State League Two Round 3 Preview
Eight State League Two sides have been drawn in the Waratah Cup Preliminary Round which kicked off on Monday night (26th March).
This week?s busy schedule will test the depth of the majority of League Two squads early in the season, especially since there are still 5 catch up games to be played from round one and two.
Mountains United vs Gazy Lansvale
Saturday, 31 March 2012 @ 7-00pm at Summerhayes Park
Mountains United welcome FC Gazy to Summerhayes Park for a 7pm Saturday night kick off.
Mountains United will be looking to bounce back from a shock 2-1 loss at home to Hurstville last Sunday while FC Gazy will look to kick-start their campaign, having had both their fixtures cancelled due to wet weather.
The mountain men will be hungry to get some points on the board and will believe they have what it takes against a side that is yet to clock up any playing minutes this season.
FC Gazy will no doubt be keen for some game time and face a difficult away trip up the Great Western Highway against a fired up Mountains outfit.
In last year?s fixture at Summerhayes, it was a tight affair with both clubs sharing the spoils in a 0-0 draw. Mountains United captured 3 valuable away points in the last round of 2011 with a nail-biting 4-3 win and will be hoping they can discover this same type of form come Saturday night.
Nepean FC vs FC Hakoah
Saturday, 31 March 2012 @ 7-00pm at Cook Park (St Marys)
Nepean FC will be hoping they can finally get their season underway as they play host to Hakoah on Saturday night for a 7pm kick off at Cook Park (St Marys).
Nepean are only one of two clubs who are yet to taste any football this year and will relish hosting the Grand Final winners this Saturday night for what now looms as their season opener.
Hakoah easily disposed of Luddenham with a morale boosting 4-1 win at Hensley Athletic Field in their first game of the season but now face a tricky away trip out west against a very much unknown Nepean outfit.
Top goal scoring marksman, Neil Jablonski scored a hat-trick against Luddenham in the clubs first hit out and will no doubt be keen to add to his tally this Saturday night.
Hakoah brushed Nepean aside with a 4-1 win in the same fixture last year and backed it up with a 1-0 win at home. Hakoah will be quietly confident of taking all the points on offer but Nepean will look to shake things up, and won?t want a repeat of last year?s result on their home turf which makes for an exciting spectacle.
Hawkesbury City vs Hurstville City Minotaurs
Saturday, 31 March 2012 @ 7-00pm at Bensons Lane
Hurstville will travel to Bensons Lane Field for a 7pm kick off on Saturday night that sets up an intriguing affair between two clubs that secured 2-1 away wins in round two.
Hawkesbury bounced back from their opening round loss to Bathurst, coming from behind to beat West City 2-1 last Sunday. With two close games now under their belt, the Hawks will fancy their chances in their first home game of the season.
Hawkesbury will be hoping Evan Daglis can get the Hawks midfield firing early on, while the goal scoring prowess of Paul Cooper will cause headaches for Hurstville?s backline.
Hurstville beat Mountains United in round two and will be full of confidence for their round 3 fixture against the Hawks.
Hurstville?s Michael Di Meglio will look to get his name on the score sheet again having sealed victory for Hurstville last week.
Hawkesbury ran out 5-4 winners at Bensons Lane last year while backing up with a hard fought 1-0 away win. Hurstville had a disappointing season in 2011 by their standards and will be ignoring the history books in hope of a good showing on Saturday night.
Luddenham United vs Prospect United
Sunday, 1 April 2012 @ 3-00pm at Luddenham Oval
Luddenham United host Prospect United on Sunday for a 3pm kick off at Luddenham Oval.
Luddenham went down 4-1 to the 2011 Grand Final winners in round 2 and will be eager to get some points on the board in their first home fixture for season 2012.
Huso Merdanovic scored the solitary goal for Luddenham in their round 2 loss to Hakoah and will be hungry for more of the same.
Prospect came from 2 goals down to equalise with 10 minutes to spare against Western Condors in round 2 and will look to get back into the winners circle on Sunday.
Prospect have already had 6 different players score over two fixtures which Luddenham will have to be wary of on Sunday.
Luddenham had the wood over Prospect in 2011 with a tight 1-0 win at home backed up with a 2-1 away win. The form guide might as well be thrown out the window for this one though, as this game shapes up to be a fierce contest due to some off-season transfer activity between both clubs.
Bathurst 75 vs Western Condors FC
Sunday, 1 April 2012 @ 3-00pm at Alec Lamberton Field
Table toppers Bathurst 75 welcome Western Condors on Sunday, kicking off at 3pm at Alec Lamberton Field.
Bathurst defeated Belmore 4-1 in their round 2 fixture at Alec Lamberton to go top of the table and will be looking to make it 3 home wins in a row.
Bathurst danger man, James Christie, who bagged two goals against Belmore will be looking to reproduce the same goal scoring form to keep his side up the pointy end of the ladder.
Western Condors will see their round 2 fixture as a missed opportunity, letting Prospect back into the game after leading 2-0 with only 10 minutes to go. Western Condors will be licking their wounds as they regroup for a crunch match against League Two?s early season bolters.
Western Condors came away with all 3 points at Alec Lamberton last season with a comprehensive 2-0 win while scoring 3 unanswered goals at home to collect a maximum of 6 points over both fixtures. However it is Bathurst who is showing great form in the early stages of 2012 and will be confident of securing a 3rd straight victory at home.
Belmore United vs West City FC
Sunday, 1 April 2012 @ 3-00pm at Blick Oval
Belmore United will be glad to be home as they welcome West City FC to Blick Oval on Sunday for a 3pm kick off.
Belmore have had a difficult start to the year, losing both their league games by 3 goal margins, along with a 2-1 loss to Dunbar Rovers to bow out of the Waratah Cup on Monday night.
It is still early days and Belmore will be hoping the likes of players such as Alex Aravena can get Belmore?s season going when they return to Blick Oval for the first time in 2012.
West City FC narrowly went down to Hawkesbury at Chopin Park in their first league match of the year and will be hoping the experience of Peter Akers, Brendan Mitrovich and Jason Browne can spur West City to victory on Sunday.
West City was too good last year, winning 4-1 at Blick Oval and 3-0 at home. With both sides losing their respective round 2 clashes, there will be extra incentive in securing the 3 points to ensure neither side gets left too far behind the leading pack.
Waratah Cup Preliminary Round Fixtures
Monday 26th March
Dunbar Rovers (ESFA) v Belmore United (SL2) 19:30 PM Hensley Athletic Field ? 2-1
Tuesday 27th March
Miranda Magpies (SSFA) v Hurstville City Minotaurs (SL2) 18:30 PM Seymour Shaw 2 – 1
Wednesday 28th March
FC Gasy Lansvale (SL2) v Hills Pumas (GHFA) 20:00 PM Cherrybrook Park
Lilli Pilli FC (SSFA) v Luddenham United (SL2) 18:30 PM Woolooware High School
Western Condors (SL2) v West City FC (SL2) 19:00 PM Knight Park 4
Bass Hill RSL (BDAF) v Bathurst 75 (SL2) Venue TBA 18:30 PM Kinch Reserve
Thursday 29th March
Hakoah (SL2) v Barden Ridgebacks (SSFA) 19:15 PM Hensley Athletic Field
Byes
Mountains United (SL2)
Hawkesbury City (SL2)
Nepean FC (SL2)
Prospect United (SL2)
-By Dean Southern
