There’s only ten weeks to go until the finals in this year’s PlayStation®4 NPL NSW Men’s competition and the pressure is on all twelve teams to stake its place.
The battle for ladder positions is as tightly contested as it has been all season with plenty of chances to move among the mid table teams.
Round 13 features another big weekend of football with Manly kicking off proceedings with a Friday night clash against Sydney Olympic.
APIA Leichhardt will host Parramatta FC in this week’s Match of the Round to close out a super Sunday of four matches on June 5.
Match of the Round
APIA Leichhardt Tigers v Parramatta FC, 6.30pm Sunday at Lambert Park
There has been little to smile about at Lambert Park this season with APIA languishing one point off bottom spot with only two wins from 12 games.
Predicted to challenge for the title in 2016, APIA has struggled for consistency during a season which has turned from bad to worse.
But it’s not all grim for the Daniel Cummins coached side which will look to end its recent skid with victory on Sunday against Parramatta.
The signing of Tesuku Sekiya and young striker Jordan Murray look like players the club can build around while defender Themba Muata-Marlow has shown flashes of why he was previously on the books of A-League club Newcastle Jets.
Parramatta will be a tough competitor but at home APIA will have its eyes set on all three points.
Manly United FC v Sydney Olympic, 7.45pm Friday at Cromer Park
Nothing less than a win and three competition points will be enough for Paul Dee and his Manly United side when it hosts Sydney Olympic at Cromer Park on Friday.
Manly has been one of the top teams this season and are sure to pose an almighty challenge for Sydney Olympic.
A 3-1 victory against Sutherland last week has Manly in high spirits as they attempt to cement its place among the top four on the ladder.
Richie Cardozo has provided yet another attacking edge for the Northern Beaches side already stacked with weapons up front.
Sydney Olympic come into the game on the back of a 3-1 victory of its own but it could very well be a different story under the Friday night lights of Cromer Park this week.
Blacktown Spartans v Bonnyrigg White Eagles, 7pm Saturday at Blacktown Football Park
Blacktown Spartans will fight to get off the bottom of the ladder when the host Bonnyrigg White Eagles on Saturday.
Ben De Haan’s team secured a surprise win against Bonnyrigg when the two sides clashed earlier this year and will be hoping to make it two from two against the reigning PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s Champions.
While Bonnyrigg’s season hasn’t entirely gone to plan itself, Blacktown will be in for a difficult encounter against a White Eagles side fighting for a finals place and chance to defend its title.
Bonnyrigg last week defeated Rockdale 4-2 and will be out to continue its run on Saturday.
Blacktown City FC v Sutherland Sharks, 3pm Sunday at Lily’s Football Centre
Sutherland Sharks this week face one of the most daunting challenges in the PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition. A fired up Blacktown City.
Defeat at the hands of competition leaders Sydney United 58 last week has spurned Blacktown City into action and the Sharks could be on the end of a big scoreline if they are not at 100 per cent.
Blacktown has a history of big bounce back performances and nothing short of that should be expected on Sunday as Mark Crittenden’s team battles to keep in range of United 58 at the top of the table.
Sutherland come into the game after a 3-1 loss to Manly and will need a much improved performance if they are to return to the winner’s circle in Round 13.
Rockdale City Suns v Hakoah Sydney City East, 5pm Sunday at Ilinden Sports Centre
Defeat at the hands of Bonnyrigg White Eagles has given Paul Reid’s Rockdale City Suns extra inspiration to win when they host Hakoah Sydney City East on Sunday.
With Manly United hot on their tail in fourth sport, the third placed City Suns are in need of a win.
Rockdale’s powerful attack has been the focal point of the Ilinden based side’s season and it is surely going to be more of the same against competition new boys Hakoah.
Hakoah come into the game after a 1-1 draw against Wollongong.
Mark Robertson’s side has been a thorn in the side of many teams this season and the Hensley Athletic outfit will hope to play that role again when they travel to play Rockdale.
Wollongong Wolves v Sydney United 58, 5pm Sunday at WIN Stadium
Back at home and determined for victory, Wollongong Wolves this week host competition front runners Sydney United 58 on Sunday.
It will be a real test for Jacob Timpano and his Wolves outfit who succumbed to a 2-1 defeat when the two teams clashed in Round 2 this year
Sydney United 58 has powered on from that result to win its next nine matches while the Wolves have struggled to hit the same heights.
A trip to Wollongong is one of the toughest away trips in the competition and the Wolves will be out to ensure it stays that way.
Panni Nikas and Chris Payne have been in inspired form this season and will surely be a handful for the Wollongong defence.
Swift counter attacking football from the Wolves nearly unlocked the United 58 defence in Round 2 with Timpano likely to employ a similar approach on Sunday.