Round 2 Preview – State League Men’s
Round Two of the Football NSW State League Men’s should see the action heat up, with the nerves of opening round out of the way.
University of NSW vs. Bankstown United FC – Heffron Park (Synthetic), Saturday 9 April at 3PM.
The UNSW Lions will be hugely disappointed to have lost their opening fixture against Gazy, despite dominating large pieces of play. They will be looking to improve their finishing and composure this weekend against Bankstown, expecting nothing short of a win.
Bankstown United were impressive in their competition debut against St. George, and happy to earn their first ever point. However, similarly to UNSW, a part of them will rue the fact they did not capitalise on their chances and come away with a win; particularly considering their opposition had only ten men for most of the second half.
Coach Peter Finka believes his side can carry some momentum from their midweek FFA Cup game into the weekend, as they continue to implement their desired brand of football.
Both teams will be looking to prove a point, having been left longing for more after Round One. This match should be extremely tight, but extremely entertaining.
Wagga City Wanderers vs. Camden Tigers FC – Rawlings Park, Saturday 9 April at 3PM.
Wagga City have taken great pride in finishing the first round atop the State League Men’s table. However, the honeymoon period is over and the Wanderers will be determined to establish themselves as a more permanent fixture towards the business end of the ladder.
They will take further confidence out of their midweek FFA Cup victory against Ararat FC, although will be without two key players in defence due to injuries to Callum Dunbar and Calum Maccormick
The Camden Tigers will take many positives out of last week’s narrow loss to Hurstville FC into this weekend’s fixture. While they will look to shore up their defensive unit, the Tigers proved they have plenty of firepower moving forward and are looking a very potent team under new coach Dean Bradley.
SD Raiders FC vs. Western Condors FC – Ernie Smith Reserve, Saturday 9 April at 7PM.
Southern Districts have a lot of expectations to live up to this season, and showed signs of why they are so highly rated against Nepean in Round One. However, they are looking to take things up a step this weekend at home to the Condors and will be expecting nothing short of a win.
The Raiders showed why they are so highly rated midweek, where they tore apart UNSW 5-0 in the FFA Cup – headlined by a hattrick for Mitchell McLintock.
Western Condors FC will also feel like they can move up a gear this weekend, as they begin to shake off early season rustiness. The Condors also won their FFA Cup fixture, edging past Coogee United 1-0. Southern Districts will provide them a significantly more difficult challenge however.
St. George FA vs. Nepean FC – Peter Moore Field, Saturday 9 April at 7PM.
St. George were happy with their ‘baptism of fire’ in Round One, where they held on for their first ever point despite being a man down for most of the second half. They face an even more difficult challenge this weekend, against Nepean FC.
Coach Manny Spandoudakis says that the club has “no illusions about how tough this competition is” and believes that Nepean will be a major test; but one that the club is excited to take on as it continues its maiden journey.
Nepean FC will be delighted to have held off an extremely strong Raiders team despite being a man down in Round One, and confident of their ability to claim their first victory this weekend.
Hurstville City Minotaurs vs. Prospect United – Progress Park, Sunday 10 April at 3PM.
Hurstville City are looking to build upon the solid foundations laid in Round One, where they led for seventy five minutes. With their first home game of the season, the Minotaurs will be pushing to take away all three points.
Minotaurs coach Peter Sarikakis points out that the team still has four or five players injured, and while not using that as an excuse, believes it is an indication that the Hurstville side can get even stronger.
Sarikakis believes Prospect United are one of the favourites for the title and is wary that they will “try to make amends for their loss to Wagga last week”.
Prospect United were perhaps unlucky in their opening round loss to Wagga City, where they fell to a dramatic fourth goal from the Wanderers. Coach Brian Vella believed his side showed “plenty of fight” but “need to be more patient and disciplined” this weekend.
Indeed, Prospect demonstrated plenty of exciting offensive potential against Wagga, but were sloppy in defence. The Minotaurs will have to resist Prospect’s attacking unit, and exploit any lack of concentration in their back four.
Hurstville FC vs. Gazy Auburn FC – St. George Stadium, Sunday 10 April at 3PM.
Both Hurstville and Gazy will be buzzing after their opening round victories, and determined to keep the good times rolling this weekend. Both know that they still have a lot of work to do this season, and will not be complacent in what should be a hugely entertaining clash.
Hurstville coach Alex Prophet acknowledges that this will be a tough match, and asserts that his boys will “give Gazy the respect they deserve”.
Prophet thinks there were a lot of positives to take out of last week’s performance, “we showed great desire and resilience to finally come away with all three points”.
Gazy coach Ray Zammit is proud of his team’s performance in round one, not just for the spectacular winner, but for the defensive discipline shown. Gazy have focused on improving their defensive work all preseason, and were delighted to come away with a clean sheet and no cards.
-by Daniel Palmer, Football NSW State League Men’s Reporter
