Mens State League Two Round 17 Review
State League Two will go down to a last-week wire following a wet and wild round 17, Prospect United beating Southern Branch 3-1, Western Condors downing Enfield Rovers 1-0 and the other games called off due to the Saturday Sydney storms.
Hurstville FC were crowned 2014 Mens State League Two premiers following a midweek catch-up draw with Rydalmere, but Prospect (29), Bulls (27) and Lions (26) are still all in Hurstville City Minotaurs (22) sights, who have a round-11 catch-up game against Enfield scheduled for 5Sports Caringbah on Tuesday night (8.15pm), with the Uni versus Rydalmere match possibly on Thursday. The Hurstville derby will also have to be played before Sunday’s final round.
This leaves Prospect, Bulls, Lions and Minotaurs in a position where they can finish as high as second or as low as fifth. Minotaurs have to play three games this week to complete their fixtures.
The situation’s as convoluted in grade-20 with Rydalmere (40) well qualified but Prospect (28), Bulls (27) and Uni (26) jostling for the other semi-final positions, with Enfield (20) needing a miracle – Uni to lose badly to Lions midweek so Rovers can pick them off in the final round and steal their finals spot.
Rydalmere need a win and draw against Uni to hold off Prospect for the club championship. United trail by six points heading into the final game for both clubs.
And, finally, Hawkesbury City FC’s Bensons Lane Field has been chosen to stage the Mens State League Two Grand Final on Sunday, August 24.
Round 17
Southern Branch 1 (Rhyley Foenander) Prospect United 3 (Abanoub Michael, Nick Kalebic, Sasa Ki Yuji)
Western Condors 1 (Mauricio Sanchez) Enfield Rovers 0
Hurstville FC Hurstville City Minotaurs washed out
Rydalmere Lions University of NSW washed out
Round 10 catch-up: Hurstville FC 1 (Kingsley Williams) Rydalmere Lions 1 (Daniel Bittar)
Grade 20
Southern Branch 0 Prospect United 1
Western Condors 1 Enfield Rovers 2
Hurstville FC Hurstville City Minotaurs washed out
Rydalmere Lions University of NSW washed out
Round 10 catch-up: Hurstville FC forfeit to Rydalmere Lions
Prospect beat Branch
Prospect United held their nerve to beat a stubborn Southern Branch 3-1 at South Nowra Football Complex on Sunday afternoon (3pm)
Abanoub Michael opened the scoring after five minutes and settled Prospect with Nick Kalebic and Sasa Ki Yuji taking more weight off to establish a 3-0 United halftime buffer, Southern getting a consolation goal to round out a 3-1 final scoreline.
United coach Tony Caruso was satisfied with a result that put the pressure back on Rydalmere for the club championship, Lions needing at least four points from their catch-up against Uni to claim the overall prize.
“It was a fairly tough game against Branch; Southern did their part in giving us a good game of football,” he said. “Our plan was always to apply pressure on Rydalmere and make them go into their last game needing to do something, so our objective as a club was achieved. The aim has always been the club championship as it’s a good indication of where the club is at as a unit. It’s good for anyone who gets it.”
“I know it’s early but I wanted to get in first and really congratulate all the clubs for providing what has been a great competition. Hurstville FC has done a great job this season; the table doesn’t lie; they’ve been the standout performer this year, and laid the foundation early on for a very good competition.”
Prospect’s grade-20 side won 1-0 to more into second place on the ladder.
Condors peck Rovers
Western Condors defeated Enfield Rovers 1-0 at Calabria Sports Ground on Sunday afternoon to continue their golden run, but the emotional bruises will show they’ve not done enough to secure a finals position in 2014 Mens League Two.
It was a fifth straight result for Western but they will finish too far behind on for-and-against to figure in the top-four.
Enfield beat Condors 2-1 in grade-20 to jump them on the points ladder and keep a faint finals whiff. Rovers trail Uni by six points and need them to lose badly to Rydalmere in their midweek catch-up game, with Enfield due to meet Uni in the final round.
Next games
Mens State League Two round 18 is an all-Sunday affair to end the season with Enfield Rovers against University of NSW at Garside Park (3pm), Southern Branch versus Hurstville City Minotaurs at South Nowra Football Complex (3pm), Prospect United meet Western Condors at William Lawson Reserve (3pm), and Southern Bulls face Hurstville FC at Ernie Smith Reserve (4pm). Rydalmere Lions have the bye.
