State League Two Round 12 Preview
Nepean FC vs Luddenham United
Saturday, 9 June 2012 @ 7-00pm at Cook Park (St Marys)
The second half of League Two 2012 season kick-offs this weekend with Nepean FC hosting Luddenham United at Cook Park (St Marys) for a Saturday night cross-town derby.
Nepean scored a massive win over Hurstville City in round 11, which will do their confidence no harm leading into their blockbuster against Luddenham this weekend. Nepean currently sits third from bottom, but is one of many clubs that still have a few games in hand, with a win here sure to shake up the ladder standings.
Luddenham?s season seems to have gone sour, falling to their 4th loss of the campaign at home to Western Condors in round 11. The situation for Luddenham has been made worse by the sudden departure of head coach Andrew Montgomery over the weekend. It will be interesting to see how Luddenham bounce back against Nepean this week, with Huso Merdanovic expected to lead his side into battle.
Both these sides met recently due to their round 1 wash-out, and played out an entertaining 3-3 draw with Nepean making a huge comeback from 3 goals down. This game looks as though it will follow suite and should be an absolute cracker.
League form last five games:
Nepean FC: W-D-D-L-W
Luddenham United: W-D-D-D-L
Hawkesbury City SC vs Bathurst 75
Saturday, 9 June 2012 @ 7-00pm at Bensons Lane Field
Hawkesbury City play host to Bathurst 75 this Saturday night at Bensons Lane Field in a crucial match for both sides.
Hawkesbury overcome a gallant Prospect side in round 11, to keep pressure on Hakoah and in the process retain 2nd spot on the ladder. Hawkesbury?s attacking style of play this season under head coach Dean Bertenshaw has certainly been a highlight, but the Hawks round 1 loss to Bathurst will still be fresh in their minds as they look exact revenge on their Western NSW counterparts.
Bathurst 75 has lost their last six matches in a row, which sees them continue to freefall down the table despite a terrific start to the season. Mark Rooke & Co will look to start fresh this week as they look to have the psychological edge over Hawkesbury, whom they defeated back in March to originally kick-start their campaign.
Bathurst 75 kicked off 2012 with a tight 2-1 defeat over a somewhat underdone Hawks outfit back in March, but Hawkesbury at home in their current form are a completely different prospect, so it will be the Hawks that are favoured to reverse their round 1 loss this Saturday night.
League form last five games:
Bathurst 75: L-L-L-L-L
Hawkesbury City SC: W-D-D-L-W
Belmore United vs Prospect United
Sunday, 10 June 2012 @ 3-00pm at Blick Oval
Belmore United welcomes Prospect United to Blick Oval, as both sides look to get back onto the winner?s list.
Belmore were no match for league leaders Hakoah last round, conceding 7 unanswered goals to cement their position at the foot of the table. Despite Belmore?s torrid run of results this season, they still remain only 10 points adrift from the top 5. Things don?t get any easier though, as they prepare to face a Prospect side looking to keep pace with Hawkesbury and Hakoah at the top.
Prospect United?s winning run of 5 straight games came to a grinding halt in round 11, as Hawkesbury ransacked Prospect on home soil to come away with all 3 points. Prospect?s minor slip up last week will ensure Tony Caruso has his charges fired up to tackle Belmore on Sunday and will expect nothing less than the win.
Prospect defeated Belmore at home 4-1 in round one action earlier this season and with both sides seasons taking rather different paths since that game, Prospect will be confident of hitting back with another win to do the double over Belmore.
League form last five games:
Belmore United: L-L-L-D-L
Prospect United: W-W-W-W-L
Hakoah vs Western Condors FC
Sunday, 10 June 2012 @ 7-00pm at Hensley Athletic Field
Hakoah return to Hensley Athletic Field for their third consecutive home game to line up against a Western Condors side unbeaten in their last four outings.
Hakoah are making history as they booked a perfect first round, maintaining their unbeaten League Two status in the process. Hensley Athletic Field has become somewhat of a graveyard for travelling sides, and it?s no wonder as Hakoah are averaging an unbelievable rate of over 4 goals per game this season. Usual suspects Justin Kosmina, Neil Jablonski, Jordan Mundell and Jamie Watt all hit the back of the net against Belmore and will be keen to end Western Condor?s good run of results to make it 12 wins on the trot.
Western Condors secured three massive points as they dismantled a Luddenham outfit away from home back in round 11, to occupy the lofty position of 7th ? just outside the top 5 and their highest of the season. It?s been a big turn-around by Barry Zambrano?s troops but they will have their hands full this week as they face the might of the Hakoah train that so far seems unstoppable.
Hakoah proved too strong in round 1 this year, beating Western Condors 5-1 and will be confident of a repeat on home soil.
League form last five games:
Hakoah: W-W-W-W-W
Western Condors FC: L-D-W-W-W
West City FC vs Mountains United
Sunday, 10 June 2012 @ 3-00pm at Chopin Park
League form last five games:
West City entertains Mountains United on Sunday afternoon at Chopin Park in a real ?six-pointer?, with the sides due to meet Tuesday night at Summerhayes Park for their rescheduled round 1 fixture.
West City have gone from strength to strength in the last couple of weeks, picking up 8 from a possible 12 points over their last 4 fixtures to now sit just one point away from Mountains United in 4th spot. Danny Abboud has a good mix of youth and experience within his squad and it?s now been over a month since they last tasted defeat.
Mountains United secured three valuable away points up at Bathurst in round 11 and will look to go back to back as they travel in the opposite direction to take on West City FC. Mountains United have won as many as they have lost this season, and will be hoping to grab all the points on offer this week to imbed themselves in the top 5, staving off West City in the process.
Both these sides will get two chances against each other in the space of a week, and the side that comes out in front will do their finals chances no harm at all.
West City FC: L-W-D-D-W
Mountains United: L-L-L-L-W
Hurstville City Minotaurs vs FC Gazy
Sunday, 10 June 2012 @ 3-00pm at Punchbowl Oval
Hurstville City Minotaurs return home to tackle FC Gazy on Sunday afternoon at Punchbowl Oval in a must win fixture for both sides.
Hurstville seem to have hit a rough patch, much the same as what Bathurst 75 and Mountains United have both experienced recently. Hurstville City?s situation isn?t helped by their depleted squad at present ? forced to rely on some of their younger guns to step it up as another loss could see them drop down into mid-table obscurity.
FC Gazy were beaten 2-0 by West City at Chopin Park in round 11 and will need to step it up a gear if they wish to distance themselves from the bottom of the table.
Hurstville pipped FC Gazy 2-1 in round 1 and it looks as though the odd goal could be the difference again as both sides will be hungry for the win.
League form last five games:
Hurstville City Minotaurs: W-L-L-D-L
FC Gazy: D-L-L-W-L
-By Dean Southern
