Round 11 Preview – State League Men’s

Strap yourselves in for another rollercoaster round of action in the State League Men’s Competition.

Saturday night’s triple-header is a top of the table tussle as the competition’s top 5 teams go head to head in the battle for finals football.

The action continues on Sunday afternoon, as both Hurstville clubs look to get their season back on track away to FC Gazy and Western Condors FC. 

Nepean FC (3^rd)  vs UNSW (2^nd) – Saturday 7pm (Match of the Round)

Cancel your plans for Saturday night because we have a true blockbuster to kick off Round 11. Two of the competition’s heavyweights go head to head as Nepean FC host UNSW.

Nepean, the competition’s best defence and unbeaten at home all season, against the unstoppable UNSW, running hot after 7 wins in a row.

UNSW had a convincing 4-1 win over 4^th placed Camden Tigers last round, but showed glimpses of vulnerability at the back, especially when dealing with lofted crosses and the physical presence of Camden’s forwards. Captain Lenox Tweneboa will need to marshall his troops well at the back if they are to contain the dangerous Mason McComasky and Roberto Polistina.

Cook Park has become a fortress for Nepean this season, having only conceded 3 goals. They’ll need to be at their best against a UNSW side that have scored 13 goals in just four games. At the heart of this lethal run has been Ilan Kessler and Dylan Penglase, who are both well in the hunt for this season’s golden boot.

It’s seven wins in a row for UNSW, but this is their toughest test yet. The Nepean Shed Crew will be rocking, creating a thunderous atmosphere on Saturday night.

By the end of 90 minutes, fans might be able to hear Russell Crowe exclaim, ‘Are you not entertained?’ as two gladiator teams of the competition look to prove themselves as genuine contenders in 2017.

Camden Tigers (4^th) vs Wagga City Wanderers FC (8^th) – Saturday 7pm

Camden have been licking their wounds this week, after a frustrating defeat to UNSW. But it doesn’t get any easier for Dean Bradley’s side as they entertain a Wagga City team fresh off their first home win of the season.

Compounding this difficulty is the suspension of Camden’s experienced striker, Stephen Lloyd. His link-up play with Jayden Russell has been a big part of Camden’s success this season and he will be sorely missed.

Wagga’s dramatic late-winner last round against Western Condors has filled the side with newfound optimism and will be looking to carry this through into this fixture.

Can Wagga City claim their second win on the trot and possibly knock Camden out of the top four, or will Camden return to form and keep in touch with the competition’s leaders?

Bankstown United FC (1^st) vs Prospect United (5^th) – Saturday 7pm

Despite leading the competition, Bankstown United have been flying under the radar in recent weeks. Quietly going about their business as the teams around them have been stealing the headlines.

But in football, everyone wants to be the best; and as the saying goes, if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. For Darren Camilleri and his young Prospect side, if they want to play finals football this season, that’s exactly what they will have to do on Saturday night when they travel to Bankstown.

An encouraging first half was undone by a loss in concentration and defensive shape last week away to Nepean and if Prospect are to claim three points in this match; they need a complete 90 minute performance.

Will Bankstown United continue their stranglehold on top spot? or will Prospect force their way into finals’ reckoning?

FC Gazy Auburn (10^th) vs Hurstville FC (6^th) – Sunday 3pm

After two losses in a row, Hurstville FC are losing sight of the top four. Just two points below fourth, but having played two games more, they cannot afford to drop points in this match.

FC Gazy, after their first win of the season in Round 9, could not produce a repeat performance last week, conceding three goals inside the first half hour in a game they would eventually lose 4-1.

Whilst finals football might be out of reach this season, FC Gazy still have the ability to cause an upset or two, and derail another side’s top four ambitions. Hurstville FC will be looking to ensure no such thing occurs on Sunday afternoon.

Western Condors FC (9^th) vs Hurstville City Minotaurs (7^th) – Sunday 3pm

There’s a light at the end of the tunnel, but it’s fading very quickly for both Hurstville City Minotaurs and Western Condors FC. Mathematically still in the race for a finals place, neither side has consistently produced their best football this season.

The Minotaurs returned to winning ways last week with an emphatic 4-1 victory over FC Gazy. This performance was headlined by new signing, Dimitri Zakilas, who scored on debut. However, they have an extremely difficult run of fixtures in the next month, coming up against Camden, Nepean and then UNSW. If Hurstville City Minotaurs are going to play finals football then they simply have to win this game.

Western Condors slipped down to 9^th in the table last week, after their 2-1 loss to Wagga City. Having conceded 36 goals this season, more than any other team, it’s clear where improvements need to be made.

Expect goals in this match as both sides fight to keep their season alive.

Form Guide:

Wagga City Wanderers (W, L, L)

FC Gazy Auburn (L,W,L)

Prospect United (L,W,L)

Hurstville FC (L,L,W)

Nepean FC (W,W,W)

Camden Tigers (L,W,W)

Bankstown United (W,W,W)

Hurstville City Minotaurs (W,L,L)

UNSW (W,W,W) 

Western Condors (L,L,L)

– By Ryan Latty