games to carry St George up the table into second place.
But as they trade the red and white of St George for the black and gold of the Mounties Wanderers, can the Saints maintain their push for a finals place, and indeed, promotion?
One club with promotion on their mind, whether they admit it or not, is the Central Coast Mariners. Sitting atop the Club Championship and surging up the competition table, the Mariners are the form team of the competition.
Emmanuel Peters has been key to that run of form and his anticipated battle against St George captain Tarik Ercan is worth the venture to the Ilinden Sports Centre alone.
What is life without the Bandidos like for St George?
The toughest test in the NPL 2 NSW Men’s right now will provide a very clear answer to that question.
Hills United vs Northern Tigers – 7pm, Saturday 19th May – Lily Homes Stadium
With only two points separating second and fifth on the table, any dropped points is sure to leave you at a disadvantage.
Hills United have spent the week learning that lesson after a frustrating 0-0 draw agains the struggling Spartans saw them fall two places down in the league standings.
If they want to hold onto their finals’ spot, they cannot afford to drop more points in this match.
And, unfortunately, one of the last teams you want to play in a must-win game is the Northern Tigers.
Renowned for their resilience, the Tigers are seeking to fulfil finals’ ambitions of their own. But with the improved form of Rydalmere Lions and the new transfers bound to make a difference at the Mounties, the Northern Tigers are approaching ‘must-win’ territory themselves.
Two teams with everything to lose do battle in a game they both must surely win if they are to keep their finals’ hopes alive in 2018.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers vs Parramatta FC – 7pm, Saturday 19th May – Popondetta Park
The Rangers are flying.
11 points better off than this stage last season, Mt Druitt are shaping as a true contender in 2018.
Leading their charge has been the brilliance of Emmanuel Gonzalez and Hiten Satoh. The two attackers have caused nightmares for opposition defences this season and they are sure to trouble a vulnerable Parramatta backline in this week’s Match of the Round.
Parramatta FC simply can’t buy a trick this season.
Their 1-1 draw against Canterbury Bankstown last weekend encapsulated the story of their season up till now.
So near, yet so far.
Holding onto a slender lead, the Eagles conceded a last-minute goal to throw away another three competition points.
They now sit bottom of the Club Championship, somewhat placated by the recent announcement from Football NSW that the proposed three-team relegation won’t commence this season, but in grave awareness of the fact that a back-to-back relegation is still very much on the cards.
Parramatta FC’s ability to play controlled football has never been in doubt.
They boast the likes of Jason Trifiro and Neram Yalda, two experienced footballers.
But what has been in doubt is their ability to cope with pace.
The Eagles struggled to contain the pace of an exuberant Wanderers side two weeks ago and will undoubtedly struggle to contain the pace of a lightning-quick Mt Druitt attack.
Another thought occupying the collective minds of Mt Druitt this weekend will be the result of the St George vs Central Coast Mariners game, as the outcome of that match may enable the Rangers to extend their lead at the top of the table.
In a game between a team at the top and a team at the bottom, the result seems fairly straightforward; but as we know, football rarely goes to plan.
Canterbury Bankstown vs Western Sydney Wanderers – 7pm, Saturday 19th May – The Crest Athletic Centre
A welcome rainbow has appeared in the clouds above both of these teams’ home grounds in recent weeks, taking the place of the dark storm clouds that previously hovered so ominously.
After three games, both sides sat rooted to the bottom of the table on zero points.
Fast forward to today and the Wanderers have entrenched themselves in the top 6 whilst the Berries look to have sailed clear of relegation danger.
Wanderers’ skipper Kosta Grozos has been in fine form in recent weeks, scoring 5 goals in just 3 games. The intelligent midfielder drifts into pockets of space in front of the opposition’s defence, threatening to punish teams with either a deft pass or long-range bullet.
But the loss of Kuku in midfield will hurt the Wanderers.
Kuku’s defensive steel has given Grozos license to attack this season and questions will be asked whether Grozos can maintain his attacking freedom with Kuku’s absence.
The future is brighter for both these teams after shaky starts to the season, but with more than half the season to go, neither can rest on their laurels just yet.
Rydalmere Lions vs Blacktown Spartans – 7pm, Saturday 19th May – Valentine Sports Park
As unlikely as it may have seemed at the beginning of the season, or even after their 6-0 humiliation at the hands of Hills United, Rydalmere Lions could find themselves in the top 6 if results go their way this weekend.
Currently in 7th, on equal points with North Shore Mariners in 6th, and just five points behind St George in 2nd; the equation is looking rather promising for the Lions.
Zak Elrich has masterminded their impressive run this season, scoring 5 goals in the ten games he’s played. More than goals, Elrich has created tonnes of goal scoring opportunities for his teammates thus far this season and will be looking to wreak havoc on the struggling Spartans this weekend.
The Spartans are in a three-way struggle for survival in the NPL 2 this season and will be hoping to catch the Lions on one of their infamous ‘off-nights’ on Saturday night to hopefully secure precious points to fend off the clutches of relegation for another week at least.
Mounties Wanderers vs Macarthur Rams – 1pm, Sunday 20th May – Sydney United Sports Centre
The fixtures have been kind to fans of the NPL 2 NSW Men’s this weekend.
With Mounties Wanderers playing Macarthur Rams in the stand-alone match on Sunday afternoon, all eyes of the NPL 2 NSW Men’s fanbase can fix themselves firmly on the debut performances of Juan Carlos Romero and Raul Romero.
In arguably the most dramatic transfers the NPL 2 NSW Men’s has seen in recent years, the Romeros make a mid-season switch to the Mounties – following their former coach, Terry Palapanis.
The form of the Spanish Bandidos is undeniable.
But with the Mounties languishing down the bottom half of the table and almost half the season played, is it too late to make a late charge for the finals?
Thankfully, we don’t have to wait too long to find out the answer to that question as the Mounties host Macarthur Rams on Sunday afternoon to conclude another exciting weekend of NPL 2 NSW Men’s football.
-By Ryan Latty
