Mens State League Two Round 15 Preview
Mens State League Two round 15 features University of NSW against Southern Bulls at David Phillips Field on Saturday afternoon (3pm) followed by Hurstville FC versus Enfield Rovers at St George Soccer Stadium on Saturday evening (5pm).
On Sunday afternoon (3pm) Rydalmere Lions host Hurstville City Minotaurs while Southern Branch meet Western Condors at South Nowra Football Complex. Prospect United have the bye.
University of NSW host a frustrated Southern Bulls at David Phillips Field on Saturday afternoon (3pm). Third-placed Bulls have endured four straight draws to keep them from taking top state league two billing (two points behind Prospect and Hurstville), so it’s time to get going for Ramsin Shamon’s men against a depleted Uni side ripe for the picking. It used to be close between the two sides – two draws and two wins apiece before Bulls smashed Uni 5-zip at Ernie Smith Reserve in May, and Uni’s league-worst 37-goal concession is in stark contrast to Southern’s miserly eight leaked; but here’s an interesting titbit: despite a league-low 11 goals scored, Uni have a league-high 11 different scorers in their ranks (four more than Bulls).
Hurstville FC won’t take Enfield Rovers lightly at St George Soccer Stadium on Saturday evening (5pm). Equal-first Hurstville are still looking good with just one loss against their name but they face a greatly-improved Enfield side that has two wins and two draws from their last six matches after going five straight losses to start to the season. Rovers have also been good on the road taking seven points their past four outings (compared to only one earned point at home all winter), and they pushed Rydalmere in a 1-0 away loss two weeks ago. It’s also been close between the sides with one-goal victories splitting their previous two meetings.
Watch out when Rydalmere Lions meet Hurstville City Minotaurs on Sunday afternoon (3pm). It’s fourth versus fifth on the ladder and just two points separates them coming into the last four weeks of the regular season. Pre-season favourites Rydalmere have found the going tougher than expected but a six-game winning streak has boosted them back into finals contention, while four draws has dented Hurstville’s momentum as they chase a belated post-season spot. Minotaurs lapped up a 3-1 victory in May (they’re second in a row against Lions) and this will have top-four implications whichever way the result falls.
There’s much at stake when Southern Branch host Western Condors at South Nowra Football Complex on Sunday afternoon (3pm). Several losses (three by one goal) have stopped Condors in their tracks as they trail fourth-placed Rydalmere by seven points, and they’ll need to boost their scoring output if it was going to come down to goal-difference. Conversely Branch have a spring in their step as they try to overtake Uni and Enfield on the ladder, and the two clubs seem to have each other’s measure tactically with just four goals scored in their three meetings to date (Condors winning the last two). Western have travelled well losing just one of six road games.
-By Dan De Nardi
