State League Two Round 13 Preview

Prospect regained their lofty position by ending a three-game losing streak with a come-from-behind victory over Gazy last week, their first win since round five, while Chopin Park continue to grind out their own impressive results with just two close defeats (to Luddenham and Wanderers) against them all year. The Rams will see this as a must-win game however, with seven of their next eight games on the road.
Springwood United will have revenge in mind when they take on Gazy Lansvale at Summerhayes Park on Saturday night (7pm). Gazy smacked Springwood 4-1 at Summerhayes last year and then went on to beat them again 1-0 in the return fixture at Cherrybrook. This time around, however, Gazy comes into the game having conceded 47 goals in their past 12 matches, and unless they can plug up the holes in their defence United will have a field day this weekend. At the other end, Lansvale will find it tough work trying to break through a Springwood defence that has leaked just 14 goals (third lowest yield) this season.
Nepean and Hawkesbury City battle it out under lights at Cook Park, St Marys, on Saturday night (7pm). Despite being well above Nepean on the points table Hawkesbury might be glad this fixture is away from home as they have the league?s best road record. City have won four and drawn two of its six away games (whereas they are win-less at home) but face a Nepean team that has shown great improvement over the last few weeks in pushing top-three Luddenham, Wanderers and Roosters all the way in three tight losses. Nepean are also searching for their first win at Cook Park.
Bathurst ?75 versus Luddenham United at Alec Lamberton Field on Saturday night (7pm) should be an interesting affair if history is anything to go by. Their last three meetings have been decided by the solitary goal although Luddenham was the winner each time (1-0, 3-2, 3-2). United is another team with a terrific away record having won four from six road games this year but the journey over the mountains is perhaps the toughest trip of all, and Bathurst will be keen to get back to the form that saw them claim the scalps of Roosters and Hakoah earlier in the season.
Belmore Hercules tackle Fairfield Wanderers at Blick Oval on Sunday afternoon (3pm) having already met in this year?s Waratah Cup. Wanderers bundled Hercules out of the knockout competition 2-1 at Knight Park in April to make it two in a row following their 1-0 win in the league late last year. But Belmore know how to compete with Wanderers having stole a 2-1 win at Knight Park in the earlier 2010 encounter and need to do something before season 2011 runs away from them altogether. Hercules have not tasted victory since a round one win over Roosters but can take some solace in the fact they are at the start of a seven-game home stretch, whereas Wanderers, who have dropped two of their last three matches, play their next five games on the road.
Hurstville City meet a top-three team for the third week in a row and, having already sent Luddenham and Wanderers flying to the canvas, the Minotaurs would love to add Roosters to the bodycount when they roll up the sleeves at Punchbowl Oval on Sunday afternoon (3pm). Hurstville look like they have shaken off the cobwebs and three straight wins have lifted them to within sights of a top-five spot. But Roosters won?t be gifting their long-term rivals anything and have won seven of the past nine games to rightfully claim a spot at the top of the division two leaderboard. Besides, Roosters haven?t beaten Hurstville in over two years.
Hakoah will now take on Northbridge at Hensley Athletic Field on Saturday night (7pm). Northbridge have been steadily improving each week to nestle itself on the top-five fringe, on equal points with Hakoah. But while the league newcomers have shown a degree of consistency in their debut season (unbeaten since round three), old club Hakoah have been quite erratic (three wins, three draws and three losses in their last nine games). And they can expect Northbridge to be extra tough with the northern districts club in fine form having made it through to the fourth round of the Waratah Cup knockout (the official draw takes place on May 26).
-By Daniel De Nardi