Round 9 Preview – State League Men’s
Which teams will sink and which teams will swim as we enter the second half of the State League Men’s competition.
Having finished the first full round of fixtures, Round 9 sees a reversal of the opening weekend’s matches.
Wagga City will be seeking revenge for their 5-1 thumping at the hands of Western Condors on Saturday afternoon, before two mouth-watering fixtures take place as Nepean host Prospect and UNSW entertain Camden Tigers in our match-of-the-round.
We close out the round with the two Hurstville sides looking to get their respective seasons back on track against table-topping Bankstown and an FC Gazy side fresh off their first win of the campaign.
(9th) Wagga City Wanderers FC vs (8th) Western Condors FC (Saturday 3pm)
Without a win in their last three games and quickly losing sight of the teams above, both Wagga City and Western Condors will be desperate for three points in this match.
It’s difficult to predict whether we’ll see a feast of goals or a famine of action in this one as the competition’s two worst defences and two sides struggling to score goals go head to head. Conceding an average of 3.5 goals per game and scoring just 1, Wagga City and Western Condors will be hoping to put their ominous form behind them and collect three vital points to revive their season.
(3rd) Nepean FC vs (5th) Prospect United (Saturday 7pm)
Nepean FC was forced to sit idly by over the long weekend as the teams around them secured momentous victories to further threaten the mountain men’s top four position.
Prospect was one of those teams. A clinical performance away to Hurstville FC has galvanized the young side that now sits just one point outside the top four. However, they’ll need to be at their best again if they are to claim all three points against second place, Nepean.
With just five points between 6th and 2nd, the result in this match will have massive repercussions in the race for the top four. Whichever side comes out on top can begin to dream of finals football, while the other will be in danger of being engulfed by the chasing pack.
(2nd) UNSW vs (4th) Camden Tigers FC (Sunday 7pm) Match of the Round)
Can anyone stop UNSW?
Will we see a repeat of the dramatic 4-4 draw from Round 1?
Six wins on the trot have lifted them to within two points of top spot. As a result, rumours are circling that UNSW have approached Football NSW to include Drake’s ‘Started from the Bottom Now We Here’, as their new team song.
One club with the power to stop this unbeaten run is Camden Tigers. Arguably the league’s most lethal attack, spearheaded by leading goal scorer, Jayden Russell, the Tigers are a team with tremendous bite.
UNSW have collected some impressive wins in recent weeks, but this mouth-watering match will help us see whether they are true contenders or just another pretender.
(6th) Hurstville FC vs (1st) Bankstown United FC (Sunday 5pm)
The full-time whistle has just blown and Hurstville FC have won 3-0 over Bankstown United.
That was round 1 this year.
That night, many would’ve predicted a season of triumph for Hurstville FC and a season of struggle for Bankstown.
Fast-forward 9 rounds and it’s been the complete opposite. Bankstown United are flying high, and indifferent form has left Hurstville staring enviously at the teams above them.
A positive performance against Prospect last week has shown Hurstville they are capable of playing finals football, but unless they take the chances that are presented to them, it could be a year of frustration and disappointment.
(7th) Hurstville City Minotaurs vs (10th) FC Gazy Auburn (Sunday 5pm)
FC Gazy fans were treated to the first rendition of their team’s victory song last week when they made the trip to Wagga. FC Gazy coach, Ernesto Meduri is hoping his side can make it consecutive wins as they travel to a Hurstville Minotaurs side that has lost their last three games.
Peter ‘The General’ Sarikakas believes his side has the ability to make the top four, but if they’re going to play finals football, they desperately need to get back to winning ways in this match.
Form Guide:
Wagga City Wanderers (L, L,D)
FC Gazy Auburn (W,L,L)
Prospect United (W,L,W)
Hurstville FC (L,W,D)
Nepean FC (W,W,L)
Camden Tigers (W,W,L)
Bankstown United (W,W,L)
Hurstville City Minotaurs (L,L,L)
UNSW (W,W,W)
Western Condors (L,L,L)
– By Ryan Latty
