Round 6 Preview – NPL 3 NSW Men’s
We’re starting to get a clear understanding of where each side stands as we approach the midway point of the 2020 NPL 3 Men’s competition.
Central Coast United FC and Inter Lions FC kick off the weekend’s proceedings when they meet at Pluim Park at 5pm on Saturday night.
Central Coast are one of only two teams who are yet to register a league victory this campaign with three draws and two defeats so far this season.
Inter Lions’ two wins this season have arrived at home while only a point has been picked up on their travels.
The Pirates will have to keep their wits about them as they look to contain Nico Paras who has already bagged four goals for the visitors.
Dulwich Hill FC return to Arlington Oval on Saturday as they prepare to welcome Rydalmere Lions FC at 7pm.
Dully have recorded back-to-back 2-2 draws against Stanmore and Bankstown United respectively and occupy 9th position on the league ladder heading into this fixture.
Rydalmere have been in spectacular form – they sit top of the table with a perfect record after the first five rounds.
The home side will have their work cut out for them with the league leaders having conceded just three times in the rebooted season.
Heffron Park will be the venue for the clash between Dunbar Rovers FC and Stanmore Hawks FC with kick off scheduled for 7pm.
Dunbar occupy 5th position on the ladder with two victories, one stalemate and two defeats.
They would have felt hard done by in their 3-2 defeat at the Berries last weekend given that they were in control for extended periods throughout the match.
The 3rd placed Hawks suffered their first defeat of the season last time out when they went down 3-2 to Bankstown City.
A red card to centre back Ollie Stickland in the early stages of the encounter placed the 2019 Premiers on the back foot early in the contest and they did well to ensure that it was not a blow-out.
Bankstown United FC make the trip to Lynwood Park on Saturday as they prepare to face off against Macarthur Rams FC at 7pm.
Macarthur sit in 10th position and have been in freefall of late with three consecutive defeats.
Their only victory this campaign arrived back in the second round when they put seven past Dully in a 7-3 rout.
United have secured back-to-back draws and are two places and three points better off than their upcoming opponents.
The result of this fixture could prove to be quite pivotal to both side’s season’s with the three points pushing the hosts to a potential mid-table position while Bankstown could break into the top four if results go their way.
Sydney University SFC have a difficult proposition on their hands when they welcome high-flying Canterbury Bankstown FC to the Sydney University Football Ground at 7pm on Saturday.
Uni have failed to get going since the rebooted season began – sitting bottom of the ladder with five straight defeats and just one goal to their name.
The Berries on the other hand have been a revelation and they will be going in search of their fifth consecutive victory this weekend.
Andrija Mandic is equal top of the league’s goal scoring leader board with five to his name while teammate Andre Guzman sits just below him with four.
The weekend’s action will come to an end at Jensen Park on Sunday when Bankstown City FC go head to head against Gladesville Ryde Magic at 3pm.
This fixture has always delivered plenty of thrills and spills over the last couple of seasons.
The home side proved to be Magic’s undoing in both their meetings last season as they claimed a 4-1 win at home before securing a 4-1 triumph at Christie Park in the reverse tie.
However, Magic did get their revenge, winning by the odd goal when they played against each other in the final round before the COVID-19 hiatus.
4th placed Bankstown arrive into this match high on confidence after they claimed a 3-2 win away to the Hawks while Magic dispatched of the Rams 3-0 last Sunday.
A win for the hosts will see them cement themselves amongst the top four while a Gladesville triumph will mean that they’ll leapfrog the Lions.
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)
