Round 7 Preview – State League Men’s

Habits are beginning to be formed as Round 7 of the State League Men’s competition awaits us this weekend.

The question remains, which teams will make winning a habit and which ones can break out of their bad habits.

We pack our bags for a long trip up the Coast to see an intriguing contest whilst back in Sydney, there is plenty at stake as the pressure valves are turned up.

Match of the Round: Central Coast United v Hurstville City Minotaurs, Saturday 4^th May, 4pm at Pluim Park

For the first time in 2019, a long trip is on the cards for us as we head up the Coast to see if Hurstville City Minotaurs can become the third side in a row to beat Central Coast United.

The unfortunate recent reality for the hosts Central Coast United is that football is a 90-minute game. And if you mentally turn off even for a second late on, well football can be a cruel mistress.

Maybe I’m being a little harsh here? They did visit what is proving to be a tough ground to come away with points from in Fraser Park. But two losses in a row is unfamiliar territory for this club and everyone will be keen to see how they bounce back.

Awaiting them is one of the form teams of the competition. Hurstville City Minotaurs come into the fixture having won their previous three fixtures. Impressively beating Hurstville FC and Nepean before grinding out a result against Balmain Tigers last week.

Two keys stand out in those performances, a defensive revival having only conceded one in those fixtures and the form of striker Thiago Rabinovitch who continues to score at over a goal a game.

Nepean FC v Western Condors, Saturday 4^th May, 6pm at Cook Park

A clash of two teams contrasting in fortunes awaits us as Nepean FC return home to face a determined Western Condors outfit.

Nepean FC are in the midst of a crisis, there are no doubts about that. The last time they tasted victory was against Central Coast United all the way back in round one. So, walking away from games with a bitter taste in their mouths is becoming all too common.

Last weekend it was pretty much the familiar story with Nepean making enough mistakes on the pitch that we almost feel obligated to play a benny hill soundtrack at their games.

And it doesn’t get any easier for the hosts, as this week’s opponents will be keen to bounce back from their first defeat of the season.

Indeed, no team now holds a perfect record for the season which is good news for anyone who writes about the league but not so good for the Western Condors. They went down to a disciplined Hurstville FC unit in a tight contest and will be keen to return to their usual attacking best.

Hurstville FC v Balmain Tigers, Saturday 4^th May, 6:30pm at Seymour Shaw

Is this the game when the floodgates open for Hurstville FC? They host Balmain Tigers this Saturday evening.

One of these games, Hurstville FC are going to click into gear and blow a team off the park. Turns to this week’s fixture, uh oh. Defensively there are no issues for the side, through six games they have only conceded three goals.

So, if defense wins the league, consider them prime contenders. It’s the other end where things need to improve then, six goals in five fixtures can be improved upon and this is the week for them to do it.

Um ok if we skip over this one? No? Alright then. Decision making is so important in the modern game, if you doubt me just ask anyone associated with Balmain Tigers.

We’ll look at the positives though, last week they at least tightened things up defensively only conceding the one goal early into the fixture. However, time ticks on since they scored at the other end, which means those defensive efforts will go to waste if they can’t score goals.

UNSW FC v Prospect United, Saturday 4^th May, 7pm at Valentine Sports Park No.3

UNSW FC will be looking to experience back to back wins for the first time as they host Prospect United to complete the Saturday action this weekend.

Time for UNSW FC to make a run? So far, their draw hasn’t been particularly friendly but after a second victory of the season last weekend, things are looking a little bit rosier for the students.

Last weekend, they were involved in an entertaining clash against Nepean FC and earned a win through a 78^th minute goal to Nima Beik. And as they look forward to a clash against Prospect United who they have a good recent record against, their focus will be tightening up in defense.

Two steps forward, one step backwards? Yes, it was always going to be hard for Prospect United to back up their Round 5 heroics last weekend against South Coast Flame.

In a twist to every other fixture this year, they were outplayed early on and had to bring themselves back into the contest. A 15-minute period of better play saved their blushes in the end but apart from that, they were on the back foot and really could have lost.

FC Gazy Auburn v Fraser Park, Sunday 5^th May, 3pm at Progress Park

The only fixture of the weekend in which two winning teams face off rounds off the weekend as FC Gazy Auburn host Fraser Park on Sunday afternoon.

Confidence is growing at FC Gazy Auburn. They will come into this fixture well rested having had the week off ready to fight tooth and nail to protect their home turf.

Their last couple of fixtures show an upward curve being a draw against Prospect United and a win against Nepean so don’t right them off in this one. With the win against Nepean being the first game in which the side put in a full 90-minute performance.

Having a well-structured, disciplined defense is a premium in this league. One team who has that premium is Fraser Park. In a final’s like fixture last week they beat Central Coast United at home thanks to another goal from inform striker Matthew Nezval.

However, it’s important to acknowledge the depth in which this squad has with substitutes such as Christian Mura coming into the fray last week and impressing. The visitors now sit first in the competition and this is the first chance we get to see them as the hunted.

By Justin Smith (Twitter: @smiththejustin)