NPL Preview: Academy sides look to build momentum

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As the season heads into its midway point, both academy sides are finding form at the right time. The men host the Northern Tigers at Pluim Park on Sunday while the women travel to Orange take on Western NSW Mariners.

 

Central Coast Mariners Academy vs Northern Tigers

After a superb victory away from home last week, the academy boys return to Pluim Park to take on a Northern Tigers outfit struggling to find form.

The Mariners men will be wanting to go back to back for the first time this season and there will be no better place to do it then at home. Last week’s win has the men’s academy in 5th spot and they will want to stay there and even build a gap on the chasing pack. Jordan Smylie will be wanting to continue where he left off after securing his first hattrick of the season last week.

The Northern Tigers are currently undefeated in their past 5 games however 4 of them have been 1-1 draws. Confidence will be high though as they were able to share the points with top spot Western Sydney last week. The Tigers currently sit in 11th spot but they know a win away from home can put them back on the hunt for a top 6 place.

It’s an important game for both sides as the men’s NPL 2 season reaches its halfway point. The game is also featuring on the NSW NPL livestream if you are unable to make it – accessible via the Football NSW Facebook page.

 

Last week’s academy side: Munford (GK), Vinci, Glassock (c), Miller, Hatch, Belkadi, Johnson, Jevtic, Taouil, Smylie, Katsoulis

 

Match Details

Sunday, 26 May 2019
NSW NPL 2 Round 13
Match:
Central Coast Mariners Academy vs. Northern Tigers
Venue: Pluim Park, Lisarow
Kick Off: 3:00pm

 

Western NSW Mariners vs. Central Coast Mariners Academy Women

Confidence is sky high for the academy girls after two wins last weekend. 12 goals in two games and two clean sheets is exactly what Dan Barrett would have wanted.

The two wins put the girls back into the top 6 and closed the gap on APIA Leichhardt in 4th place. After what was a mixed start to the season, good form looks to have hit the girls at the right time as the second half of the women’s NPL 2 begins. Danielle Wise and Gabrielle Blanch continued their scoring streaks last week and they will not want to stop now.

Sister club Western NSW Mariners are currently winless in their last 5 games but are coming off a respectable defeat to a strong APIA Leichhardt side last week. Western NSW enjoyed a great period in April, winning 3 out of four games to boost them up the table.

Dan Barrett will be hoping for a repeat of round one as the academy girls came out 3-0 victors on the day.

 

Last week’s academy squad: Gabrielle Blanch, Leisel Collins, Jordyn Drysdale, Kate Duffy, Rhiannon Hines, Jade Mcatamney, Kaitlin Murphy, Katie Oliveira, Elizabeth Shorter, Iona Snape, Danielle Wise

 

Match Details

Sunday, 26 May 2019
NSW NPL 2 Women’s Round 12
Match:
Western NSW Mariners vs. Central Coast Mariners Academy Women
Venue: Sir Jack Brabham Park, Orange
Kick Off: 1:05pm