Breakout 2021 NPL 3 NSW Men’s Performers

We may be in hibernation for a little while yet so here is your latest fix of the the National Premier Leagues 3 NSW Men’s competition to keep you occupied.

We thought now would be the best time to take stock and look back at some of the standout performers that have been making headlines in the competition so far.

Bankstown City FC – Nikola Todoroski/Tai Smith

It is hard to go past big Bankstown City marksman Nikola Todoroski who has been in sparkling form for his beloved club.

“Big Nik” has helped himself to nine goals in his 14 appearances in what is his fifth season at Jensen Park.

Todoroski’s form has been down to the excellent service from his teammate in Tai Smith who has provided his captain with the perfect assists on numerous occasions.

The former Mounties playmaker has brought an added spark to the Bankstown squad this season with the aforementioned assists while he is also their equal second leading goal scorer with six to his name.

Bankstown United FC – Blake Tuxford

The United shot stopper has been one of the main driving forces behind his club’s turn around in fortunes this season.

Week in, week out he has frustrated the opposition and has produced some world class saves that have been essential to his side’s high ranked standing before the COVID-19 enforced break.

We only have to cast our memory back to the end of May when he picked up consecutive clean sheets against their two arch rivals (Bankstown City and Canterbury Bankstown) as they ran away with all six points.

Canterbury Bankstown FC – Andre Guzman

Guzman has been a shining light for the Berries in what has otherwise been an extremely challenging campaign.

He has already surpassed his goals tally for last season with eight already to his name so far. He has arrived on the scoresheet at crucial times throughout Berries season, with one standout goal coming in their stalemate with Dully while another arrived in their triumph over Inter Lions.

Central Coast United FC – Josh Swadling

If there is one man who has stood out, it would have to be Josh Swadling. The Pirates front man is in the mix for the golden boot with nine goals to show so far.

He has been the go to man on many do-or-die occasions throughout the campaign. He was the man of the match in their opening round encounter with Uni as he popped up with a brace in their 4-1 win before he made his way onto the scoresheet for four consecutive rounds after drawing a blank in round two.

However, his most important goal may just have been that late, late winner against high-flying Dully back in round nine. After some pinball in the area it was the Central Coast striker who came up with the goods to break Dully’s five match unbeaten run.

Dulwich Hill FC – Daniel Fornito

It is impossible to overlook Fornito who has been smashing in the goals for a Dully side who sat in third before the competition was suspended.

His 15 goals see him sit in second on the golden boot leader board with only Rydalmere’s Matt West eclipsing the former Dunbar man in that department.

Fornito was the early pace setter with five goals from as many matches while the end of April proved to be another profitable period for the danger man as he scored back-to-back braces against Sydney Uni and Bankstown City.

Fast forward to the end of May and it was just his name who popped up on the scoresheet, albeit three times as Dully came out on top 3-1 against Inter.

Dunbar Rovers FC – Tod Bamber

The Dunbar veteran has once again been his club’s main provider of goals with seven to date.

It took some time before he hit his straps however by the time he did, it coincided with the floodgates opening as he scored five goals in three appearances throughout April.

Most recently it was Matt Nezval and him who spurred their side to victory against Central Coast while he was one of four Dunbar players to get one past Sydney Uni in what was one of their standout performances just before the competition was suspended.

Gladesville Ryde Magic – Michael & Chris Gaitatzis

There may be three Gaitatzis brothers in the one team but it is hard to ignore the standout form of Michael and Chris who have been their club’s main cause for celebration this season.

Between them they have combined to score just under half of Magic’s goals this campaign. Michael has weighed in with eight with a notable hat trick against Macarthur helping them to what has been their biggest victory in 2021.

Meanwhile, Chris was fine tuning his eye for goal just before the league came grinding to a halt, with four goals from his last five appearances.

Inter Lions FC – Alex Becerra

It is not often that you see a stopper leading the goalscoring charts for his/her side. But that is the case for the men from Concord with steely defender Becerra making his way onto the scoresheet seven times already.

He grabbed a goal in their first win of the season (which they had to bide their time for) before adding a second in their midweek thrashing that followed against Berries.

The Inter defender was an integral part of his side’s extended unbeaten run, coming up with a defining goal for his side as they knocked off Bankstown City before notching a brace against the Pirates a week later which made it three wins in three at the time.

Macarthur Rams FC – Anthony Haddad/Stevan Savicic

Haddad was front and centre for the Rams as they began the season in spectacular fashion. He got on the scoresheet in their season opener at Dunbar before backing that up with a goal against Inter in their unforgettable 4-0 rout.

At the other end of the pitch, Savicic has proven himself on a host of occasions throughout the campaign as the Rams number one shot stopper. His eye-catching performances have seen his side come away with a share of the points thanks to his tireless efforts.

Rydalmere Lions FC – Matt West/Tom Gittany

There is almost no need to justify West’s name in this article, with the Lions’ lethal striker staring down the rest of the competition on the goalscoring leader board with 17 from his 16 matches.

He quickly made amends for a relatively slow start to the season by firing a hat trick past Dully in round three which started a five match scoring run that was soon followed by ANOTHER hat trick.

However, his teammate, Gittany deserves a special mention. The young gun has strung together some impressive performances since joining the club this season and was the star man when he notched a brace in their 5-0 demolition of Inter.

Inner West Hawks FC – Peter Yannopoulos

The Hawks’ stalwart has once again been his side’s main threat in the attacking third.

It has been an extremely challenging season for the newly rebranded club who have had very little to cheer about with one win to their name.

However, Yannopoulos’ five goals have been a welcome reprieve as they do their best to close the 11 point gap between themselves and the second from bottom Berries.

Sydney University SFC – Peter Crevani

It has been a season to remember for Crevani who rejoined the ‘students’ this season.

When he is firing it tends to coincide with a strong Uni performance. Case and example is their first win of the season where he scored two of his side’s three goals as they saw off Dunbar.

Another goal in a recent victory against Magic also adds to his case and surely justifies his move to Camperdown after a stint with Dully.

-By NPL 3 NSW Men’s Chief Writer Samuel Greco Schwartz (Twitter handle: @SamuelGS97)