Round 3 Preview – NPL 3 NSW Men’s
Another weekend of the National Premier Leagues 3 NSW Men’s competition is within touching distance as we preview all the action coming your way.
For the first time this season we will be treated with a blockbuster Saturday with all six encounters set to take place across the one day.
Round 3 kicks off at FNSW headquarters with Sydney University SFC welcoming Macarthur Rams FC to Valentine Sports Park No.2 at 5pm.
Back-to-back 4-1 defeats for Louie Cordwell’s side see them prop up the ladder after the first two rounds.
Their upcoming opponents are sitting pretty in 4th place and enter this fixture with four points to their name.
Another Rams’ win could see them rise into the top three and although it is early days, Uni already risk being cut adrift if they do not get points on the board soon.
Arlington Oval will be the venue for the clash between Inner West Hawks FC and Central Coast United FC with kick off scheduled for 7pm.
Only goal difference separates the Hawks from last place on the ladder with two straight defeats to start their season.
Conversely, the Pirates are enjoying a fantastic start to the campaign after knocking off Sydney Uni in the first round, they backed that up with a hard fought 1-0 win at home to Dunbar.
Bankstown United FC will be making the trip to Heffron Park on Saturday night to take on Dunbar Rovers FC at 7pm.
A slow start ultimately cost Dunbar a share of the points up the coast last weekend and they will be desperate to show their might in front of goal having scored just the once so far.
United have performed well in both their fixtures to date and were unlucky not to take all three points from either fixture.
If Dunbar are to get the win, they will be having to break through a resolute defence that is supported by an in form goalkeeper in Blake Tuxford.
Dulwich Hill’s perfect start to the season will be put to the test when they go head to head against Bankstown City FC at Jensen Park with the match set to get underway from 7pm.
Dully were too good for Canterbury Bankstown in their opening fixture as they came away with a clean sheet and three points before capitalising on the 10 men of Inter last time out.
Meanwhile, consecutive stalemates for Bankstown has seen them endure a relatively slow start to the season by their standards.
A return to Jensen Park this Saturday could prove to be the perfect tonic for them as they look to rise up the standings.
Two sides going in search of their first respective victories will meet at Majors Bay Reserve as Inter Lions FC host Canterbury Bankstown FC at 7pm.
A red card thwarted any hopes of Inter snatching all three points at Dully last weekend as it rounded off a disappointing fortnight which saw them share the points with a 10-man Rydalmere in the opening round.
The Berries showed flashes of brilliance against United last weekend and will make for a challenging opposition for the men from Concord who will be hoping to kickstart their season with a home win.
Two sides within close proximity of one another will battle it out on Saturday night as Rydalmere Lions FC entertain Gladesville Ryde Magic at 7pm.
Magic sit top of the table with two wins from two while their neighbours occupy 7th position with two draws to start their campaign.
Mind you, one of those matches was a grand final replay against Bankstown.
Magic’s defence will need to be as strong as ever if they want to continue their perfect start to the season and remain in the lead for another round.
-By NPL 3 NSW Men’s Chief Writer Samuel Greco Schwartz (Twitter handle: @SamuelGS97)
