Round 3 Preview – State League Men’s

We’re off, every team is now underway in this years State League Men’s competition.

Just 11 games in and were staring to see some patterns emerging, Bring on week 3!

Match of the round takes us to Chopin Park for a mouth-watering clash between the Western Condors and Central Coast United this Saturday evening.

Western Condors come into the match after a somewhat disappointing second half last week saw them have to settle for a point after taking the lead.

They do however have the leagues most in-form striker in Cristian Leiva Martinez whose round one hat-trick on top of last weeks effort sees him with four goals in his two games.

Central Coast United also come into the game feeling they may have dropped points.

United faced a Nepean side desperate to write the wrongs of Round one and settled for a what could be valuable point away from home.

Their striker Adam Woodbine did get his first goal of the campaign though which is a positive for any side and will raise their confidence even more.

Seatbelts fastened!

This game has the potential to be a high-scoring thriller with 10 goals between the two sides scored in their opening two rounds.

Wagga City Wanderers v Hurstville City Minotaurs

Wagga City Wanderers open their home campaign in this round three fixture against Hurstville City Minotaurs.

The hosts come into the fixture after a moral boosting point on the road against Hurstville FC.

They were so close to getting more as they finished the game stronger with a Tinotenda Kunesu shot hitting the crossbar in the final minutes of the game.

Now as they begin their home campaign they will be looking to make use of a significant advantage.

Hurstville City Minotaurs were unlucky to fall to a narrow defeat against one of the early pace setters Bankstown United.

It was only a couple of cheap mistakes that cost the Minotaurs dearly in the end, apart from that they showed they can match it with anybody in the competition.

However, they find themselves without a point in two matches so it’s vital that changes soon.

South Coast Flame Fc v UNSW FC

It’s a first ever home game for the South Coast Flame and it probably couldn’t get much tougher than a UNSW FC side who are two from two.

South Coast Flame will relish the challenge though, they produced an impressive five-star performance in their delayed season opener against Balmain Tigers.

Even more worryingly for future opposition was the fact that goals came from five different sources meaning they will be hard to completely shut down.

They face a super impressive UNSW FC side who brushed aside visitors FC Gazy Auburn with ease in last weeks match of the round.

UNSW have a well-rounded side this campaign, and with a couple still to return to their ranks, the sky is the limit. Based on early season form though if you are to get anything from them, you’ll have to shut down Giles Penfold and Ilan Kessler.

Prospect United v Hurstville FC

Prospect United have been the surprise packets of the competition so far and they face a youthful Hurstville FC side on Saturday night.

Morale has to be high at Prospect, as United have taken a draw and a win from games against Western Sydney rivals Western Condors and Nepean.

However, last week they didn’t start the best. Prospect were second best throughout the first half against the Condors but comfort can be taken by a much improved second half which saw a Ben Lam equalizer.

If we’ve learnt anything about Hurstville FC from their two opening matches. It is they will more times than not, be there or thereabouts.

The youthful side rued missing three clear cut chances early in the second half and were made to pay late on settling for a draw.

It’s a learning process for John Gagro’s side who will be better as the season goes on.

Bankstown United FC v FC Gazy Auburn

One of the competitions strongest teams host a team desperate to set the record straight at Jensen Park on Saturday night.

Bankstown United are one of two sides who have opened their season with two wins from two.

Having got past Hurstville FC in round one’s match of the round, they scraped past the Minotaurs last weekend.

Two goals to striker Mitch Cross was the highlight for the visitors in an entertaining game and he finds himself with three goals in two games.

Forget the score line last week against UNSW, FC Gazy Auburn look an improved side this campaign.

After a rather average first half, the visitors changed things up at the half time break and they looked all the more better for it.

A goal scoring threat will be present throughout with Javier Salinas and Ricardo Mennillo up front. Add to that Gerbe Magela in behind, watch for them on the counter.

Nepean FC v Balmain Tigers FC

Can 3 points be so crucial in a round 3?

Well when it comes to these sides, Sunday’s fixture at Cook Park is vital.

Nepean come into the fixture having drawn with Central Coast United last week, in what was a heavyweight tussle it took a goal from a corner to level the scores for this week’s hosts.

It doesn’t matter how goals come though and they are not short of ways to score, which much come as a concern for this week’s opponents.

Thing’s can only get better for the Balmain Tigers. I certainly didn’t see this start coming and I doubt the club did either.

They come into this match after losing 5-0 to both expansion clubs, so maybe just maybe, a familiar face will lift the club’s spirits.

They should welcome back a couple of vital players who they have missed from suspension this week which can hopefully give them a boost.

A tough opponent awaits, Can the Tigers roar again?

-By Justin Smith