After nine rounds of the PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW competition Sydney United 58 has set the bar but the rest of the league is hot on their tail.
Round 10 is upon us and it means another big weekend of football is ahead with every point vital as the business end of the season comes closer.
This week’s Match of the Round will feature Wollongong Wolves hosting Parramatta FC at WIN Stadium.
Match of the Round
Wollongong Wolves v Parramatta FC, 5pm Sunday at WIN Stadium
The Football NSW cameras travel to WIN Stadium for the first time in 2016 as our Match of the Round will showcase the clash between the Wollongong Wolves taking on Parramatta FC on Sunday.
Time after time it has been a case of so close yet so far for Wollongong this season.
Jacob Timpano’s side has suffered more than its fair share of narrow defeats.
This week the Wolves will be out to capitalise on their home field advantage when Parramatta FC makes the long trip south for Sunday’s fixture.
Wollongong is one of the competition’s most dangerous sides on the counter attack and will look to catch Parramatta on the back foot.
Parramatta has shown this season it has come a long way from the side which narrowly avoided relegation in 2015.
Marco and Gosue Sama are ones to watch with the Parramatta duo in fine form.
Wollongong will be desperate for victory but it won’t be easy.
Blacktown Spartans v Sutherland Sharks, 7pm Saturday at Blacktown Football Park
Blacktown and Sutherland has learnt this season that attractive football doesn’t always bring results.
Both sides have displayed incredible ability to string passes together and move the ball down the field but have lacked grit in defence.
The Spartans and the Sharks are both coming off demoralising defeats and sit at the bottom of the competition.
Three points this week could be the confidence builder they need to turn their season around.
Manly United v Sydney United 58, 7pm Saturday at Cromer Park
How long will Sydney United 58’s winning streak go on? That is the question being asked around the competition with Manly United the next challenger attempting to end the run of Mark Rudan’s team.
Manly’s young attack has been one of its strong points this season but United 58’s defence is the league’s best and will be the home sides biggest test yet.
United 58 has gone from strength to strength this season but a lapse in concentration could see it slip away.
It is sure to be an exciting encounter.
One player that has really made an impression at Edensor Park has been that of goalkeeper Tom Manos who has kept a number of clean sheets for 2016 and will need to be at his best as he takes on his former club.
Hakoah Sydney City East v Bonnyrigg White Eagles, 7pm Saturday at Hensley Athletic Field
Three late goals helped Hakoah Sydney City East to another impressive victory in Round 9 and Mark Robertson’s outfit will want to make it back to back wins.
The open expanses of Hensely Athletic Field has been a tough place to play for opposition teams this season but Bonnyrigg will be out to bounce back after a narrow 2-1 loss to arch rivals Sydney United 58 last week.
Robbie Younis has a reputation as being a match winner and if Hakoah is not careful the burly striker will be ready to help the White Eagles claim all three points.
APIA Leichhardt Tigers v Blacktown City, 4.30pm Sunday at Lambert Park
Blacktown City flexed its attacking muscle last week in a 6-0 domination of Blacktown Spartans.
It won’t be anywhere near as easy when they travel to Lambert Park on Sunday.
APIA has had a mixed season to date but they have shown flashes of brilliance and can tear opposition sides apart when on song.
Blacktown will need to keep its head against the talents of young APIA striker Jordan Murray and Japanese import Tasuku Sekiya.
Rockdale City Suns v Sydney Olympic, 5pm Sunday at Ilinden Sports Centre
The final match of the round is at Ilinden Sports Complex with Rockdale City Suns to host Sydney Olympic.
Rockdale’s attack has been in fine form in recent weeks with seven goals in its past two games.
Olympic will need to be tight at the back and keep the mistakes to a minimum if it is to claim all three points.
The Suns have once again shown its teeth in being a team to look out for as the weeks progress and after Dylan Macallister’s hat-trick last weekend combined with the attacking efforts of Blake Ricciuto and Toufic Alameddine, Alec Urosevski as well as Peter Makrillos, the Blues will need to be at their very best to stop them.