State League Two Round 17 Preview

Hurstville FC are the 2014 Mens State League Two premiers following a midweek 1-1 catch-up draw with Rydalmere Lions at William Lawson Reserve.
FC needed a point from its last three fixtures and faced a Lions side hunting the all-important club championship on Wednesday night. Rydalmere’s Kingsley Williams netted just after halftime and with the clock ticking down Daniel Bittar sent the Hurstville club into jubilation with a crisp header off a corner to level the scores.
Coach Steve Zoric congratulated his players and paid tribute to his state league two counterparts for making it an even greater achievement. “This feels great and we’ve worked hard for it. Out of all my achievements over the years, winning as a player, this is probably what I’ve liked the most, and I’ve done it with a great bunch of blokes, and for a great club,” he said.
“[How important is the premiership?] Every week we’ve had something thrown at us and, to me, consistency is the most important part of football, so to win the premiership you have to grind it out every week.”
“And this year’s competition is a lot stronger than it has ever been – any of the top six teams could’ve taken the title. I actually thought it would come down even closer to the wire so to do it this early is unbelievable; but we have to be humble and keep doing what we’ve been doing all season. We’d love to win the grand final and will go out there [the finals] and really enjoy it.”
Lions coach Tony Basha applauded Zoric’s moment and couldn’t wait to meet them in the finals. “Hurstville are a good team, well coached, and they’ve done a good job this year,” he said. “We played some really good football tonight, but we have to still do the job [against Uni] this weekend.”
Hurstville have certainly deserved their trophy. They’ve lost just one game so far in a rigorous competition (2-0 to Prospect in round seven, and draws with Minotaurs, Lions and Uni), conceding a league-low 10 goals in 14 games (a league-high seven cleansheets) and scoring a respectable 27 goals – Denis Cutura reaching double-figures in the scorer charts and well-supported by Stuart Meney, Henry Kamleitner and Daniel Bittar.
Round 17 this weekend features University of NSW versus Rydalmere Lions at David Phillips Field on Saturday afternoon (3pm), followed by the Hurstville FC-Hurstville City Minotaurs derby at St George Stadium on Saturday evening (5pm). On Sunday afternoon Western Condors host Enfield Rovers at Calabria Sports Ground (3pm) and Southern Branch face Prospect United at South Nowra Football Complex (3pm). Only a round-11 catch-up between Rovers and Minotaurs remains to be played.
So with Hurstville FC crowned champions (on 33 points) the other top-four cards could still fall any way with Bulls (27), Lions (26) and Prospect (26) all under siege from Minotaurs (22), who have a game in hand against Enfield and play their celebrated cross-town rival this weekend, meaning any of the current top-four could still be twiddling their thumbs come August.
Bulls nervously sit out this weekend with the bye so a final-round loss against Hurstville would be dire (even if they win they could still be swamped by three teams and miss the finals altogether), while Rydalmere, Prospect and Minotaurs can all finish as high as second or as low as sixth.
Condors (20) can only sneak into the finals if they win their last two games and hope two out of Rydalmere, Prospect and Minotaurs implode in a catastrophic (goal-difference) way.
If you’re head isn’t frazzled enough already, if Lions grade-20 premiers beat Uni this weekend then Rydalmere’s first grade side need only draw or win their match for the club to claim the prestigious 2014 club championship, before their final round bye kicks in. Bulls are now too far behind but Prospect trail by 15 with 18 points on offer from their final two rounds against Branch and Condors.
University of NSW welcome Rydalmere Lions to David Phillips Field on Saturday afternoon (3pm) for a big, big contest. Rydalmere are still in a frantic top-four battle with Bulls, Prospect and Minotaurs, while Uni are under siege from Branch and Enfield at the other end of the table (they meet Rovers in next week’s final round and already have the worst goal-difference of the bottom-three sides). Uni haven’t beaten Lions in their past five encounters (managing two goals to Rydalmere’s 12), the Lions have dropped just one road game this season and Uni’s won just one home game, but if ever there was a moment to shine… (there’s been 52 goals in their past 12 meetings, so maybe bring an umbrella!)
Definitely bring your suntan lotion ‘cause the Hurstville FC-Hurstville City Minotaurs derby at St George Stadium on Saturday evening (5pm) is shaping as an absolute scorcher. Two of Sydney’s most charismatic clubs head into a mouthwatering clash with eyes fixed on different prizes, FC gazing dreamily at a premiership-championship double and Minotaurs on a belated top-four charge. It’s been an interesting move to St George for both sides this winter, just six wins from 12 games at the iconic ground, but only two defeats as well, and their history is as undecided as the Federal Senate – two wins each and three draws, including 2-2 earlier this winter… and with much at stake this match-up is shrouded by atmosphere.
Sure they’re sixth and seventh but there’s plenty to play for when Western Condors host Enfield Rovers at Calabria Sports Ground on Sunday afternoon (3pm). Solid form over the past month has left Condors wondering where it went in June, a five-game losing sequence seemingly ruining their 2014 campaign, and they face an Enfield side still battling Uni and Branch to avoid this year’s wooden spoon. The two sides have drawn their last two, including 1-1 at Garside Park in round eight, Condors winning 3-1 in their first ever meeting last May at Calabria Sports Ground; but Western’s been quite dismal at home this winter winning just two of seven fixtures, while Enfield have taken points from half their away games.
An improving Southern Branch meet a ready Prospect United at South Nowra Football Complex on Sunday afternoon (3pm). Branch is embroiled in a three-way fight with Uni and Rovers to not finish last and tackle a Prospect team that’s lost two games in a row for the first time this season to drop from top spot and tangle itself up in a four-way battle for the remaining three finals spots (against Bulls, Lions and Minotaurs). Southern’s been held scoreless in half their 14 fixtures this season, including a 3-0 loss to Prospect at William Lawson Reserve in May, but they’ll provide sterner resistance this time around.