Round 14 Preview – NPL 2 NSW Men’s
Winter has come, and with it we have a full set of fixtures to bring you this weekend in the National Premier Leagues 2 NSW Men’s competition.
Round Fourteen see’s our camera visit Hensley Athletic Field for the first time this season. While a clash between Northern Tigers and Western Sydney Wanderers highlights the action elsewhere.
Match of the Round: Hakoah FC v Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC; Sunday 6 June, 3pm @ Hensley Athletic Field
Hakoah FC will be looking to maintain a perfect home record as they welcome Bonnyrigg White Eagles to Hensley Athletic Field, Sunday afternoon.
The hosts have bounced back well from their Round eleven defeat against St George FC. Beating Northern Tigers and Hills United in consecutive weeks. Last weekend they racked up their best goal tally of the season with Zac Sapsford, Bruno Mendes, Luiz Lobo and Yianni Spyrakis all finding the net at Lily Homes Stadium. Now sitting in a top four position, Hakoah FC will not want to let it go this Sunday and a strong home record suggests they will be tough to beat come Sunday afternoon.
It’s been an eventful couple of weeks for Bonnyrigg White Eagles since we last saw them. Following that win against Mounties Wanderers back in April, this week’s visitors were winless until last weekend. Needing a win against SD Raiders, Bonnyrigg were down shortly into the second half, but an inspired performance from Radovan Pavicevic, Aaron Peterson and substitute David Vrankovic led them to victory. Breaking their winless drought, have they found form just in time to go on a run in the second half of the season?
What will decide this contest Sunday afternoon? Well, if you look at the recent head to head record, there’s not much between them. Since 2016 the teams have met twelve times with the visitors having the slight advantage with five wins. On the field look out for Bruno Mendes and Luiz Lobo for the hosts. While Ray Miller will be key if the visitors are to be victorious.
Join Nikola Pozder for this Sunday afternoon showdown live and exclusive on NPL.TV, 3pm Sunday afternoon.
Elsewhere
St George City v SD Raiders FC; Saturday 5 June, 6pm @ Peakhurst Park
Clear at the top, St George City have the chance to consolidate their advantage when they face SD Raiders this weekend.
If theirs one thing we can almost guarantee in this division. It is that goals will flow when St George City take the field. Good for the neutral whilst not so good for those who coach or support them, St George City saw off Blacktown Spartans last weekend. A double to Nathan Roberts and customary Jason Romero goal saw them hold a comfortable lead but they couldn’t find a killer blow and they were almost made to pay.
And if that’s not enough to inspire you to brave the cold. SD Raiders stand as their opposition this weekend and the goals are certainly flowing for Nick Carle’s men as well. Last weekend however, they came up short against their local rivals Bonnyrigg. Noah Chianese and Matthew Barko found the net to give them the lead in the second half, but they couldn’t hold on.
These two sides are certainly familiar with each other having progressed through the divisions in tandem. Last time out, St George City prevailed at Ernie Smith back in March. Same again, or will SD Raiders rise to the big occasion?
Northern Tigers FC v Western Sydney Wanderers FC; Saturday 5 June, 7pm @ North Turramurra Recreations Area
Northern Tigers will be eyeing vengeance when they host second placed Western Sydney Wanderers at North Turramurra.
Who knew that getting your first team back on the park would result in victories? That’s exactly what has happened for Adam Hett’s team who scored a morale boosting victory over NWS Spirit last weekend. In a match which saw them get off to the worst possible start conceding an early penalty, they methodically got themselves back into the fixture. And they were rewarded with an injury time winner from the spot to Shervin Adeli.
Western Sydney Wanderers on the other hand will be looking to bounce back to winning ways after they were upset last weekend. Against St George FC, they were unable to establish their rhythm throughout and as such were only able to create minimal chances, one of which Kosta Grozos missed from an area you’d back him to score from. It doesn’t get any easier for the Wanderers this weekend against another team who are hard to break down, so get set for an intriguing fixture at North Turramurra.
St George FC v Hills United FC; Saturday 5 June, 7pm @ Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre
Fresh off their best victory of the season, St George FC play host to Hills United at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre.
Do not count St George FC out. Despite giving other teams the head start this season. Jane Talcevski has his team motoring along with a chance of finals football. Last weekend, they did what no other side has up until this point in beating Western Sydney Wanderers at home. It was a disciplined performance in which they disrupted the hosts in all the right ways before Anthony Morabito pounced early in the second half to score the eventual game winner. If they are to challenge the top end though, they’ll want to win a few more at home starting Saturday night.
Undefeated at away from home, can’t buy a win at home. It’s a strange old season for John Gibson and his Hills United team. So, in order to preview them properly, let’s look back two weekends opposed to a hefty defeat to Hakoah FC last weekend. Against SD Raiders in that one, they oh so nearly claimed maximum points but for a lapse of concentration at the end. Glen Kelshaw found the net against Hakoah last weekend for his third of the season.
Mounties Wanderers FC v NWS Spirit FC; Saturday 5 June, 7pm @ Wanderers Football Park
After an encouraging outing up the coast. Mounties Wanderers will be looking to score an upset when they face NWS Spirit this weekend.
Everything but three points, Mounties Wanderers put in one of the best performances of their season last weekend against Central Coast Mariners. The Wanderers created three or four good chances throughout the contest but were punished after a defensive lapse from a set piece late. That result came after their first point in ten matches the weekend prior. Out of the finals picture, this weekends host will become dangerous for any opposition they face, potential upset?
They face an NWS Spirit FC side who will be desperate to return to the winner’s circle. In fact, form has become a bit sporadic for David Perkovic’s side in recent weeks winning just two of their last five league fixtures. Last weekend they went down to Northern Tigers at Christie Park, a result which most certainly hurt. In that one they took the lead before slowly losing control of the fixture eventually resulting in a Shervin Adeli injury time penalty. It’s getting tight up at the top and you would almost suggest this is a must win for the visitors.
Central Coast Mariners FC v Blacktown Spartans FC; Sunday 6 June, 3pm @ Pluim Park No.1
Central Coast Mariners at Pluim on a Sunday afternoon, get used to the sight as they roll out the red carpet for Blacktown Spartans this Sunday afternoon.
Another team returning to the winners circle last weekend, Central Coast Mariners have a chance to make it back to back wins in this one. Last weekend was a big day for the club with the “Fit for a king” fundraiser and some late scenes ensured everyone went home happy. Jing Reec continues to score goals while Damian Tsekenis will make his return to the side in the near future. Building some momentum at home will play a large part in deciding their fate later on. If results go their way, they could well be in the hunt for finals and beyond after this weekend.
It’s not been an easy run of games for Blacktown Spartans. Winless in six, the Spartans last tasted victory in round eight action against St George FC. Last weekend, they gave St George City a scare courtesy of goals to Nathan Separovic and Michael Jeffrey in a high-scoring affair against the league leaders. With a few names returning to the squad, Andy Montgomery will be hoping his team can pull of an upset in this one.
Last time these too met, the Mariners prevailed in style back in April. They’ll be hoping for a similar result in this one.
By NPL2 Men’s reporter Justin Smith (Twitter: @smiththejustin)
