Round 2 Preview – NPL 3 NSW Men’s
Not long now until we are treated to another full list of fixtures as we examine all the action coming our way this weekend.
All six matches this weekend will kick off simultaneously at 7pm on Saturday night.
Dulwich Hill FC will be hoping to record back-to-back wins when they welcome Macarthur Rams FC to Arlington Oval.
Dully posted a 1-0 win against Sydney Uni last time out while the Rams suffered a 6-3 defeat at home to Dunbar.
This was a regular fixture in the NPL 2 calendar at the beginning of the decade, but it will be the first time these two sides clash in this competition.
Dunbar Rovers FC and Central Coast United FC will face off for the second time this year when they go head to head at Heffron Park.
These two sides could not be separated the last time they met before the league’s enforced break with the final score 1-1.
Central Coast’s Daniel McFarlane converted from the spot in their last match up back in March before Dunbar equalised shortly after through Conor Earley.
Bankstown United FC will be hoping to open their account when they host Stanmore Hawks FC at Jensen Park.
United recorded a 0-0 draw against Central Coast last weekend while Stanmore enjoyed a 6-2 victory against Inter Lions.
Bankstown proved to be one of the Hawks’ bogey teams last season with both of their matches ending in stalemates.
Just a side note our thoughts go out to Bankstown United’s Sean Robertson who will be sorely missed after he suffered a season ending injury against Central Coast United in Round 1.
Our match of the round will take place at Majors Bay Reserve as Inter Lions FC take on Bankstown City FC in what will be the first fixture at their new home ground.
There are always bound to be plenty of goals when these two sides do battle.
They drew 1-1 in their first-round encounter last season before Inter got the better of City in the reverse fixture – winning 2-1.
However, it was Bankstown who had the final say as they came out on top 6-5 in what was a blockbuster elimination final.
These two teams were also involved in a six-goal thriller before the league’s suspension. The goals were shared evenly with the full-time score 3-3.
Sydney University SFC will be looking to put last week’s loss behind them when they visit Rydalmere Park to face off against Rydalmere Lions FC.
Gavin Rae’s Rydalmere are already up and running this season after they secured a 2-1 win against Magic last Sunday while Uni will be hoping to get their first points on the board following their 1-0 defeat to Dully.
Keep an eye out for Lions’ dangerman Scott Tonkin as he prepares to gear up against one of his former clubs.
The Rydalmere striker is already off the mark this season and is likely to cause a headache for the Uni defence.
Both Canterbury Bankstown FC and Gladesville Ryde Magic FC will be going in search of their first respective wins when they meet at The Crest Athletic Centre.
The Berries fell to a 2-0 defeat against neighbours Bankstown City in round one while Magic lost 2-1 against Rydalmere.
This will be the first meeting between these two sides in this competition, so it will be intriguing to see how it all pans out as Berries’ youthful squad comes up against an experienced Magic outfit.
DON’T FORGET TO EXERCISE CAUTION AND SOCIAL DISTANCING AT OUR MATCHES THIS WEEKEND – STAY SAFE
-By NPL 3 NSW Men’s Chief Writer Samuel Greco Schwartz (Twitter handle: @SamuelGS97)
