State League Two Round 20 Preview

Hawkesbury City SC vs Luddenham United
Saturday, 4 August 2012 @ 5-00pm at Bensons Lane Field
Hawkesbury City welcomes Luddenham United to Bensons Lane Field for the only League Two Saturday night fixture of the round.
Hawkesbury were held to a 0-0 draw by Western Condors in round 19, and the Hawks will have their work cut out again as they prepare for a tricky assignment against a Luddenham outfit enjoying their best form of the season. The goals seem to have dried up for the Hawks in recent weeks, but midfield is where this will be won with Evan Daglis and Michael McCrory primed for big games.
Luddenham United shared the spoils with Mountains United last weekend, which has stretched their unbeaten run to five games. Luddenham United?s season certainly hasn?t lived up to their high expectations, but with a fighting chance of making the top five still within their grasp ? you can expect the experienced trio of Angelo Martino, Luke Tomich and Chris Camilleri to take matters into their hands this Saturday night.
Back in round 9 these sides enjoyed a 3-3 goal fest, and more goals could well be on the cards with more at stake this time around.
League form last five games:
Hawkesbury City SC: D-L-L-W-D
Luddenham United: W-W-W-D-D
Belmore United vs Western Condors FC
Sunday, 5 August 2012 @ 3-00pm at Blick Oval 
Belmore United play host to Western Condors at Blick Oval for a Sunday afternoon kick off with both sides eager to finish their seasons off strongly.
Belmore United secured just their third victory last weekend by ousting Nepean 2-1 away from home. The win has given Belmore a timely lift in confidence as they look to distance themselves away from bottom place. Belmore need no added incentive this weekend as a win against the Condors could see them go past FC Gazy on the ladder.
Western Condors were kept scoreless for a second consecutive week after sharing the spoils with Hawkesbury City in an entertaining 0-0 draw last round. The last two weeks have hurt the Condors, having dropped back to eighth on the ladder and star front man Carlos Enwiya will look to get his side back on track having gone quiet after scoring a hat-trick back in round 17.
Western Condors edged out Belmore 2-1 back in round 9 and it would seem the odd goal could be the difference once again as theses side do battle.
League form last five games:
Belmore United: W-L-L-L-W
Western Condors FC: L-L-W-L-D
West City FC vs Nepean FC
Sunday, 5 August 2012 @ 3-00pm at Chopin Park
West City and Nepean go head to head at Chopin Park on Sunday afternoon with both clubs looking to bounce back from narrow losses the week before.
West City was overawed by Bathurst 75?- going down 2-0 last week which has left their season hanging in the balance. It has been a roller-coaster of a year for the Chopin Park boys and they?ll be doing all they can to ensure victory this weekend with a loss certain to end any chance of sneaking into the top five. West City has plenty of firepower within their ranks with former Nepean player Jason Browne hoping to get one over his old club to keep his side?s season alive.
Nepean FC?s season has taken a turn for the worse after they narrowly lost 2-1 against Belmore last week. The loss spells the end of any hopes Nepean had of reaching the finals with their attention now turning to finish as high up the ladder as possible. With Belmore and FC Gazy only a few points back, the Reds will need to lift as they prepare for West City.
Nepean were on course for 3 points back in round 9 after taking the lead through Nathaniel Harnett in the 30? minute, but Benjamin McCan equalised in the 87? minute ensuring his side a slice of the pie. With both sides struggling for consistency over the last month and still plenty to play for I expect another close tussle, especially with two of the league?s best shot-stoppers manning both sets of goals.
League form last five games:
West City FC: L-L-L-W-L
Nepean FC: D-W-L-L-L
FC Gazy vs Prospect United  
Sunday, 5 August 2012 @ 3-00pm at Hartleys Oval
FC Gazy play host to Prospect United as both sides struggling for form go head to head.
FC Gazy suffered their heaviest defeat of the season last round, going down 11-0 to Hakoah which has thrown their season into disarray. There isn?t too much you can say about a loss of that magnitude, but FC Gazy will need to bounce back quickly after Belmore picked up three points last round with just one point now the difference.
Prospect United suffered their heaviest home defeat after losing out 3-0 to Hurstville City Minotaurs last round, which has seem them drop back to fourth place. Prospect desperately need a win to keep pace with the top five contingent, and will look to bag the points on offer in this encounter at all costs.
Prospect breezed through this fixture with three unanswered goals back in round 9 action, but with both sides coming off the back of heavy losses ? this one could fall to whoever performs best on the day.
League form last five games:
FC Gazy: W-L-L-D-L
Prospect United: D-W-L-L-L
Hakoah vs Mountains United
Sunday, 5 August 2012 @ 3-00pm at Hensley Athletic Field
It?s a top of the table clash at Hensley Athletic Field on Sunday afternoon as newly crowned League Two Champions entertain second placed Mountains United.
Hakoah were relentless in their 11-0 thumping of FC Gazy last Sunday, and the champions will be full of confidence as they tackle a Mountains outfit held 0-0 by Luddenham in round 19. Hakoah were firm favourites from the very beginning but I don?t think anyone could have guessed their level of dominance this year. With that said, a win here could open up a massive 20 point gap from first to second ? which is the same point differential equivalent of second place to last place.
Mountains United were held to a draw by Luddenham United for the first time in over a month, and will need to be at their best to keep their unbeaten run intact as they prepare to face the daunting task of Hakoah at Hensley Athletic Field.
Hakoah?s Neil Jablonski scored four goals as Hakoah swept past Mountains United 4-1 back in May,  but Mountains United have not conceded a goal in their last seven outings, and if anyone is going to test out Hakoah it will be Mountains United this weekend.
League form last five games:
Hakoah: W-W-W-D-W
Mountains United: W-W-W-W-D
Hurstville City Minotaurs vs Bathurst 75?
Sunday, 5 August 2012 @ 3-00pm at Punchbowl Oval
Hurstville City Minotaurs will look to put an end to Bathurst?s late charge for the finals as they meet at Punchbowl Oval on Sunday afternoon in a crucial match.
Hurstville City Minotaurs flexed their muscles to dispose of Prospect United 3-0 last round to keep pace with the finals chasing pack at the pointy end of the ladder. Hurstville seem to disregard form altogether as they executed their game plan perfectly against Prospect last round. The Minotaurs have stringed three wins together in their last five outings, albeit in-between a draw and loss but back to back wins will surely be on the agenda this week as a loss could see them surrender fifth spot to Bathurst.
Bathurst 75?proved too strong for West City last round to triumph by a two goal margin, giving the blues further confidence as they line up for their decisive clash with Hurstville City this week. James Christie has been the man responsible for banging in the goals for the 75?s, and there seems to be a strong correlation between Bathurst 75? winning and James Christie hitting the back of the net.
Their round 9 clash was laced in controversy which was postponed with not long left on the clock with Bathurst up 2-0. In the end Bathurst were credited with the three points but that result will only add wood to the fire as these old foes lock horns with a top five spot on the line.
League form last five games:
Hurstville City Minotaurs: W-L-W-D-W
Bathurst 75: L-L-W-W-W
-By Dean Southern