State League Two Round 8 Preview

Prospect are unbeaten at home this season but Luddenham have won three of their four road games, including a 4-2 win over Chopin Park on the weekend. Luddenham won last year?s meeting at the Oval 1-0 after two straight 2-2 draws on Prospect turf, showing nothing between the teams in terms of history. The winner of this match will take first place on the ladder.
Early contenders Fairfield Wanderers and Chopin Park Rams meet in a doozy of a clash at Knight Park on Tuesday afternoon (3pm). Fairfield have been impressive since a round-three falter against Luddenham to cement a top-three position early on in the competition, while newcomers Chopin Park have been just as dazzling in their first season back in State League. The Rams suffered their first loss (to Luddenham) on the weekend and will be keen to return to the winners circle sooner rather than later. This will be a good test for both teams.
Roosters FC tackle Gazy Lansvale in a crunch match at Hills Sports High on Tuesday afternoon (3pm). Gazy will need to brick up their goalmouth if they are to stop Roosters from adding to their favourable history of scoring 13 goals in three straight wins over Lansvale. Interestingly, this will be the fourth different venue they have met at over the past few years and last year?s 4-3 thriller won by Roosters at Lidcombe may indicate a change of luck for Lansvale following 3-0 and 6-1 defeats in their previous two encounters. Roosters have also been a little sloppy at their new home ground this year, losing two of three matches at the high school.
Northbridge FC and Springwood United tangle at Northbridge Oval on Tuesday afternoon (3pm). United are yet to lose away from home following two draws and would love to add to their road success with a good showing north of town to keep their noses at the top of the leaderboard. Northbridge have pulled out some fantastic performances of late and will appreciate playing a formidable opponent in Springwood. Northbridge will need to tighten their defence up a bit as they have leaked twice as many goals as United so far.
A cross-town derby just might be the tonic needed to ignite Belmore Hercules and Hurstville City Minotaurs into action when they face off at Blick Oval on Tuesday afternoon (3pm). Both sides are languishing near the bottom of the division two table with just a win each to their names and a victory would be a precious commodity. Goals in particular will be worth their weight in gold in this match with Hercules and Minotaurs combining for a measly 15 goals in their 12 matches to date. To spice things up even more, Belmore belted Hurstville 6-1 last May before a more subdued 2-1 win at Blick Oval later in the year.
Bathurst ?75 take on Nepean FC in a defining game at Alec Lamberton Field on Tuesday evening (5pm). Bathurst has had an indifferent start to the year, beating Roosters and holding highflyers Prospect to a draw, but because they are winless on the road mid-table ?75 are still trying to get their motor running in 2011. At the other end Nepean are yet to taste victory this year but have four draws from six games to show their division two competitiveness, however, they will need someone to step up and score some more goals for them if they are to break their duck, with just six successful strikes so far.
Division two gladiators Hawkesbury City and Hakoah will shake the coliseum at Benson Lane Field on Tuesday evening (5pm kickoff). Hawkesbury won both 2010 encounters during Hakoah?s year of woe but they won?t be taking anything for granted while Hakoah continues its path of destruction this year, especially with City?s shaky winless home record and Hakoah?s credible road ledger of just the one loss in four away outings. While both sides have leaked 12 goals, Hakoah have also scorched for a league-best 23 goals following their 7-2 rout of Hurstville. Throw in a top-five position as a reward for victory and you?ve got all the ingredients for a titanic struggle.
-By Dan De Nardi