Round 11 Preview – State League Men’s
The State League Men’s has officially reached the halfway mark, with teams reassessing their objectives and looking to finish the season strongly.
University of NSW vs. Camden Tigers FC – Saturday 11 June, 3PM at David Phillips Complex
The University of NSW and Camden Tigers will be looking forward to getting back on to the football field this weekend, facing off at David Phillips Complex.
UNSW have a lot of work to do if they’re to salvage this season, and will have to win a large majority of their remaining games to have any shot at the Finals. At least in the back of their minds, the Lions’ focus will more likely be set on improving their football and strengthening the core of their squad for next year.
UNSW have started to find their shooting boots in recent weeks, which will be heartening for a side that traditionally creates a large amount of chances without converting. The next step will be maintaining this consistently, and translating these goals into victories. More likely a long term than short term process.
Camden, on the other hand, are in the top six and will be looking to consolidate this position. They will be focused on coming away with all three points, and won’t be happy with anything less.
The Tigers will be aware of the Condors’ difficult journey down to Wagga Wagga this weekend, and will be looking to leapfrog them into fifth place.
Wagga City Wanderers vs. Western Condors FC – Saturday 11 June, 3PM at Gissing Oval
Wagga host the Western Condors FC this weekend in a scintillating mid-table clash, between two sides who will be competing for a spot in the Finals come season’s end.
The Wanderers were one of only four teams who played football last weekend, defeated 3-2 in a wet and wild tussle against Nepean FC. Despite the result, coach Andrew Douglas believes his team played good football given the conditions.
“I would welcome playing exactly the same way as last weekend.We didn’t get the result in the end, but we created plenty of opportunities.”
Despite placing themselves in an impressive position, Douglas says that the Wanderers’ objectives remain the same at the halfway point of the season: to improve on last year’s performance (where they came last).
“We want to make sure we’re playing our desired brand of football, and the results will follow. However, being realistic, we need to take points from every team from here on in to have any chance of playing finals.”
The Western Condors will have to endure a long trip down to Wagga Wagga, but will have fresh legs after a week off. Entering the second half of the year, the Condors will be looking to close the (four point) gap on the top four.
Hurstville FC vs. Prospect United – Saturday 11 June, 3PM at Heffron Park (Synthetic)
Hurstville FC will be determined to capitalise on any slip ups from St. George this weekend, as they host Prospect United at Heffron Park.
Hurstville and St. George share the top of the ladder with twenty two points each. With only a solitary defeat to Nepean blemishing their record, Hurstville are extremely strong title contenders.
They will not have it easy this weekend, however, coming up against a fired up Prospect United squad.
Prospect haven’t gotten the results they’d have liked in the first half of this season, but have played some promising, attacking football. They are unbeaten in two and finally look to be adding some clinicality to their football.
Coach John Caruana rues last week’s washed out round, saying, “The washout came at the wrong time as we started to play with a bit of confidence.”
“This weekend will be a very tough game against a quality side. Our objective for the second half of the season will be to continue to push up the ladder.”
Bankstown United FC vs. Gazy Auburn FC – Saturday 11 June, 7PM at Jensen Park
Bankstown United will be expecting nothing short of victory this Saturday against bottom of the table Gazy Auburn FC.
Gazy have lost their last three run outs, conceding twelve times and scoring only once. Their goal scoring woes won’t find any relief in Bankstown United, who boast one of the league’s most solid defensive units.
Bankstown, traditionally, have not been a high scoring team but will see this weekend’s game as a chance to improve their goal difference. There is the risk of complacency, something that coach Petar Finka will be determined to eliminate.
Auburn have nothing to lose and will undoubtedly look to play attacking football, hoping to pull off an upset victory. Potentially leaving themselves open in defence, this game could be high scoring though one sided.
St. George FA vs. SD Raiders FC – Saturday 11 June, 7PM at Peter Moore Field
Fixtures don’t come much bigger than this weekend’s clash between St. George FA and the SD Raiders FC, with a spot atop the table potentially on the line.
St. George have been the league’s surprise package, taking like a hot knife to butter through the pack in their maiden State League Men’s season. The league’s best defensive unit will face their strongest challenge so far this weekend, taking on the league’s best attack in Southern Districts.
Coach Manny Spanoudakis says, “It will be a massive test for us on Saturday night. Southern Districts are the benchmark in this league.”
“Our objective remains the same as it has from the outset: create a football club that has culture and reputation that is associated with developing quality young players and also playing a positive and attractive brand of football.”
“We are very pleased with our progress to date and at the same time,very aware that it is only Round 11 and we have a long way to go to achieve our goals both on and off the park.”
Spanoudakis believes that the week off was disruptive in terms of momentum and fluency, saying, “Ideally, I wanted to play last weekend.”
Southern Districts will be buzzing and looking to run over St. George. The competition favourites were lucky enough to play last weekend, and made great use of their opportunity, smashing the Hurstville City Minotaurs 9-2.
Symington and McClintock were incredibly impressive in front of goal and will no doubt prove a handful for St. George’s back four.
Nepean FC vs Hurstville City Minotaurs – Monday 13 June, 7PM at Cook Park, St Marys
This fixture between tenth placed Hurstville City and eighth placed Nepean appears a fairly even contest when looking at the ladder; however, in reality, will likely be much more lopsided.
The Minotaurs have endured a horrid run of form, losing the last four on the trot. They were somewhat unlucky to have had to face Southern Districts last weekend, in one of the round’s two games that proceeded. Hurstville copped an incredible nine goals.
Nepean FC, on the other hand, look to have turned the corner this season and are coming off two consecutive victories. A lot of this can be credited to the mass changes they’ve made in personnel, both on and off the pitch.
With new optimism and attractive football, Nepean look like strong favourites over a demoralised and downtrodden Hurstville City.
Hurstville coach Peter Sarikakis has been struggling over the last couple of months with the depth of his squad, and this week is no different.
“My aim at the moment is to get some senior players on the park. This way I feel we can get some well needed points.”
-by Daniel Palmer, Football NSW State League Men’s Reporter
