It’s getting closer to the final stages of what has been a fantastic Westfield FFA Cup with round 6 of the Preliminary rounds taking shape this week with all but two matches scheduled for this Wednesday night.
The current 20 teams still alive in the prestigious Cup come from all competitions with seven PS4 NPL Men’s 1 teams, four PS4 NPL Men’s 2 teams, 6 State League teams, 1 Illawarra Premier League team and two local association teams.
The action kicks off at Seymour Shaw on Wednesday night at 7pm as PS4 NPL NSW Men’s 1 side Sutherland Sharks take on Illawarra Premier League hopefuls Wollongong United.
The home side will be in a buoyant mood after dismantling the Rockdale City Suns 6-2 in their round seven fixture.
Steve O’Connor’s men have already defeated one Illawarra Premier League side in Port Kembla and the Marconi Stallions on the road to round 6.
Following a bye in their opening round, Wollongong United came away with victories in each of their next games against difficult State League 1 opponents as head coach Oliver Vrtkovski hopes to claim the club’s biggest scalp yet.
It’ll be a replay of last year’s round of 32 of the 2014 Westfield FFA Cup as Manly United welcome Sydney Olympic to Cromer Park.
Olympic came away with the spoils last year and Grant Lee’s men will be eager for a repeat of that result. The two also met last week with the Blues gaining the upper edge at Cromer. Lee’s men have been a dominant force so far in the Cup, scoring nine goals and conceding only one in their previous two matches.
Paul Dee’s men will be buoyed by their fantastic 4-1 result over Blacktown City on Sunday and having already defeated the Bonnyrigg White Eagles in round 5, they’ll be hoping to continue their march in the Cup. Revenge will also be on the cards for the Northern Beaches side after last season’s defeat.
State League 1 side Nepean FC will play one of the biggest games in its club’s history as they take on the might of PS4 NPL NSW Men’s 1 side Blacktown City at Lily’s Football Centre.
Having been torn apart by a rampaging Manly United at home over the weekend, City will be keen to bury Nepean and make up for that defeat. They’ve been quite formidable so far in the Cup, scoring 10 goals and defeating local rivals Blacktown Spartans 4-1 in the previous round.
Nepean will travel to Lily’s Football Centre with the ‘underdogs’ tag clearly rested on their shoulders. They’ve been quite lucky so far, squeezing past three associations sides en route to round 6.
In an all PS4 NPL Men’s 2 affair, it’ll be the Northern Tigers and Macarthur Rams doing battle at Mills Park.
The Tigers have had a great start to their Cup campaign, first defeating Men’s State League 1 team Hills Brumbies 8-1 before accounting for the Bankstown Berries 3-1. They’ll see this as a great chance to progress to round 7.
The Rams have taken on two association teams, the first was a routine win while they were pushed all the way by Gosford City FC in the last round, sneaking away with a late 2-1 victory.
What a Cup tie we have in prospect at O’Neill Park on Wednesday night between Bankstown Association team Yagoona Lions and the South Coast Wolves.
A world apart in competitions, the Lions, coached by Goren Kocev, will be hoping they can spring a ‘cupset’ in the club’s biggest match in their history. A famous away victory against the Wagga City Wanderers in the last round meant the Lions booked their date with the Wolves.
The PS4 NPL Men’s 1 team will be expecting nothing but a win in this one as the Wolves have already defeated two PS4 NPL 2 teams on their way. Bringing Westfield FFA Cup action to the South Coast once again will be one of the objectives coach Nahuel Arrarte hopes to achieve in 2015.
At William Lawson Reserve on Wednesday night, Prospect United take on Gladesville Hornsby Association team Kenthurst & District FC.
Prospect have had a great run so far and will look for it continue after Wednesday night. The highlight of the Cup so far for them was their gritty victory over PS4 NPL Men’s 2 team Central Coast FC in round 4.
Kenthurst & District have surprised many but looking at their roster, they’re a team that could push many. With players such as ex-Premier League stars Adam Biddle, Matthew Pressello and Luke Roodenburg in their team, they’ll be confident they could book a dream date against Sydney United 58 in the next round.
Lambert Park will host the round 6 matchup between Sydney University and Rockdale City Suns. Both sides have had quite slow starts to the season and will be looking for this Cup match to kick start their 2015 seasons.
The PS4 NPL Men’s 2 team have defeated two Illawarra Premier League teams on road to the sixth round. Uni came back from the dead in their first match and will look to that spirit to spring a surprise result on Wednesday night.
Rockdale head into this game without a head coach as the club parted ways with Branko Culina on Monday. With inspirational midfielder Paul Reid set to lead the team in the interim, the out of form Suns suffered two scares in their previous two match with Tomislav Arcaba pulling the team through in a penalty shootout in the last round against St George Association team Arncliffe Aurora FC.
The late game on Wednesday night see’s State League 1 team Balmain Tigers tackle PS4 NPL Men’s 2 team Bankstown City.
Bankstown City had a tough time in the Cup, being taken all the way by Eastern Suburbs Association side Coogee United. A late extra time goal saw Bankstown progress and the on fire Steven Veleski and Huseyin Jasli will be someone the Red and Blacks look towards for inspiration up-front.
Balmain have found hitting the back of the net quite easy so far, scoring 10 goals in two games. It will be much tougher on Wednesday night but will hope that home pitch advantage will work in their favour.
On Wednesday 6th of May, Hawkesbury City welcome fellow State League 1 outfit Western NSW Mariners who make the long trip.
Hawkesbury have already knocked out PS4 NPL Men’s 2 side St George FC on their way and will see this as a great opportunity to progress to the next round. Ben Gough will be someone the ‘Hawks’ look to helping them realise their dreams with a spot in the next round of the Cup.
The Mariners have had a decent start to their league campaign and knocked out last year’s surprise Westfield FFA Cup packets, PS4 NPL Men’s 2 side Hakoah Sydney City East in the previous round.
NOTE:
Sydney United 58 will meet the winner of this Tuesday night’s round 5 matchup between the Hurstville City Minotaurs and North Shore Mariners who are kicking off at 8pm at 5Sports Caringbah.
