Round 11 Preview – NPL 3 NSW Men’s
The final round of the NSW NPL 3 Men’s competition is upon us and there is still plenty to play for with one of the four finals positions still up for grabs.
It will go down to the wire for Stanmore Hawks FC with the inner west outfit still in with a shout of making finals football if they get the job done against Gladesville Ryde Magic and results go their way elsewhere.
Last weekend saw the Hawks record their first win since the beginning of August after a late goal saw them take all three points away to Macarthur.
For them to feature in next weekend’s semi-final they will have to beat Magic and hope that Central Coast overcome the 4th placed Berries.
Magic have already sealed their spot in the upcoming finals series and are on a four game winning streak which they’ll be looking to carry through into Saturday as they gear up for their semi-final.
Dunbar Rovers FC will be looking to upset reigning premiers Rydalmere Lions FC when they face off at Heffron Park at 7pm on Saturday night.
Inconsistency has been Dunbar’s downfall once again this campaign and it has cost them a place in the finals series for the second season running.
They enter this fixture on the back of a 3-1 win against Bankstown United; their first win in three attempts.
Their upcoming opponents secured the minor premiership last time out after their victory against Inter Lions along with Bankstown City’s heavy defeat to the Pirates meant that they could not be caught at the top of the table.
They will still be eager to put on a show as they look to end the regular season undefeated.
Inter Lions FC will be aiming to end their season on a positive note when they welcome Dulwich Hill FC to Majors Bay Reserve at 7pm on Saturday.
Inter have suffered back-to-back defeats against Gladesville and Rydalmere respectively and will be eager to get one over Dully as they look to sign off on the season in style.
Dully have been playing some of their best football this season and are undefeated since the end of August.
Unfortunately, they hit their stride too late and won’t be a part of the finals series however that won’t stop them from making life hard for the home side come Saturday night.
Sydney University SFC still have a chance of lifting themselves from the foot of the table when they entertain Macarthur Rams FC at the Sydney University Football Ground at 7pm on Saturday.
Uni have propped up the table for most of the season however a couple of draws and a win over the last few rounds mean that they have a chance of leapfrogging United if they beat the Rams and United fall to City in the derby.
Macarthur are out of form with three straight defeats and sit in 11th spot on the league table, only four points better off than their hosts.
They were left frustrated last weekend after Stanmore stuck late to take all three points from a match that could have ended a draw.
Canterbury Bankstown FC’s fate will be in their own hands as they look to triumph against Central Coast United FC when they meet at the Crest Athletic Centre at 7pm on Saturday.
A 1-1 stalemate against Dully last round meant that the Berries were unable to book their place in the upcoming finals series.
A win or a draw against a resurgent Pirates outfit will be enough to see them extend their season regardless of the Hawks’ result against Magic.
Central Coast were on cloud nine last weekend after they dismantled Bankstown City, winning 11-0.
Don’t put it past them to secure another upset as they look to finish their first season in the competition on a high.
We will be treated to a derby in the final match of the season as a wounded Bankstown City FC look to get one over Bankstown United FC when they go head to head at Jensen Park with kick off scheduled for 3pm on Sunday.
The devastating defeat will still be playing on the minds of the Lions’ players while United’s men will go into this fixture knowing that a defeat could see them wind up with the wooden spoon.
United’s attack will be eager to add further misery to the opposition’s defence while the likes of Nikola Todoroski and Ante Tomic will be in desperate need to find the back of the net again ahead of the finals series.
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)
