The PlayStation®4 NPL NSW competition is warming up with sides beginning to hit top gear going into this weekend’s Round 4 action.
April 2 will be a super Saturday for football fans with four matches taking place across the competition including an exciting matchup between reigning PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s Champions Bonnyrigg White Eagles and Manly United.
This weeks match of the round will feature Sutherland Sharks taking on Sydney Olympic at Seymour Shaw.
Sutherland Sharks v Sydney Olympic FC, 6.30pm Saturday at Seymour Shaw
New Sutherland coach Carlos Villazon has preached the virtues of attacking football this season and has turned the Sharks into one of the competition’s most exciting teams.
However the boys from Seymour Shaw are still a work in progress with two straight losses after a comprehensive win in Round 1.
Sydney Olympic has surprised many this season with its strong performances despite a major turnover of players in the offseason.
The pressure will be on the sharks to return to the winners circle but Grant Lee’s side will be ready for a big performance.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles v Manly United FC, 7pm Saturday at Bonnyrigg Sports Club
The shock round two loss against Blacktown Spartans for Brian Brown’s Bonnyrigg side is well and truly in the past as the reigning PlayStation 4 Champions prepare to go head to head with Manly United.
Bonnyrigg were back in form last week against APIA and will be desperate to make it two wins from as many games.
It is a similar scenario for Paul Dee’s Manly side who claimed a dominant win against Parramatta in Round 3.
Bonnyrigg will need to keep their eye on Manly’s star players Dejan Pandurevic, Brendan Cholakian and Luke Giverin.
Hakoah Sydney City East v APIA Leichhardt, 7pm Saturday at Hensley Athletic Field
Confidence is sky high among the Hakoah Sydney City East squad after last week’s comprehensive thrashing of Blacktown Spartans.
Mark Robertson’s side will have a much tougher challenge this week when APIA Leichhardt come to town.
Injury has torn through the APIA squad but coach John Carnevale is confident his players will be ready to perform.
APIA is yet to win a match this season and the pressure is building on the side which was touted as a premiership favourite before the season.
Parramatta FC v Blacktown City FC, 7pm Saturday at Melita Stadium
Blacktown City has been almost unstoppable this season with Mark Crittenden’s side out to make it four wins from four games when they take on Parramatta FC on Saturday.
Parramatta has been much improved from the relegation battling side of 2015 but there is still a long way to go for the boys from Melita Stadium.
Blacktown has been guilty of sluggish starts so far this season so keep an eye out for how Franco Consentino and his Parramatta side take advantage.
Rockdale City Suns v Sydney United 58 FC, 5pm Sunday at Ilinden Sports Centre
Paul Reid’s Rockdale side has proven itself as a tough competitor so far this year and their mettle will be definitely tested on Sunday when they face off against Sydney United.
Rockdale is undefeated this year and has played attractive football during the opening three rounds of the competition.
Despite a loss to Blacktown City in Round 1, Sydney United 58 FC have impressed with solid performances against Sutherland and Wollongong.
The winner of this match could easily be Blacktown City’s biggest challenger for the premiership.
Wollongong Wolves v Blacktown Spartans, 5pm Sunday at WIN Stadium
A return to the comforts of home is just what the doctor ordered for the Wollongong Wolves after two tough losses on the road.
Jacob Timpano’s side has displayed incredible ability on the counter attack so far this season with the speed of Blake McGinn, Brett Wilson and Nicholas Bernal a constant threat to opposition defences.
Spartans fans will hope the inspired performance their side showed against Bonnyrigg in Round 2 returns after Blacktown’s listless display against Hakoah Sydney City East last week.
Ben De Haan’s Spartans side possesses plenty of quality but they will need to find their composure if the goal of a finals spot is to be achieved.