State League Two Round 9 Preview
Bathurst 75 vs Hurstville City Minotaurs
Saturday, 19 May 2012 @ 7-00pm at Alec Lamberton Field
Bathurst returns to their old stomping ground and play host to Hurstville City Minotaurs for a 7pm Saturday night kick-off.
Bathurst started 2012 with so much promise but after losing their last four matches, their winning ability seems to have evaded them – dropping out of the top five at the end of round 8 for the first time this season. Mark Rooke has plenty of young talent at his disposal and a win on home soil could be the much needed catalyst to revitalise 75?s season.
Hurstville are experiencing a similar hiccup in form, after losing their last two matches against Hakoah and Prospect [both top 3 sides]. It?s certainly not panic stations at the Minotaurs headquarters just yet as a win at Bathurst could see them leapfrog Mountains and Prospect back into third place.
In meetings between both clubs last season, Hurstville pipped Bathurst twice with 2 x tight 2-1 wins and it looks as though this one will be close again ? with only three points separating them on the table.
League form last five games:
Bathurst 75: W-L-L-L-L
Hurstville City Minotaurs: W-W-W-L-L
Prospect United vs FC Gazy
Saturday, 19 May 2012 @ 5-00pm at William Lawson Reserve
FC Gazy travel west down the M4 to face Prospect United at William Lawson Reserve on Saturday evening for 5pm start.
Prospect United have been in devastating form of late, scoring twelve goals and conceding just the solitary goal in their last three matches. Luis Freitas has been in fine touch, netting six of United?s goals to catapult his side back into the top five. The experienced Gus Orcajo has also been busy in front of goal of late but it?s been Prospect?s all round team performances that are beginning to catch everyone?s eye, as they go in search for an emphatic fourth straight victory.
FC Gazy won?t read too much into their 5-0 loss to Hakoah, as they go in search for their second win of the campaign against a red hot Prospect side. Gazy currently sit just 2 points above bottom placed Western Condors, and will hoping to cause an upset to distance themselves from the foot of the table.
Prospect did the double over FC Gazy in 2011 and with Prospect leading into this match off the back of some great results; it is hard to see them dropping points at home.
League form last five games:
Prospect United: D-L-W-W-W
FC Gazy: L-L-W-D-L
Nepean FC vs West City FC
Saturday, 19 May 2012 @ 7-00pm at Cook Park (St Marys)
Two sides on either side of the Great Western Highway that secured wins in round 8 will lock horns at Cook Park (St Marys) for a Saturday night 7pm kick off.
Nepean FC got off the mark in round 8, scoring in the dying stages away to Belmore to claim their first three points of the campaign. Nepean however still find themselves a few games short (having only played 4 matches leading into round 9) and will be out to bang in some goals having currently averaged less than a goal per game to sit in the lowly position of 10th.
West City returned to the winners list in round 8, accounting for a travelling Bathurst side 2-1 in a tight clash at home. City has won three of their last five matches and will look to claim back-to-back wins for the second time this season. City captain Peter Akers looks set to lead his side from the back, while Yannick Misfud and Mathew Fitzpatrick will be key figures in deciding this result after both netting in round 8.
Meetings between these sides were close last year and this fixture will be no different, with the side who wants it most to grab the points on offer.
League form last five games:
Nepean FC: L-L-L-W
West City FC: W-W-L-L-W
Mountains United vs Hakoah
Saturday, 19 May 2012 @ 7-00pm at Summerhayes Park
Mountains United play host to Hakoah at Summerhayes Park for a Saturday night 7pm kick-off.
Mountains United dropped six points last week as they went down 7-0 to Hawkesbury on Thursday night before narrowly losing 2-1 at the hands of Luddenham in their round 8 fixture. Mountains now face the undefeated Hakoah and have the chance to become the first side to take points off the 2011 Grand Final winners.
Hakoah are the benchmark for 2012, and have not dropped a single from 8 starts and now travel west up the Blue Mountains to tackle a Mountains side coming off consecutive losses. Hakoah are scoring at the rate of 4.25 per game and have only conceded 4 goals, which gives them the best attack and defence in League Two. Neil Jablonski, Jamie Watt and Justin Kosmina all got on the score sheet against FC Gazy in round 8 and will look to cause further havoc up at Summerhayes Park on Saturday night.
In the same fixture last season, both sides shared the spoils while Hakoah got up 2-1 at home. This year though, Hakoah have blown everyone out of the water and look the goods to increase their winning streak to 9 games this Saturday night.
League form last five games:
Mountains United: W-W-W-L-L
Hakoah: W-W-W-W-W
Luddenham United vs Hawkesbuty City SC
Sunday, 20 May 2012 @ 3-00pm at Luddenham Oval
Luddenham United return to Luddenham Oval as they play host to league high-flyers Hawkesbury City at 3pm this Sunday afternoon in a matchup between two sides down on personnel.
Hawkesbury have started the 2012 campaign in fine form, sitting outright 2nd on the ladder with six wins from eight starts. The Hawks defeated Mountains 7-0 at home in their round 5 catch up game last Thursday with Zac Watters showing his worth netting his first hat-trick. Just two days later though, the Hawks held onto a 0-0 draw against Western Condors after being forced to play with 10 men for the last 20? minutes. Depleted in numbers with a number of important first teamers out, much of the attacking responsibility will fall to Paul Cooper and Zac Watters, who both seem to be banging in goals for fun at present.
Luddenham are another side missing some key players through injury and suspension, however they still managed to emerge as 2-1 winners against Mountains United in a tight match in round 8. Huso Merdanovic showed his worth, netting the winner against Mountains last week and will unquestionably be raring to go against the 2nd placed Hawks. Another important cog in Luddenham?s engine is the versatile Chris Camilleri, who will be keen to bag the winner.
Last season Luddenham were too good as they beat the Hawks 2-1 at home and 3-2 away, however it is the Hawks who have started this season in fine fashion to sit up the pointy end of the ladder. This battle looks as though it could go down to the wire, with both sides looking to press on and consolidate their spot in the top five.
League form last five games:
Luddenham United: W-L-L-D-W
Hawkesbury City SC: W-W-W-W-D
Western Condors FC vs Belmore United
Sunday, 20 May 2012 @ 3-00pm at Knight Park Field No. 4
Westerns Condors and Belmore United go into battle at Knight Park Field No. 4 3pm this Sunday in what looms as a cellar dweller battle.
Western Condors will take some confidence out of their 0-0 draw with the Hawks, while also being extremely unlucky to go down with seconds on the clock against Mountains United back in round 7. Things could be very different for Western Condors and therefore can justifiably feel out of place as they currently prop up the rest of the league. With that being said, Western Condors have a great opportunity to gain some ground on their rivals as they face a Belmore side in a similar dilemma to themselves.
Belmore have lost their last four matches and agonisingly lost by the odd goal against Nepean 5? minutes from time in round 8. Belmore have been rather competitive in most of their games this season as have Western Condors and this fixture throws up a big chance for either side to move away from the foot of the ladder.
Western Condors got over the top of Belmore 1-0 in the same fixture while both sides played out a 0-0 draw in the reverse fixture last season, and as both sides struggle to find the x-factor, this game could go either way.
League form last five games:
Western Condors FC: L-L-L-L-D
Belmore United: W-L-L-L-L
Round 3 Waratah Cup Results
Tuesday 15th May 2012
Rockdale City Suns (NSWPL) 5 v Prospect United (SL2) 0 ? 7.30pm ? Illinden Sports Centre
APIA Leichhardt Tigers (NSW PL) 2 v Nepean FC (SL2) 0 ? 7.30pm – Lambert Park
Prospect United and Nepean FC have done themselves proud, as they both were gallantly knocked out of the Waratah Cup by NSW Premier League clubs respectively in difficult mid-week away fixtures.
Prospect put in a good team effort against their much fancied opponents, but it wasn?t meant to be as they went down five goals to nil away at Illinden Sports Centre on Tuesday night.
Nepean travelled to face APIA Leichhardt Tigers at Lambert Park on Tuesday night, and after going down 1 nil in the 12? minute, Nepean fought bravely ? pushing for an equaliser until APIA added their second with just a few minutes on the clock.
Both clubs have achieved praiseworthy cup runs, but now turn their attention back to round 9 State League Two this weekend as that spells the end of all League Two clubs involvement in the Waratah Cup for 2012.
-By Dean Southern
