Round 6 – State League Men’s Preview
We’re starting to see patterns and narratives emerging in this years State League Men’s competition.
This week Nepean travel to the Minotaurs in the match of the round, Bankstown United look to bounce back after a loss for the first time and much more.
Match of the Round
Hurstville City Minotaurs v Nepean FC
So once again we turn our attention to St George Stadium as a travelling Nepean side face off against the Minotaurs.
Hurstville City Minotaurs are coming into this fixture after a tough trip up the coast.
They went down to a strong Central Coast United side by three goals to one.
The scoring was opened after a costly defensive mistake and from that point on it was always going to be an uphill battle
However, luck was not with them on the day with two other goals coming from deflections on free kicks. This week it’s a return to home comforts and hopefully for the ‘general’, a return to the winning circle.
It won’t be easy though; this Nepean FC side have found their groove over the past couple of matchdays. Nepean dispatched of Hurstville FC last time out without really breaking a sweat.
It was a match that they controlled, goals came from Clement Waoci with a brace and Michael Fakiye which ensured the three points.
In saying that, playing a game with ten is always hard and they managed to hold out in the last ten minutes due to injury.
Fortunes have turned around, much due to an upturn in finishing quality, so will Hurstville City Minotaurs be able to hold out Clement Waoci who has a brace in each of his games since returning.
If they do, it will go a long way towards getting a result.
South Coast Flame v Prospect United
South Coast Flame host Prospect United at John Crehan Park this Saturday evening.
It’s hard to know how the Flame will come into this one (the joy of midweek catchups).
As I said in last weeks review, they were disappointing against a motivated Wagga outfit.
Before this game, they face FC Gazy Auburn on Wednesday in a match which could determine their season.
So, what do they need?
Well its time for someone on the field to lead.
A player to carry this young team to meet their potential.
There is talent there, a 5-0 win over Balmain in Round 2 proves it.
Football is a funny game and fortunes can chance very quickly, maybe the return of Bojan Caric will spark the flame to life again.
With Nepean’s slow start to the season, one team had the chance to take advantage and infiltrate the top 4. Prospect United were that team this season.
They come into the fixture with three wins, one draw and one loss so far this campaign in what can be classified as an impressive start.
Last week they defeated FC Gazy Auburn in what was the most entertaining fixture of round five.
They played the best they have all season as well with a dominant 25-minute period in the second half seeing them get over the line.
This week presents a good opportunity to turn that 25 mins into 90 minutes.
Hurstville FC v Western Condors
Hurstville FC return to their temporary home in Seymour Shaw Park for the first time this season as they host Western Condors.
The draw hasn’t been kind to the hosts, Hurstville have only had one ‘home’ game in their opening five outings. It could be argued that it’s started to take effect as well, in the past couple of weeks they have gone down to Central Coast and Nepean by a combined total of 8-0.
So how will they do with a shorter trip?
It’s a tough double on the road and Nepean were not in the mood to take it easy opening the scoring and never looking back.
As Hurstville pushed on for an equalizer, they were caught out twice hence the score line. New week however and finally a home game.
Western Condors have been solid yet unspectacular in their opening five rounds this season. They have two wins, one draw and two defeats. It was looking like it could turn ugly before last week though with two consecutive defeats.
They got back on track though last week with a two-nil win over Balmain Tigers at home.
It was a tough battle throughout the opening half with both team’s content to hold onto possession as well as use physicality to win it back.
An inspired team talk from ‘Mr Condors’ Barry Zambrano saw his team come out the better with goals to Joakim Moussinga and Ahmed Chandab ensure victory.
UNSW FC v Wagga City Wanderers
What a weekend last week was for both these sides, both UNSW FC and Wagga City Wanderers both come into the match on the back of a win.
Last weekend was crunch time for UNSW FC, it was the hardest test yet for the students against Bankstown United and it’s pretty fair to say they passed with flying colours.
Now they come into this game having to take a step down which is a tough task in itself.
Now back to last week, it came down to a goal after sixty minutes from Luiz Lobo which proved the difference.
The affair was described as physical and tight which again could be classified as more pleasing for the students.
As the weeks go by on this winning streak, they become more and more the hunted. Can they face the next challenge thrown at them?
It was good to see the Wagga City Wanderers get a win last weekend.
The Wanderers were the only team winless coming into last round with only one draw under the belt beforehand against Hurstville FC on the road.
That changed last weekend however, they were described as desperate beforehand in a post from their opponents. It was enough to inspire the home side and after some settling into the fixture, they took control of the game and never looked back.
On top of the other positives of the day, both Tyler Allen and Duncan Cameron opened their goal total for the season. So, there may well be life in this one.
FC Gazy Auburn v Central Coast United
This year’s surprise packets FC Gazy Auburn host their second game in one week against Central Coast United on Sunday afternoon.
FC Gazy Auburn came into the season with absolutely no expectations coming into the season, most seeing games against them as three points.
It looked that way for the first couple of rounds but a win 2 weeks ago against Wagga has really kickstarted their season.
Last weekend they lost to Prospect, predictable right?
The impressive thing though was it was a contest. FC Gazy took the lead through a goal from Javier Salinas.
Prospect bounced back before half time and looked to have run away with it in the second half. However, they didn’t let them get away and brought it back to a single goal margin. It’s a positive sign and we look forward to seeing where this team can go.
Central Coast United come into this game as one of only two teams who are undefeated in this competition. The only real hiccup so far for the new expansion club has been a draw against Nepean away from home in round 2.
Last weekend they won in a fixture against Hurstville City Minotaurs at Pluim Park.
Central Coast United secured an early goal to Josh Swadling which settled things down. The first half was devoid of any more chances of note. Second half opened up and a change of tactic from the hosts worked a treat.
United are probably the most fit team in the competition so when they counter, they are lethal and eventually won out.
Balmain Tigers v Bankstown United FC
Balmain Tigers round off the weekend with a fixture against Bankstown United at llinden Sports Centre.
A couple of weeks ago, it looked like things have changed for the Balmain Tigers.
Instead bad habits have struck again, if it’s not losing players to suspension at the moment, it’s not taking the chances in front of goal which are presented.
Last weekend they went down to Western Condors at Chopin Park which may well be looking like a desert at the moment.
Last week wasn’t going badly for the Tigers, Balmain hung in the game till a 60th minute stunner changed things.
The visitors weren’t able to create that crucial to equalize and were punished. This week provides a chance with no expectation to bounce back, can they roar?
It would be a weird feeling for Bankstown United this week. They come into a game with of a rare loss a belt to a very impressive UNSW side. Before that it was four wins on the bounce, including an impressive effort to hold on against South Coast the week before playing more than half the game with ten men.
We could well be talking to about a completely different result for Bankstown last week. A chance towards the end of the fixture found a good opportunity only to be denied by a great save from the UNSW keeper. That didn’t happen however, so we get to see how they come into a fixture off the back of a loss for the first time this season. Game on!
-By Justin Smith
