State League Two Round 8 Preview

Hawkesbury City SC vs Western Condors FC
Saturday, 12 May 2012 @ 7-00pm at Bensons Lane Field
Hawkesbury City play host to Western Condors FC at Bensons Lane Field for a Saturday night kick-off.
Hawkesbury City scraped through with a hard fought 1-0 win against Belmore away from home in round 7 as Zac Watters scored a last gasp winner to make it five wins from as many starts. Six valuable points are up for grabs this week as the Hawks face Mountains United on Thursday night in a round 5 catch up game before taking on the Condors this weekend. The Hawks midfield wiz Evan Daglis and the speedy Paul Cooper will be ones to watch out for as they have a great chance to separate themselves from the rest of the playing field over the next couple of days.
Western Condors matched Mountains United for most of their round 7 clash but some slack defending saw them concede at the death, going down 3-2. Western Condors won?t mind the underdogs tag though, and travel to Bensons Lane on Saturday night hoping to build upon the positives of last week?s narrow defeat with nothing to lose.
In 2011, both sides couldn?t be separated, but this year is a different story altogether as the Hawks are a force to be reckoned with and will be start this match as firm favourites to secure all 3 points at home.
League form last five games:
Hawkesbury City SC: W-W-W-W-W
Western Condors FC: D-L-L-L-L
Mountains United vs Luddenham United
Saturday, 12 May 2012 @ 7-00pm at Summerhayes Park
Mountains United welcomes Luddenham United for a short trip up to Summerhayes Park for a local Saturday night derby.
Mountains United have won four on the trot and have a big week ahead of them as they are due to face Hawkesbury in a crucial round 5 catch up game on Thursday night at Bensons Lane, with a short turnaround before backing up to face Luddenham at home on Saturday night. Mick Haberman is due to return from injury in time for the Hawkesbury clash which is a big plus while the likes of Justin Cavanagh, Peter Henderson and Scott Lane will be up for big performances in what looms as a real six pointer for the Blue Mountains based club.
Luddenham have been slow out of the blocks this season and languish in 8th position, much to the dismay of Montgomery and co due to the abundance of talent and experience amongst their ranks. It?s a long season ahead though and Luddenham will hope Own Rogers, Chris Vella, Angelo Martino and Huso Merdanovic can rally round in search of their second win of the season against the in-form Mountains United.
Luddenham were somewhat of a bogey side for Mountains United last year, and claimed two important victories over their local rivals. Based on current form though, Mountains United will line up as slight favourites, but discount Luddenham United at your own peril as they will be out for ?blood? after a frustrating start to the year.
League form last five games:
Mountains United: L-W-W-W-W
Luddenham United: L-W-L-L-D
Hurstville City Minotaurs vs Prospect United
Sunday, 13 May 2012 @ 3-00pm at Punchbowl Oval
Hurtstville City Minotaurs return home as they look to bounce back against Prospect United after going down 5-0 to league runaways Hakoah in round 7.
Hurstville were unable to stop Hakoah and will see it as a minor blimp in form as they happily shift their focus to their important round 8 clash with United this Sunday. Michael Di Meglio and Haisam Morhi will look to lead the Minotaurs from the front as they try to overcome United in a game sure to produce goals.
Prospect United seem to be gaining momentum week by week with Gus Orcajo and Luis Freitas on target in recent weeks as they sit on the brink of the top 5. Prospect are only 2 points behind Hurstville with a game in hand so three points will be vital for United to make ground on their rivals. 
Prospect will carry bragging rights into Sunday?s clash after beating Hurstville twice last season, but this matchup looks likely to be an arm-wrestle, as both sides strive for some consistency to keep pace with Hakoah and Hawkesbury City at the top.
League form last five games:
Hurstville City Minotaurs: L-W-W-W-L
Prospect United: W-D-L-W-W
West City FC vs Bathurst 75
Sunday, 13 May 2012 @ 3-00pm at Chopin Park
West City FC play host to Bathurst 75 at Chopin Park for a Sunday afternoon kick-off as both sides will be out to secure three important points.
West City came unstuck at the hands of Prospect United in round 7 and by all accounts was in the game up until half-time, but a damaging lapse in concentration saw them concede four goals in the space of 15? minutes. Danny Abboud?s youthful West City side have had it tough the last two weeks, but many positives can still be taken away for City to build on in a long season ahead. Young guns Yannick Misfud, Conor Montford and Jason Ferraro will all hope to put in solid performances in front of their home supporters to upend Bathurst for the win.
Bathurst 75? was forced into a week?s lay off due to their clash against Nepean being postponed and have struggled in previous weeks, losing their last three matches. James Christie has been quiet in recent weeks and will look to reignite 75?s season come Sunday, as the 75?s try to discover their early season form.
West City put the double over Bathurst last season and will be hoping they can repeat this feat come Sunday afternoon as they face a Bathurst side yet to win on the road.
League form last five games:
West City FC: L-W-W-L-L
Bathurst 75: W-W-L-L-L
Belmore United vs Nepean FC
Sunday, 13 May 2012 @ 3-00pm at Blick Oval
Belmore United return to Blick Oval as they play host to Nepean on Sunday afternoon.
Belmore have only the single win to their name and will be disappointed to have lost by the solitary goal against Hawkesbury in round 7 with only minutes left on the clock. Belmore have remained competitive despite their lowly league position and will fancy their chances against a winless Nepean side at their home ground on Sunday.
Nepean have played less than 50% of their scheduled League Two matches to date which makes it very difficult for the Western Sydney side to get into any sort of rhythm. The lack of match practice has been Nepean?s undoing this season and only time will tell whether they can turn it around. Experienced state league campaigners Ryan Trussell, Glenn Davies and Anton Karla will need to be at their best if Nepean is to snatch the points up for grabs at Blick Oval on Sunday.
Both sides have lost their last three matches and with 1-1 stalemates between the clubs in 2011, it looks as though this could be another close battle for supremacy.
Belmore United: L-W-L-L-L
Nepean FC: L-L-L (only played 3 games)
FC Gazy vs Hakoah
Sunday, 13 May 2012 @ 7-00pm at Cherrybrook Park
FC Gazy face a big test as they entertain league leaders Hakoah at Cherrybrook Park for a Sunday night kick-off.
FC Gazy have fought resolutely to secure 4 points from their last two fixtures to pull themselves off the bottom of the ladder, but now face their biggest test yet as they face an undefeated Hakoah side that have scored a whopping 29 goals in only 7 games ? a scary average of 4.1 per game.
Hakoah have set the benchmark for 2012, winning all seven of their fixtures to lead the competition with a nice 6 point buffer between them and Hawkesbury. New signings Michael Katz and Jordan Mundell scored in their round 6 clash as the league leaguers enjoyed a morale boosting 5-0 triumph over Hurstville City Minotairs and look set to continue their perfect start to the season this weekend.
Hakoah beat FC Gazy 4-0 and 4-1 respectively in 2011 and based on their 2012 goal scoring form it?s hard to see Hakoah dropping points in this fixture, however football is a funny game and FC Gazy will have nothing to lose as they attempt to knock Hakoah off their perch.
FC Gazy: L-L-L-W-D
Hakoah: W-W-W-W-W
-By Dean Southern