Round 2 Preview – State League Men’s

So, we’re underway, the first week produced plenty of drama.

With 5 winners and 5 losers last week, it’s very much a case of consolidating on a win or bouncing back from a defeat before it becomes a habit.

So, game on for week 2 in the State League Men’s competition.

UNSW FC v FC Gazy Auburn (Match of the round)

This week’s match of the round takes us to David Phillips Field to see if UNSW can back up from what will go down as a great week for the club after wins in Round 1 as well as the FFA Cup.

Goals from Christian Soares, Giles Penfold and a stunning free kick from Ilan Kessler saw them scrape past the Minotaurs in round 1.

Getting in their way though is a “horror” injury list which nearly took it’s toll last weekend but if they show as much heart as last week, we could be looking at 2 from 2 team.

They face a FC Gazy team who had a false start to the campaign last week. So they are bound to be fresh coming into this game.

Although it could be argued they needed the rest after narrowly getting past their round 3 cup opponents Revesby Workers FC on a sweltering Sydney day last Sunday week.

Their season starts this week and good early performances are a must after last years disappointment.

Hurstville City Minotaurs v Bankstown United FC

Hurstville City Minotaurs will be looking to bounce back from a narrow week one defeat as they host last years Premiers Bankstown United this Saturday evening.

Their game could’ve gone either way in reality, as the Minotaurs held the lead twice in the first half before eventually being out run in the second half.

However, they will be buoyed by the fact their main man up front Lorenzo Fatica got on the scoresheet early on in the season.

The visitors, Bankstown United triumphed over Hurstville FC in their round one clash.

They were always in control of that match and Claudio Canosa’s men will be looking to make it consecutive victories over the Hurstville sides in this competition.

Although it only is the second week, if they can add a bit of ruthlessness to their finishing, it will be hard to see them dropping many points throughout this campaign.

Western Condors v Prospect United

The only game with two teams that won their first-round fixture clash at Chopin Park this Saturday.

The Condors got a new era for the club off to best possible start against Wagga City. After Barry Zambrano returned to the club to lead his troops this season as coach,

It was a hat-trick to Cristian Martinez which saw them get over a Wagga outfit who wouldn’t go away in an open clash.

This week could prove a tougher test though with visitors Prospect also coming into the fixture on a high.

They defeated a more fancied Nepean at Blacktown Football Park last Saturday night.

United showed plenty of hard work and dedication in the fixture and were rewarded with goals to Wilter Jajaw, Alex Bit and Efoso Amagor.

It’s set to be an entertaining game with plenty of goals as both team look to build on their first week successes.

Hurstville FC v Wagga City Wanderers

Unfortunately, in football if a team wins it means another side loses. However, both these sides who clash this weekend can take heart in their first-round efforts away from home.

Hurstville Fc visited last years premiers Bankstown and almost stole a point in what was a closer than expected contest in the match of the round.

A few chances in the second half to Jesse Gagro was the closest they came and, on another day, one could’ve found the net.

Wagga City Wanderers played their first away match of the season last week. In what was a reasonably open and fast paced game, they eventually went down 3-1 to the condors.

They were far from disgraced and can take heart from a good keeping performance from Robert Fry amongst other things.

So a chance for two teams to show what the competition what they’ve got. Count us in!

Nepean FC v Central Coast United

Nepean FC went down to Prospect in what was possibly the big surprise of the first round.

They did come back from a two-goal deficit which shows the squad has character and by the time you read this they could well have bounced back in a cup fixture against East Gosford.

There is little doubt amongst the competition that they will be there or there about come the end of the season and what better way to prove it then a fixture against Central Coast United.

Central Coast United had a five-star debut last weekend to open their league history in men’s competition.

In what will serve as a message to the rest of the competition, they were ruthless putting five goals past a Balmain side who are strong on paper.

However, an away fixture against a side many consider to be one of the main contenders come the end of the season will show what they’re made of.

Balmain Tigers v South Coast Flame

It was a tough start for Balmain last week as they travelled away to Central Coast last weekend.

The score line however blew out in the second half and doesn’t exactly reflect the quality of the Tigers side who held their own in the first half only to be punished by a ruthless home side.

If they were lacking some motivation before round one, Joe De Giulio and his men will be fired up for this one as they face another competition new comer.

Attempt two for the South Coast Flame to play their inaugural league match.

Coach Paul Robaard is promising a side who has gelled quicker than expected so we can expect them to challenge their opponents in what shapes as a tough task.

The Flame did dispatch of West Pennant Hills Cherrybrook FC a fortnight ago in their first ever game in the FFA Cup with a hat trick to Julio Mushaba being the highlight.

-By Justin Smith