State League Two Round 5 Preview
Hawkesbury City SC vs Mountains United
Saturday, 21 April 2012 @ 7-00pm at Bensons Lane Field
Hawkesbury City welcomes Mountains United to Bensons Lane for what looms as a local Saturday night blockbuster between two of League Two?s in-form sides.
The Hawks were slow out of the blocks but haven?t taken too long to find their feet under new coach Bertenshaw, winning their last three on the trot to now occupy top spot by goal difference. Hawkesbury?s good form is down to their goal scoring ability and the likes of Paul Cooper and Rob Carle will be looking for more of the same at their home ground come Saturday night.
Mountains United have started the season in similar familiar fashion to the Hawks, and will be hoping to push Hawkesbury all the way to consolidate their place in the top half of the table. Mountains United have some experienced state league campaigners such as Craig Small and Mick Haberman within their ranks who would loving more than to get a result against the high-flying Hawks.
Mountains United stole the show last season in the same fixture with a 4-2 rout but one suspects this weekend?s clash will be a much closer affair as both sides will be confident of continuing their winning streaks.
Nepean FC vs Prospect United
Saturday, 21 April 2012 @ 7-00pm at Cook Park (St Marys)
Nepean FC welcomes Prospect United to the lush Cook Park for a Saturday night kick-off.
Nepean hasn?t had the ideal start to 2012 and currently has the unwanted tag of the only League Two side yet to score. It?s still very early days though as Nepean will look to put together a good showing against a Prospect side backing up from their first loss.
Prospect United are in a similar boat to Nepean and will be slightly disappointed with their start to the season as they sit just outside the top 5, collecting 4 points from their opening three fixtures. Tony Caruso will no doubt be weary of a wounded Nepean outfit as his side travels further West to try and get their season back on track.
Prospect beat Nepean 2-1 in the same fixture last season, and ran out 4-0 winners at William Lawson Reserve. With both sides coming off a loss and low in confidence, all 3 points will be up for grabs.
Hakoah vs Bathurst 75
Saturday, 21 April 2012 @ 7-00pm at Hensley Athletic Field
Goals should hopefully be on the menu at Hensley Athletic Field on Saturday night as Hakoah and Bathurst lock horns.
Mark Robertson would be pleased with Hakoah?s start to the season, winning their first three fixtures to remain the only undefeated League Two side. Justin Kosmina is starting to find his mark with 3 goals to his name while the experienced Patrick Darvill has kept the damage down the other end to a minimum.
Bathurst will make their first away trip for the year and what a challenge it will be against a Hakoah side brimming with confidence. Bathurst tasted defeat against Luddenham in Round 4 and will be looking to bounce back to keep pace with the leading pack. James Christie is the danger man for Bathurst, having netted 4 times this season while Brett Osbourne, Nicholas Riggs and Corey Adair have all proven they have the ability in front of goal.
Bathurst were one of a select few to have beaten Hakoah last year, as they collected all 3 points back in round 11 of 2011 with a 3-1 win, but Hakoah made amends with a 4-2 win at the end of last season. With Hakoah yet to drop any points this year it?s difficult to see them losing this one, but with some of the competitions most exciting attacking players lining up for both sides, anything could happen on the night.
Luddenham United vs West City FC
Sunday, 22 April 2012 @ 3-00pm at Luddenham Oval
Luddenham welcome West City FC to Luddenham Oval for a Sunday afternoon kick-off.
Luddenham got their season underway with a proficient 2-1 win against a previously undefeated Bathurst side. Montgomery?s men looked well-organised last weekend as Chris Camilleri?s set piece craftsmanship proved to be the difference. Huso Merdanovic and Ahmed Chandab worked in sync against Bathurst and will prove to be a handful for West City?s backline on Sunday.
Danny Abboud will be pleased his side got off the mark last week with a tight 1-0 victory over Western Condors and will continue their quest for another 3 points against cross-town rivals Luddenham on Sunday afternoon. West City captain, Peter Akers will be the man responsible to lead his team into battle while Luddenham will have to keep a close watch over Brendan Mitrovich, who has a good goal scoring pedigree in state league football.
Luddenham were West City?s bogey side last season as they comfortably swept their rivals aside, claiming all 6 points over both fixtures. With both clubs securing all 3 points in Round 4, this encounter promises to be a great spectacle between two sides tipped to be up the pointy end come seasons end.
Hurstville City Minotaurs vs Western Condors FC
Sunday, 22 April 2012 @ 3-00pm at Punchbowl Oval
Hurstville City Minotaurs look to continue their good form as they play host to the struggling Western Condors on Sunday afternoon.
Peter ?The General? Sarikakis will be pleased that Hurstville are starting to rediscover the type of form that saw them finish 3 points adrift of the 2010 premiership. Hurstville picked up 6 points last week as they disposed FC Gazy in a midweek catch up while backing up to send Belmore to the cleaners with a resounding 4-0 win. Hurstville?s Michael Di Meglio has not been shy of goals, etching 4 to his name as has Haisam Morhi who scored 3 goals over two fixtures last week.
Western Condors have had a slow start to the season under new coach Barry Zambrano as they look to devise a plan to overcome the red-hot Hurstville City Minotaurs at Punchbowl Oval.
Hurstville will be confident and expect nothing less than all 3 points on Sunday but in football anything can happen, and I?m sure Zambrano will have his charges firing all cylinders gunning for an upset.
Belmore United vs FC Gazy
Sunday, 22 April 2012 @ 3-00pm at Blick Oval
Belmore will be glad to be back at Blick Oval as they play host to fellow League Two strugglers FC Gazy on Sunday afternoon.
Belmore are having a difficult time to find any sort of rhythm at the moment and had no answer against a rampant Minotaurs side in Round 4. Worryingly for Belmore is their defence, currently conceding an average of 3.25 goals per game. On the plus side, Walter Alvarez will be well aware of his side?s good form at home and will certainly look to use this to his advantage on Sunday.
FC Gazy have had a terrible start to the season and will face a troubled Belmore outfit off the back of a 6-1 trouncing by the Hawks in Round 4. FC Gazy?s leading goal scorer Ibrahim Hameed will try to take advantage of Belmore?s leaky defence as FC Gazy push for their first win of the season.
This fixture ended in a draw last year while FC Gazy ran out 4-2 winners at Cherrybrook Park. Both sides have leaky defences which should result in an open affair.
State League Two – Top Goalscorers Round Four
4 ? James Christie (Bathurst 75), Michael Di Meglio (Hurstville City)
3 ? Neil Jablonski (Hakoah), Justin Kosmina (Hakoah), Paul Cooper (Hawkesbury City), Haisam Morhi (Hurstville City), Michael Haberman (Mountains United)
2 ? Corey Adair (Bathurst 75), Nicholas Riggs (Bathurst 75), Brett Osbourne (Bathurst 75), Chris Kartambis (Belmore United), Christos Dimitriou (Belmore United), Sasho Stevoski (Hurstville City), Ibrahim Hameed (FC Gazy), Rob Carle (Hawkesbury City), Huso Merdanovic (Luddenham United)
Waratah Cup Round 2 Fixtures
Wednesday 18th April
Prospect United (SL2) v Waverly Old Boys (ASSOC) 7:30pm William Lawson Reserve
Tuesday 24th April
Nepean FC (SL2) v West City FC (SL2) 7:30pm Cook Park (St Marys)
Rescheduled Round 1 Fixture
FC Gazy Lansvale 1 (S Jappie 1) Hurstville City Minotaurs 2 (J Kyriazopoulos 1 H Morhi 1)
Wednesday, 11 April @ 8-00pm at Cherrybrook Park
RESERVE GRADE: FC Gazy Lansvale 0 Hurstville City Minotaurs 2.
-By Dean Southern
