NSW Premier League Grade 20s Round 17 Preview

MATCH OF THE ROUND
BLACKTOWN CITY VS PARRAMATTA FC, 1PM SUNDAY, LILY HOMES STADIUM
Blacktown City have not been their usual selves in the past fortnight, labouring to a 3-2 win over Blacktown Spartans two weekends ago, before being held to a 1-1 draw by Marconi Stallions at Marconi Stadium last weekend.
Mark Strachan’s side have forged a reputation as one of the most entertaining sides in the competition, their possession based style of play earning numerous plaudits throughout the season. A hallmark of their style is their pace and incisiveness on the counter attack, but this has been found wanting of late.
Strachan has commented that his side need to rediscover their killer instinct in the final third and to start converting a higher percentage of the chances that they create throughout the 90 minutes, and they will be hoping to do so this weekend at their home ground, Lily Homes Stadium. 
Blacktown City have failed to take advantage of any slip ups from Sutherland Sharks in their two horse race to finish atop the table, and as a result they still sit three points behind their rivals going in to this weekend’s match.
Parramatta FC meanwhile, have put together a hugely impressive run of form in the past month. Their coach Paul De Lucca, has been hugely satisfied with the way his squad has collectively pulled together to demonstrate their true capabilities.
For many weeks it seemed that his side’s season would be a story of missed opportunities and injury troubles, but their recent run has given them a shot at making the top five, something that many thought highly fanciful as little as a month ago.
To his credit, De Lucca never gave up on his side’s hopes of playing in the finals and they travel to Seven Hills on Sunday afternoon knowing that an upset victory would have them right in the mix. They are currently four points outside of the top five and they have a game in hand on all of the other sides in contention, bar Rockdale City Suns. 
ROUND PREVIEW
MEMBERS ONLY MATCH
BONNYRIGG WHITE EAGLES VS SYDNEY UNITED 58, 5PM, BONNYRIGG SPORTS CLUB 
Bonnyrigg White Eagles host their great rivals Sydney United 58 on Saturday night, knowing that they need a victory to remain in the cut and thrust battle to finish in fifth place. 
Sydney United 58 have grouped together in recent weeks and pulled off another stunning upset last weekend, thrashing competition leaders Sutherland Sharks 3-0. They remain at the foot of the table, however, two points adrift of Sydney Olympic  but having played a game extra.
Games between these two great sides always produce fascinating encounters and this should be no different.
SATURDAY
MANLY UNITED VS ROCKDALE CITY SUNS, 5PM, CROMER PARK
Third placed Manly United host fifth placed Rockdale City Suns at Cromer Park on Saturday night. Manly United are heavy favourites to finish in third place, a huge credit to the talents of both their coach Nigel Mahoney, and their young playing squad who have come on in leaps and bounds after a difficult start to the season.
They drew 0-0 last weekend with APIA Leichhardt Tigers in an even match devoid of goal scoring opportunities, but high on aesthetics and style in a decent second half played by both sides. 
Rockdale City Suns are leading a group of five teams all vying for that crucial final spot in the top five, though they do have a game in hand. If they win that match, they are capable of taking the fight to Blacktown Spartans in fourth position, which would be just reward for a side that has been tough opposition for each team this season.
SOUTH COAST WOLVES VS MARCONI STALLIONS, 5PM, JOHN CREHAN PARK
South Coast Wolves are also in the mix for the fifth position in the table and they are at home to Marconi Stallions on Saturday evening.
Richard Lloyd’s side have been a consistent presence in mid table this season and have been steadily improving, despite the odd result not going their way.
Marconi Stallions are in sixth place and are as good a chance as any of the five teams in the mix of making the finals. On their day they are capable of taking points off the best teams, as they proved last weekend in drawing 1-1 with second placed Blacktown City at Marconi Stadium.
A win for either of these sides would give them a significant boost in their quest to make the finals.
SUTHERLAND SHARKS VS BLACKTOWN SPARTANS, 5PM, SEYMOUR SHAW PARK
League leaders Sutherland Sharks have a three point buffer to second placed Blacktown City, but certainly wouldn’t have legislated for defeat by bottom of the table Sydney United 58 last weekend,
They are still favourites to be Premiership winners, but they have a huge match against Blacktown City coming up in the final rounds. Sutherland need to keep winning to put the pressure squarely on their opponents shoulders, and they can do that this Saturday night against Blacktown Spartans.
Spartans have had a very good season after promotion from the NSW Super League and they sit in fourth place heading into the final five rounds. They are in danger of being caught by Rockdale City Suns, but their place in the finals should be virtually assured.
They have played some very good football this season, despite being undoubtedly affected by the promotion of goal scoring dynamo Andre Carle to the first grade squad. Spartans will be a decent test of the title winning credentials of Sutherland, who will need to bounce back strongly after their poor display last weekend.
SUNDAY
SYDNEY OLYMPIC VS APIA LEICHHARDT TIGERS, 1PM, LAMBERT PARK
Sydney Olympic’s hopes of making the finals have long been dashed and they will be playing purely for pride this weekend at Lambert Park.
They have pulled off some very good results this season but the consistency hasn’t been there for Jerry Bilokapic’s side and as a result they sit second from bottom, albeit with a game in hand. 
APIA Leichhardt’s lack of killer instinct in the final third has cost them dearly this season. Rod Williams’ side has been one of the most accomplished proponents of the possession based passing game that all clubs are looking to develop, but they haven’t been able to punish the opposition as consistently as they need to, in order to really trouble the upper echelons of the table.
They possess one of the most formidable talents in the league, In Jong Yang and a deadly attacker in Nick Taneski. Williams’ very faint hopes of making the finals took a hit when they could only come away from Cromer Park with a 0-0 draw last week, but they will hope to win their remaining games and pray for results to go their way, starting this Sunday afternoon. 
-By Matthew Connellan