Round 5 Preview – State League Men’s
Another busy week approaches in the State League Men’s competition with the Easter Weekend upon us as round 5 kicks into overdrive.
South Coast Flame v Balmain Tigers, Saturday 20th April, 4pm at Ian Mclennan Park
Two desperate sides open up an action-packed Easter Saturday of entertainment. South Coast Flame will be looking to bounce back from another heavy defeat whilst Balmain will be looking to claim their first win.
“It’s starting to look like round one was a one-off for the South Coast Flame”, that gem of a quote comes from yours truly in last week’s preview. Instead the Flame were on the end of a thumping defeat last weekend at the hands of Central Coast United.
Yes, it could be argued that they came off a cup game just 48 hours earlier but conceding anything like nine goals is embarrassing no matter the circumstances. The question is, can they bounce back for a second time?
It isn’t much easier viewing for Balmain Tigers either. Things just didn’t go to plan for the Tigers last week. Yes, UNSW FC are a high-quality opposition but coach Sasha Tiroski was left disappointed with his teams’ effort.
Particularly after challenging Fraser Park the week before as they did. The table isn’t pretty reading for Balmain and this is their best opportunity to claim a victory yet.
Central Coast United v Prospect United, Saturday 20th April, 5pm at Pluim Park
A second home game on the back of an away performance. Things look ominous for Prospect United who travel to face Central Coast United this weekend.
Now that’s the Central Coast United outfit that we’ve come to know, United sent out a statement with a 9-0 win over South Coast Flame last weekend. That’s what they can do when the conditions are just right which is ominous as they return home for just the second time of the season this weekend.
On the road the past couple of weeks, it has been a tale of their youth prospects. Jarrod Steen has been a revelation, cementing himself in the front three of this well-oiled unit.
“Trying to make a move just to stay in the game, I try to stay awake and remember my name but everybody’s changing and I don’t feel the same?” It’s fair to say Prospect United will be Keane to put behind a run of three successive draws.
The competition has got stronger and their mission this week will be to prove that they aren’t stagnant, only problem is it will have to be done against the competitions best.
Nepean FC v FC Gazy Auburn, Saturday 20th April, 7pm at Cook Park
You would think this is a must win for Nepean FC as they host FC Gazy Auburn but stranger things have happened, just look at last week.
I’ll be honest, there were a few signs of fatigue for Nepean FC last weekend. They will come into this one having played five fixtures in the past two weeks. In going down to Fraser Park last Saturday, they only had themselves to blame with several mistakes leading to the concession of goals.
So now it’s about not slipping too far behind the leaders of the competition early on and you have to imagine this will be three points for the taking.
Or will it? FC Gazy Auburn continue to impress early on in their campaign. Well impress on everything but the win tally. Last weekend they had a slow start at the beginning of either half to blame for not getting their first win.
They did however get their first point of the season coming from behind twice with goals coming from Haydar Al-Ameri and Samuel Head. Potential for another point here? I wouldn’t rule them out.
Hurstville FC v Fraser Park, Saturday 20th April, 7pm at Seymour Shaw
Hurstville FC will be looking to unleash their better selves when they host a Fraser Park outfit gaining in confidence.
Well there’s always been a concern about the two Hurstville’s. In the past two weeks we’ve seen both the good and the bad of Hurstville FC. Two weeks ago, we saw them beat UNSW FC, clinically taking their chances and surprising the competition.
Then last week, they were punished for not taking their chances in the Hurstville derby. Which one will turn up in this outing, we are intrigued to see…?
Fraser Park on the other hand, there should be no doubt that they will be a competitor in the premiership race this season after last weekend. They particularly Matthew Nezval were ruthlessly efficient in seeing off Nepean FC at home.
This weekend the question asked will be, can they do it on a cold, dark windy night at Seymour Shaw park? If they answer that successfully, a top of the table round 6 clash against Central Coast United awaits.
Western Condors v UNSW FC, Sunday 21st April, 3pm at Chopin Park
I was always made to wait for the chocolate till Easter Sunday as a kid. So perhaps it’s fitting we wait for what looks like the best clash of the weekend till Sunday.
Western Condors come into this week having only played two fixtures in the league (do have a catch up Wednesday). In both they have been impressive, being large wins over both South Coast Flame and Hurstville City Minotaurs.
So, in terms of something to write about there isn’t a lot apart from another victory over the Flame in the cup in which they came back from 2-0 down at Chopin Park to win 3-2.
UNSW FC picked up a much-needed win last week with a victory in an “away game” at Ilinden Sports Centre. It was a case of finally seeing what we know this side are capable of in a comfortable win.
They will now want to build on that victory but if you were to give them any option of a ground to build on their first victory. It wouldn’t be Chopin Park out at Plumpton. Nevertheless, that’s how it’s worked out and you’d suspect this clash should be a good one.
Round 2 rescheduled fixtures, Nepean FC v Hurstville City Minotaurs and Western Condors v Balmain Tigers will be recapped in this week’s review. Happy Easter!
By Justin Smith
Twitter: @smiththejustin
