Round 12 Preview – State League Men’s

With finals spots up for grabs, can the teams at the bottom spoil the party of clubs hoping to squeeze into the top four?

We kick off the round in Wagga, as Nepean look to get back to winning ways against the Wanderers, followed by a do or die clash for Prospect United as they entertain a UNSW side coming off their 8^th straight win. It’s top vs bottom as Bankstown host FC Gazy, followed by Hurstville FC’s clash with Western Condors as they continue their quest for the top four. We conclude the weekend with our match of the round as Hurstville City Minotaurs look to make it three wins in a row when they do battle against a rampant Camden Tigers side.

Wagga City Wanderers FC (8^th) vs Nepean FC (3^rd) – Saturday 3pm

Round 11 was one to forget for both these teams. Wagga City thumped 7-0 at the hands of Camden Tigers, and Nepean, frustrated by their profligacy in front of goal, going down 4-2 to a seemingly unstoppable UNSW side.

But this match gives both sides a chance to right last week’s many wrongs. For Wagga City, the semi finals look an improbable dream now, as they sit 12 points outside the top four. But a recent draw against a highly fancied Hurstville side shows they can match it with the big boys on their day.

Nepean have built their season on strong defence. Prior to last week’s defeat, they boasted the sternest defence in the league. But it’s at the other end of the pitch that they need to improve. Their 19 goals scored is the worst inside the top 6 and last week’s impotence in front of goal will worry Magdy Andrawes. The mountain men will be hoping new recruit Joel Bayubahe will settle in quickly and start banging in goals if they are to be genuine contenders this season.

A big match, with a big opportunity; which team will capture it? which team will let it slip?

Prospect United (7^th) vs UNSW (2^nd) – Saturday 3pm

Your season is on the line. You simply have to win this match if you want to play finals.

Who do you want to verse?

The team at the bottom of the table? maybe a team in poor form?

Whatever your answer, I bet you didn’t say the team who has just won their 8^th match in a row.

But that is the task ahead for Prospect. With their season hanging by a thread after successive defeats, they sit four points behind Camden in fourth, having played two games more.

Darren Camilleri has the team to make a push for the finals and his side will be boosted by the fact they were the last team to beat UNSW, all the way back in round 3.

For UNSW, they have been scoring goals for fun in recent weeks, notching 8 in their last 2 matches. They’re playing with supreme confidence but will be wary of defeat, knowing that just as easily as winning has become a habit, so too can defeat.

Bankstown United FC (1^st) vs FC Gazy Auburn (10^th) – Saturday 7pm

It doesn’t get any more David and Goliath than this.

Bankstown United, surging at the top of the table verses FC Gazy, languishing down at the bottom of the table.

The form guide and table suggests only one winner, especially when you consider FC Gazy will be hindered by suspensions to key players suffered last week against Hurstville FC.

But David and Goliath isn’t a famous story because Goliath won, and FC Gazy will be hoping to pull off another miracle in this match.

Hurstville FC (5^th) vs Western Condors FC (9^th) – Saturday 7pm

Sitting just two points outside the top four, if any team is going to make a late surge for a finals’ spot, it’s Hurstville FC.

After two frustrating defeats to Prospect and Bankstown, Hurstville FC got their season back on track last round with a convincing win over FC Gazy.

But with arguably the toughest run home out of all the top 6 teams, Hurstville needs to ensure maximum points in this match.

For Western Condors, five defeats in a row have seen them drop out of the race for a finals’ spot. But after an impressive victory over Prospect earlier in the season, they have proven they are more than capable of dealing a dagger blow to the heart of any team fighting for a top four spot.

Hurstville City Minotaurs (6^th) vs Camden Tigers (4^th) – Sunday 5pm (Match of the Round)

Two wins from three since their heartbreaking derby day defeat has breathed new life into the Minotaurs’ campaign. Buoyed by the recent form of key players, Dom Dom and Lorenzo Fatica, the Minotaurs are suddenly looking genuine finals’ contenders for season 2017.

Standing in their way is a Camden side who roared back to life with a ruthless 7-0 victory over Wagga City last week. Camden boast explosive speed in both attack and defence, their ruthless pressing game reminiscent of Barcelona under Pep Guardiola.

Rarely does the table lie, but Camden’s position of fourth doesn’t truly reflect their situation. With two games in hand, Camden could potentially move into second spot alongside UNSW; or, drop points in those games and Camden could slip back into a crowd of teams fighting for fourth spot.

This game has massive implications for both Camden and Hurstville City Minotaurs, but also for the rest of the competition as all teams fight desperately for precious points and a potential finals’ birth.

Form Guide:

UNSW (W,W,W)

Bankstown United (W,W,W)

Hurstville City Minotaurs (W,W,L)

Camden Tigers (W,L,W)

Hurstville FC (W,L,L)

Nepean FC (L,W,W)

Wagga City Wanderers (L, W, L)

FC Gazy Auburn (L,L,W)

Prospect United (L,L,W)

Western Condors (L,L,L)

– By Ryan Latty