Round 13 Preview – NPL 4 NSW Men’s
The National Premier Leagues 4 NSW Men’s competition hits Round 13 as the race for the top five looks tighter than ever.
Just two points separate 3rd place Hurstville and 7th placed UNSW, creating a log jam of sides fighting for the finals spots.
The competition is wide open and with an interesting weekend of fixtures, the league should look very different at the end of Round 13.
Our Match of the Rounds finds us back at the Melita Stadium as Parramatta FC look to shake of their rocky form when they battle the always tough Hawkesbury City.
Elsewhere, South Coast host their closest rival Camden, UNSW and Nepean battle for an advantage in the fight for finals, Hurstville are seeking revenge as they host Newcastle.
The Sunday fixtures are rounded out by Prospect travelling out to Bathurst to face Western NSW and Western Rage looking to repeat their performance in Round 2 as they battle Fraser Park.
Match of the Round
Parramatta FC vs Hawkesbury City FC, 5pm @ Melita Stadium
A Match of the Round with huge implications. Parramatta are in serious danger of losing their top five spot with UNSW and Nepean breathing down their neck. Not too far off this race is Hawkesbury. The Hawks will want a win just as bad as their opponents, as they look to regain momentum on the sides above them, they currently sit six points behind the Eagles in 8th place and will be eager to re-join the race.
Parramatta’s blistering start to the season has seen them retain their spot on the ladder during their poor run of form and they’ll need to return to the winners circle in order to stay where they are. The Eagles will have to look to returning attacker Ali Dulleh to recapture his early season form that saw him score five goals. Hawkesbury will also be desperate for their squad to return to full strength as they’ve battled with a changing slate of players on a regular basis. The Hawks will be on the road for one last time this Saturday before returning home for the remainder of the season.
Previous Matchup: Parramatta FC 3-1 Hawkesbury City FC
South Coast Flame FC vs Camden Tigers FC, 6:30pm @ Ian McLennan Park
The Flame return home to host one of the most in-form sides of the competition in Camden. The Tigers are in a purple patch of form putting the whole of NPL 4 on notice with their impressive winning ways. Camden are firing on all cylinders and could very well see themselves in third place at the end of the round with a game in hand.
South Coast have shown vast improvement in the early stages of the second half of the season. Although they suffered a 3-0 loss to Newcastle last week, Daniel McBreen credited the valiant Flame defence and toughness throughout the game. Going against a Camden side that’s seemingly scoring for fun, the Flame defence will need to continue to be at their best to gain a result. Camden will enter this game as strong favourites, however South Coast can never be counted out of pulling off an upset.
Previous Matchup: South Coast Flame FC 1-1 Camden Tigers FC
UNSW FC vs Nepean FC, 7pm @ Hensley Athletic Field
It’s the battle of 6th and 7th and these side’s battle for a potential finals spot. The reverse fixture was a thrilling battle that saw Nepean fight from two goals down to secure a draw courtesy of a Ben Welch double. UNSW are looking for their fifth win in a row and with results going their way elsewhere they could see themselves as high as 3rd with victory.
Nepean have had an inconsistent run of form since shocking the Jets at home at the start of the month. A mixture of injuries and suspension has seen them unable to field a consistent side from week to week. They’ll need to be at their best to contain the lethal new look UNSW side. UNSW will be hungry to avenge their early season draw and last season’s semi-final loss as they look to keep the momentum rolling.
Previous Matchup: UNSW FC 2-2 Nepean FC
Hurstville FC vs Newcastle Jets FC, 7pm @ Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre
Hurstville host Newcastle in a blockbuster 3rd vs 2nd battle. Hurstville have been on a slump of late, on the back of two defeats they face the undesirable task of trying to contain Newcastle. The Jets may look slightly different with players being called up the A-League side as the end of the season looms. Newcastle’s depth may be at test against a side that has struggled with depth issues of its own.
Hurstville should begin to welcome back a hosts of players from suspension and injuries alike. If they can field their strongest squad they’ll have the belief and confidence of going toe to toe with the Jets’ juggernaut. This game could be a banana skin for the Jets and could be the upset of the round if Hurstville can get a positive result from the Saturday night fixture.
Previous Matchup: Hurstville FC 1-5 Newcastle Jets FC,
Western NSW FC vs Prospect United SC, 3pm @ Jack Brabham Park
Prospect make the long trip to Bathurst to take on Western NSW. Prospect have had a frustrating season at best, leading the league in draws with six after last week’s deadlock with Fraser Park. They will have to count last week as a huge missed opportunity as they lost crucial ground on the midfield battle. Prospect will have to improve their performances when ahead, to start making the results count.
For Western NSW it’s slowly turning into a season to forget. Everything that could go has gone wrong and they find themselves in a bad spot, bottom of NPL 4. It hasn’t been all negative for them, they’ve had the opportunity to bleed through some new players to blend with some their more experienced players as they fight to recover the season. A result here would do wonders for their season and could be a huge building block for the future.
Previous Matchup: Western NSW FC 1-3 Prospect United SC
Western Rage vs Fraser Park FC, 5pm @ Ray Marshall Reserve
Our final match of the round takes us to an intriguing battle as Western Rage battle Fraser Park. After an incredible nine wins from their first ten, Fraser Park are without a win in their last two, a rather unfamiliar sight in NPL 4. If you’re wondering who were the only side to take points off Fraser Park during that run, it was their upcoming opponents.
The Rage had a promising start to the season, however they found themselves in a goal drought during the midst of the first half of the season. They’ve picked up momentum at the right time of the season with a few fresh faces that have shaken up the squad, rejuvenating their attack. Given the circumstances, the Rage are a real chance in this game and could be the reason why Newcastle take over the reins at the top of NPL 4 by the end of the round.
Previous Matchup: Western Rage 1-1 Fraser Park FC
By NPL 4 NSW Men’s Writer, Dominic Criniti @DominicCriniti
