State League Two Round 4 Preview
It’s a busy week for State League 2 teams as round 4 kicks off with a Saturday evening blockbuster between alleged competition favourites Southern Bulls and University of NSW at David Phillips Field, Southern Bulls fly the division two flag in Waratah Cup on Wednesday (April 24), and the Battle for Hurstville turns into an ANZAC Day event on Thursday. Stanmore Hawks have the bye.
They may’ve been tagged heavyweights by other coaches but Uni are yet to touch a 2013 State League 2 football following two wash-outs and a bye, while their Saturday evening opponents at David Phillips Field, Southern Bulls, are flying unbeaten after three rounds (5pm first grade kickoff). If they needed an early test this will be it for Jorge Piatta’s men as Uni look to finally kickstart their winter campaign on a positive note. Bulls beat Uni in both their division one games last year, including a resounding 4-1 win at David Phillips. With so much at stake this year, this should be a belter.
Unbeaten Hurstville City Minotaurs welcome victorious Southern Branch to Punchbowl Oval on Sunday afternoon (3pm) for an early top-five battle. Branch have exploded out of the blocks in their maiden state league season to beat both Condors and Belmore and grab the ascendancy. Minotaurs were impressive in an opening 3-1 win over old foes Stanmore but dropped the ball in a 1-1 home draw with competition leaders Bulls last week to add extra spice to this Sunday’s encounter with the marauding southerners.
Belmore United face Western Condors at Blick Oval on Sunday afternoon (3pm) and you probably won’t see a crack of daylight between these two great rivals. Both clubs have been beaten by Southern Branch this season, United pipping Hurstville FC and Condors drawing late with Lions in their other fixtures – and very little else separates them over the years. No result in their last three years of State League 2 dueling (Condors playing as Wanderers) has been decided by more than a goal, and no side has netted more than twice in a game. Interestingly Belmore’s won three of their last six meetings but couldn’t beat Wanderers in either 2012 fixture, including a tight 1-1 draw at Blick last August.
Plenty of eyes will be on the Fairfield City Lions versus Schofields Scorpions result at the CSI Ground on Sunday afternoon (3pm), with proud club Schofields looking to erase last week’s eye-popping 10-0 loss to Hurstville FC. The Lions want to exorcise their own demons after failing to put Condors to the sword in their only game played so far, blowing a 2-0 lead in the final minutes to draw 2-2. Schofields did beat Fairfield in both of last year’s division one encounters, including a decisive 4-1 win at the CSI ground last July, but Fairfield won the previous two CSI meetings and will show no mercy against a struggling Scorpions outfit.
Improving Enfield Rovers host Hurstville FC at Pratten Park on Sunday afternoon (3pm) in a match of importance for both teams. New entity Enfield lost both their opening games but showed solid improvement in a 1-0 loss to Bulls on the weekend to herald another good showing against Hurstville. FC on the other hand come into the match with a gut-wrenching opening round loss to Belmore and a flamboyant 10-0 win over Schofields under their belts, so there’s much to gauge from this Sunday’s fixture.
In other games, the round three catch-up match between Hurstville FC and Minotaurs takes place at Punchbowl Oval on Thursday afternoon (April 25). The public holiday will free up plenty of people wishing to take in what promises to be an engaging confrontation between two great foes.
Southern Bulls play for State League 2 pride when it meets Nepean FC at Bringelly Reserve on Wednesday night (April 24) as the last remaining division two club in the Waratah Cup (3rd round). The prestigious knockout has not been a happy hunting ground for State League 2 teams of late, 2011 premiers Northbridge the only division two club to make it to fourth round action over the last six years.
-By Dan De Nardi
