State League Two Round 14 Preview

Nepean have enjoyed steady improvement throughout the season and might feel that they can get up at home for the first time this year, particularly after claiming a 1-1 away draw at Lansvale in the opening round.
Hurstville City and Hawkesbury City meet in an engaging match-up at Bensons Lane Field on Saturday evening (5pm start). Hawkesbury took the wind out of beaten grandfinalists Hurstville 1-0 back in round one and the Minotaurs were slow to recover winning just one of their first six games. But they are on a roll now losing just one of their last five and slowly creeping up the ladder to be six points behind fifth-place Hawkesbury, who enjoyed a solid start to the year despite not cracking a victory at home (three draws, two losses).
League leaders Luddenham United take on a busy Northbridge FC at Valentine Sports Park on Saturday night (7pm). Northbridge play their rescheduled Waratah Cup game against Super League side Blacktown Spartans at Francis Park on Tuesday night (7.30pm kick-off) before meeting juggernauts Luddenham at home. Northbridge continue their excellent start to State League and boast a solid home record, but they face a United side going about its business having racked up five road wins from seven outings. Luddenham dominated in a 2-0 victory over Northbridge in round one but might find the going a little tougher this time around.
Springwood United host third-placed Chopin Park Rams under lights at Summerhayes Park on Saturday night (7pm kick-off). The Rams have impressed in their State League return to deserve their lofty status, and were it not for a league-high six draws they might have even been placed a little bit higher. In fact Chopin Park (with Hawkesbury) have endured one less defeat than frontrunners Luddenham and kicked off their campaign with a 1-1 draw with Springwood in the first round. But this is the mountain top and Springwood coach Errol Warwick-Day will have his troops revved up following last week?s shock 0-0 draw with cellar-dwellers Gazy.
Belmore Hercules face-up to second-placed Roosters in a big game at Blick Oval on Sunday afternoon (3pm kick-off). Belmore replaced their coach this week, with former Wanderers mentor Walter Alvarez returning to division two to guide a Hercules side desperate to gain something from their 2011 season. They have now gone 11 games without a win to sit just above Nepean and Gazy on the ladder. Ironically, the only win they have claimed this year was a 2-1 away win against Roosters in the opening game, but they shouldn?t expect any favours from a team that has scored 34 goals in 13 matches and have lost just once in eight games.
It will be interesting to see how top-five side Fairfield Wanderers go against Bathurst ?75 at Alec Lamberton Field on Sunday afternoon (3pm). The Wanderers wheels wobbled in May with just one win in four matches and they didn?t enjoy a 1-1 draw with strugglers Belmore last week that has left them looking over their shoulders. One area the usually fluent side has struggled in is scoring goals, with just 17 in 13 games. On the other side of the paddock, however, Bathurst have their own woes ? one victory in nine outings (and just 16 goals to boast about) to be left languishing towards the rear of the table.
A rejuvenated Hakoah play Prospect United under lights at Hensley Athletic Field on Sunday night (7pm kick-off). Prospect have only beaten last-placed Gazy in their last five rounds of football and will lose their top-five spot if they don?t chalk up a win this weekend. Hakoah?s form has been like a see-saw and they are still yet to string together the same result together in consecutive weeks in 2010. But they have certainly kicked plenty of goals, a league-high 35 in fact, to sit on the top-five precipice, and they have also regained Mark Robertson (back from an overseas coaching course). Interestingly, Hakoah has not beaten Prospect in their last five meetings.
-By Daniel De Nardi