State League 2 round 9 Preview

Stanmore Hawks tackle Western Condors in a top-three stoush at Calabria Sports Ground on Sunday afternoon (3pm) with some astonishing similarities between the two clubs’ 2013 fortunes.
Both are on five-game unbeaten runs since first-round losses and both sides have scored a dozen goals in their past three state league two outings (albeit Hawks did it against top-three sides and Condors against bottom-three teams). They also traded 3-0 wins in 2009 division one encounters the last time they met (Condors as Wanderers), leaving a 2-0 2006 Super League win to Stanmore as one tiny difference. Of much greater Hawks consequence is trying to get past Western’s stubborn backline (a league-best five goals conceded in six games) while also containing their enterprising attacking options. This should be a beauty!
A fired-up Fairfield City Lions take on a resurrected Southern Bulls at Rydalmere Park on Sunday afternoon (3pm). Fairfield finally lost their first game when they capitulated to an outplayed Stanmore Hawks 2-1 last weekend, but the defeat did little to dent their self-belief as they strive to put their campaign back on track. Bulls stopped a three-game losing sequence with a fine 4-1 win down south against Branch to indicate a return to form. And it’s a little creepy how these two long-time neighbours have avoided each other in FNSW combat over the years – the Lions replaced Bulls in Super League 2006, and when City dropped to division one in 2009 the Bulls dropped to state league two the same year. A Bulls title triumph in 2010 finally united the pairing but it’s been the Lions victorious in all four division one encounters, last year’s 3-2 win at Norford Park the closest contest.
Rested leaders Hurstville FC travel south for an Ison Park meeting with stunned Southern Branch on Sunday afternoon (3pm). After a four-game unbeaten run the wheels have fallen off Branch’s early season steam train following three straight losses and a top-five exit. The panic button is nowhere near being pressed as a state league foray was always going to be eye-opening for the southerners, but successive meetings with the competition’s top two (FC and Stanmore) may be of botox proportions. Hurstville blew off a 5-1 loss to Stanmore with an inspiring 2-1 win over Bulls two weekends ago. They’ve also had a week’s rest due to the bye and will be confident of impressing top spot claims in Nowra this Sunday.
Top-five Belmore United welcome match-starved University NSWto Blick Oval on Sunday afternoon (3pm) in a game with strong implications for a possible points table drift. Two months into the season and Uni have played just four matches for two wins, two losses to sit third from bottom. Three outstanding catch-up games provides them some comfort as they trail fifth-placed Belmore by six points, but they have to reschedule these fixtures at some stage and risk fatigue in their finals dash. Another win to Belmore could potentially rip a five-point gap into the middle of the ladder as Bulls and Branch (both two points behind United) take on higher-placed teams. Interestingly, Uni and Belmore are yet to meet in official competition but both already have a division two trophy in the cabinet (Uni premiers in 2006 and Belmore in 1992).
Schofields Scorpions face Enfield Rovers at the CSI Ground on Sunday afternoon (3pm) in a battle to see who gains their first point of the season. Maybe even both will, although this season’s State League 2 has thrown up just three draws from the 35 games played so a winner either way is strongly suggested. An under-prepared Schofields have endured a horrific start to the year that included 10-0 and 10-1 losses, but they’ve shown massive improvement over the last two weeks (3-0 and 4-0 losses) to indicate they’ll no longer be pushovers. Enfield too are win-less after seven games but have also demonstrated consistent development to underline the notion their first win could only be a game away. They’ve also been courageous on the road while Schofield’s biggest losses have come at the CSI Ground. Interesting indeed!
-By Dan De Nardi