State League Two Round 19 Preview

Prospect United vs Hurstville City Minotaurs
Saturday, 28 July 2012 @ 5-00pm at William Lawson Reserve
Prospect United entertain fellow top five hopefuls Hurstville City Minotaurs in a clash on Saturday evening that is sure to be a real arm-wrestle.
Prospect United have had a difficult past week, losing out to Luddenham in a mid-week catch up game before being pipped by West City on Sunday. This week the task doesn?t get any easier as Prospect prepare to do battle with a resurgent Hurstville City side, knowing that 3 points will be vital at this stage of the season.
Hurstville bounced back from their loss to Luddenham in the best possible way by defeating FC Gazy in a catch up last week before backing up against Hakoah on Sunday, with the game finishing 3-3. It is a fighting frenzy for the remaining top five spots available with only 2 points separating fifth to ninth place – and Hurstville will go out on Saturday looking to reverse their 3-1 loss to Prospect back in May to bring themselves within a point of their rivals.
League form last five games:
Prospect United: D-D-W-L-L
Hurstville City Minotaurs: L-W-L-W-D
Bathurst 75 vs West City FC
Saturday, 28 July 2012 @ 7-00pm at Alec Lamberton Field         
Bathurst 75 and West City lock horns on Saturday night in a crucial fixture for both sides.
Bathurst 75 have climbed their way back into the mix for a finals berth, after securing ?the double? over Nepean to move up into seventh spot. Bathurst?s James Christie was on target over the weekend while 75?s midfield contingent of Nicholas Riggs and Brett Osborne will be hopeful of guiding Bathurst to a third straight victory this Saturday.
West City has thrown their season a life-line, after snapping their winless run by overcoming Prospect United last week 2-1. There have been a few changes in and around the West City camp of late ? and they will be doing all they can to reach the top five after going close last season.
West City edged on Bathurst 2-1 at Chopin Park back in round 8 and this one again could go either way.
League form last five games:
Bathurst 75: W-L-L-W-W
West City FC: L-L-L-L-W
Nepean FC vs Belmore United
Saturday, 28 July 2012 @ 7-00pm at Cook Park
Nepean FC welcomes Belmore United for a Saturday night at Cook Park as both sides will be keen to get back to winning ways.
Nepean FC saw their season turn for the worse over the weekend, losing both games to Bathurst to see their finals aspirations slip right in front of them. As is the closeness of League Two this season, Nepean now finds themselves in a battle with FC Gazy and Belmore United at the wrong end of the table, some 6 points adrift of the majority of sides challenging for a top five berth.
Nepean have had quite a heavy workload over the past fortnight, but will be hardly complaining as they line up against the Western Sydney Wanderers in their first ever match on Wednesday night at Cook Park which is expected to draw a bumper crowd. As much as the excitement of this game will bring, Nepean FC will need to be at their best when they face Belmore on Saturday night for their fourth game in just eight days.
Belmore United were unable to match Hawkesbury City?s intensity after losing 3-0 last week, and continue to prop up the rest of League Two. Belmore United have not had the best of seasons to date, but still have time to string some results together in hope of avoiding the wooden spoon.
Nepean FC was victorious the last time these two met, with a late Karl Ciappa goal enough to see off Belmore. This one looks to be another close call though, with both sides in dire need of the points up for grabs.
League form last five games:
Nepean FC: W-D-W-L-L
Belmore United: D-W-L-L-L
Western Condors FC vs Hawkesbury City SC  
Sunday, 29 July 2012 @ 3-00pm at Knight Park Field No.4
Western Condors play host to Hawkesbury City in a Sunday afternoon blockbuster that is sure to produce plenty of goalmouth action.
Western Condors were unable to stop a rampant Mountains United side last Saturday, and face another tough assignment this weekend against Hawkesbury City. Western Condors are another side that sits just two points outside the top five, and they have a real opportunity to tip League Two upside down if they can muster up a challenge against the third placed Hawks.
Hawkesbury City secured a much needed win against Belmore last week, which has help them keep in check with Mountains United. The Hawks have seen their form dip over the past month, but a win here could well and truly put that behind them as Michael McCrory and Paul Cooper look to cause trouble after both hitting the back of the net last week.
Back in round 8, this fixture finished 0-0 out at Bensons Lane ? so another close one looks like it could be on the cards.
League form last five games:
Western Condors FC: W-L-L-W-L
Hawkesbury City SC: L-D-L-L-W
Luddenham United vs Mountains United
Sunday, 29 July 2012 @ 3-00pm at Luddenham Oval
Luddenham United return home to welcome the seemingly unstoppable Mountains United for a Sunday afternoon meeting.
Luddenham United are beginning to find some consistency, having racked up some good results in the past month to move in just behind Hurstville on 23 points. Luddenham saw off Prospect in a mid-week clash while playing out an entertaining 3-3 draw with FC Gazy on Sunday. Luddenham face a different beast altogether this week though, as they prepare to do battle with Mountains United who has won six on trot now.
Mountains United disposed of Western Condors quite comfortably by the score-line of 2-0 last week, to further extend their winning streak and put a further stamp on second place. Mountains United have been quietly going about their business and have had no trouble in finding the back of the net recently, however what is most impressive is that they have not conceded a single goal in over six games.
Luddenham defeated Mountains United 2-1 at Summerhayes Park back in round 8 so Mountains United will look to revenge their loss with a good showing this Sunday at Luddenham Oval.
League form last five games:
Luddenham United: L-W-W-W-D
Mountains United: W-W-W-W-W
Hakoah vs FC Gazy
Sunday, 29 July 2012 @ 7-00pm at Hensley Athletic Field
The 2012 minor premiers welcome FC Gazy for a Sunday night fixture at Hensley Athletic Field.
Hakoah have all but secured top spot and the minor premiership, and will look to bounce back from their disappointing draw against Hurstville City last round after conceding right at the death. Hakoah remain the only undefeated side across of state league divisions this season, and Mark Robertson will not want his side to lose any of their momentum as we edge closer to finals football.
FC Gazy have had a difficult past week, going down 6-3 to Hurstville City mid-week before backing up against Luddenham on Sunday that finished in a 3-3 stalemate. FC Gazy collected the wooden spoon last season and Andrew Montgomery will have the task of avoiding this at all costs for a second consecutive season with only four rounds of regular football to be played.
Hakoah flexed their muscles in a 5-0 trouncing back in May when these sides met, and the home side will be favoured to claim all three points once again.
League form last five games:
Hakoah: D-W-W-W-D
FC Gazy: L-W-L-L-D
-By Dean Southern