Round 6 Preview – State League Men’s
Some cracking matches have set up a big weekend of State League Men’s football as round 6 takes centre stage.
Central Coast United, Fraser Park come in off the back of a loss whilst Nepean FC and UNSW only have one win on the board.
It’s that kind of action that has us all checking our watches willing the weekend to come.
Western Condors v Hurstville FC, Saturday 27th April, 5pm at Chopin Park
It’s the leagues best attack against one of its tightest defences to open up the round at Chopin Park on Saturday.
Western Condors have raced out of the blocks this season. In winning their opening four games, they have scored an eye-watering eighteen goals so far this season.
Last weekend, they comfortably disposed of UNSW FC 4-1 in the sole Sunday fixture. There isn’t just one threat up front for this week’s hosts. They have three players in Chun Him Yau, Cristian Leiva Martinez and Swaray Taylor Kamara (who did score last weekend, not credited in the review) averaging over a goal a game.
It won’t be easy to break down their guests this week though. Hurstville FC have conceded just three goals in their opening four fixtures and two of them came against the Minotaurs in round 4.
Last weekend, they secured their second 1-0 win of the season against a more fancied Fraser Park outfit. The challenge for them this week is getting on the scoreboard more than once, they’ll have too if they want to take points away in this fixture.
Prospect United v South Coast Flame, Saturday 27th April, 7pm at Blacktown Football Park
Next up, we catch up with two teams who got a much-needed win in their respective round 5 fixtures.
For the home side Prospect United the only question we have after last week is, “can they back up after such a high?”
Yes, what a result is was for the team from Sydney’s west. To read more about it, check out last weeks review but they became the first side to win up at the Central Coast. Signs were promising across the board but none more than the performance of the Vukovic brothers up front and Poda Da who kept possibly the leagues best player very quiet.
They face South Coast Flame who are preparing for their first away trip of the season, five games in.
Draw anomalies aside, the Flame did what they needed to do last weekend against a struggling Balmain outfit. Set up to punish Balmain on the counter, the Flame looked dangerous particularly when Hiroaki Ushijima got on the ball with Louis Connell and Jayden Smileski benefiting. Although as much credit should go to keeper Matthew White who saved them on several occasions.
Fraser Park v Central Coast United, Saturday 27th April, 7pm at Fraser Park
Here’s something I didn’t think I would be saying coming into this one. Two losing sides face off at Fraser Park in what promises to be a tight tussle between two sides pushing for promotion.
This will be the first time we get to see how much mettle this Fraser Park side has. Indeed, every fixture leading into last week you could see positive in.
However, that all changed when they went down to Hurstville FC last weekend. Fraser simply didn’t create enough chances to trouble their opposition and when they tried to late on, they were punished by a ruthless counter. Definitely an intriguing test awaits us in Marrickville this weekend for the home side.
The streak… is over. But that should be the last thing on the minds of Central Coast United as they travel for this one.
However, you have to wonder how losing for the first time at home will affect the reigning champions. It was a surprise more than anything to see them not come away with at least a point last weekend in a fixture in which they fought so hard to get back into. There is a vulnerability to them so far this season, will it be exposed in this one.
Hurstville City Minotaurs v Balmain Tigers, Saturday 27th April at Valentine Sports Park No.3
Two sides on opposite sides of the form table collide in what promises to be a vital clash in both their respective campaigns.
Hurstville City Minotaurs were riding a wave of momentum, that was until an unfortunately timed bye struck last weekend.
Instead they will be relying on rested legs this weekend as they gear up for phase two of their season. In their last fixture they came away with a good win over Nepean FC just a couple of days after claiming Hurstville bragging rights. Key to the sides change in fortunes has been the form of Thiago Rabinovitch who has three goals in those two fixtures. If he continues like that, it will be hard for Balmain to stop them.
How do you come up with something new to say when the story stays the same? That’s a predicament I have to deal with in writing about Balmain Tigers.
Last weekend there were promising signs but such promising signs don’t mean a thing when you don’t trouble the scoreboard. In a clash where they looked comfortable in possession, Balmain just got a bit lost in the attacking third and were punished by a desperate Flame outfit. Players will return for the Tigers in forthcoming weeks and hopefully their fortunes change with it.
UNSW FC v Nepean FC, Sunday 28th April, 7pm at Ilinden Sports Centre
As we turn our noses to the weekend, you can already smell the desperation in this one.
No question about it, UNSW FC need a win. The students find themselves in second last position after five rounds. Another loss and things begin to look awfully difficult if a finals position is the goal.
To get that elusive win, they’ll need to start better. They found themselves two goals down relatively early last weekend after a shocking* start against the Condors (*may have replaced a stronger word). So now is the time for the students to show what they have and they shouldn’t have any trouble doing that against a side they have a little history with.
And that side is Nepean FC. The side from the foot of the mountains are an enigma at the moment, I mean seriously lads. What are you doing?
They haven’t won since that round one fixture in which they set down a marker for the rest of the competition against Central Coast. Last week was the low point in that streak of four without a win going down to FC Gazy Auburn. It’s mystifying the brightest minds out there yet they all agree; things have to change fast.
By Justin Smith
Twitter: @smiththejustin
