Round 11 Preview – State League Men’s
By the end of this weekend, everyone will have had a look at each other and the table will read that every team has played 10 games.
This week we will be featuring Western Condors for just the second time this season as they face Fraser Park. Whilst elsewhere South Coast Flame and Hurstville FC will be desperate to win their clashes after some disappointing recent form. And Prospect host Nepean as both teams try to break into the top 5 at the halfway mark.
Fraser Park v Western Condors, Saturday 1st June, 7pm @ Fraser Park
Can anybody beat Fraser Park at home this season? They have only dropped two points at home this season, this despite playing six of their opening nine fixtures there. And you can bet they will be keen to keep that run going in our match of the round.
In their round 10 fixture, it was their best team performance as well as highest winning margin of the campaign. Central to that were the efforts of Luiz Lobo, Matthew Nezval and Ian Johnson. Lobo and Nezval added to their respective goalscoring tallies whilst Ian Johnson made some crucial saves at the other end to thwart any hopes of a comeback early in the second half. Top spot is there waiting for Fraser Park if they win this one. Will they take it?
You want to test yourselves against the best in the competition but has it come at the wrong time for the Western Condors? This year’s fast starters now find themselves having lost four of their past five fixtures.
Last time out, they went down to current table toppers Central Coast United at their home Chopin Park. Goals have dried up for the Condors after a fast start and that certainly affects your chances of picking up points. Combine that with the fact they haven’t had a clean sheet since round three of the competition and alarm bells start ringing. One thing they are looking forward too though is playing on a surface that suits their style, we shall see if that can turn their season around.
South Coast Flame v Hurstville FC, Saturday 1st June, 7pm @ Ian Mclennan Park
Another victim of the match of the round curse? Since we saw South Coast Flame two weeks ago, the Flame have lost two games, one against UNSW FC and the other against Fraser Park in round 10 action.
Fraser Park are a good side so we won’t read too much into that contest, but their last home clash against UNSW FC will still be hurting them. In fact, you could say their home form has been some what of a disappointment and with limited opportunities left, they need to right that wrong. So where will they need to step up? Defensively, as they conceded the most goals in the competition to date.
This game marks leg 3 of a so far horrible road trip for Hurstville FC. Having travelled to Central Coast two weeks ago as well as Nepean last weekend, they round off their journey with a trip down the Princess Motorway.
Last weekend, they were probably unfortunate to come up against a determined Nepean FC side when they did, and they were simply blown off the park. This weekend should see the return of goalkeeper Matthew Massarotto from suspension whilst everyone else will need to step up against another team looking for a win.
UNSW FC v Hurstville City Minotaurs, Saturday 1st June, 7pm @ Ilinden Sports Centre
Don’t be deceived by the table positions, these two teams can still make the finals but only if they pick up maximum points in this one.
One step forward, two steps backwards. That statement/cliche sums up where UNSW FC are at currently, however they will be hoping to break that trend as they host Hurstville City Minotaurs in this one.
The students came close last weekend but eventually went down to FC Gazy Auburn courtesy of some late heartbreak. In positive news though, they have seemed to have found established goal scorers in Aaron Richmond and Nima Beik. Now if only they can stop conceding goals… UNSW have also been one of the more active clubs in the window and they will hope that at least part of solution is amongst those brought in.
It will be a fiercely competitive fixture though as they line up against another team desperate to keep their finals hopes alive in Hurstville City Minotaurs. The Minotaurs come into the fixture having not won over the past month (against Balmain if you’re interested).
In perhaps the most surprising result last weekend, they went down heavily to Prospect United last Sunday night. In that match, they weren’t without their chances as the Minotaurs missing three one on one chances throughout the match. It’s the perfect metaphor for how they’re going confidence wise and the General will hope that changes this weekend.
Prospect United v Nepean FC, Saturday 1st June, 7pm @ William Lawson Park
Two teams who secured much needed wins clash in what would be match of the round worthy any other week of the competition.
When these two sides meet, you can be sure that there will be feeling and there could be more than ever in this one. It’s the first time Prospect United have faced Nepean since the finals series last year in which Nepean went through comfortably. Motivation shouldn’t be a problem then.
Enough of the past though, well distant past that is. Prospect United’s spirits should be high as they had their best win of the season last weekend defeating Hurstville City Minotaurs by three goals. In that one, we saw the reemergence of Nick Valjak who picked up a double, can he do the same in a big game against a rival here?
There is no doubt that Nepean FC have the potential to be one of if not the best team in the league. However, in the two other times in which they have won a fixture, it has been backed up by disappointing losses to Hurstville City Minotaurs (round 2) and Balmain Tigers (round 9). So, will it be third time lucky in their quest for two wins on the bounce?
Last weekend they put in one of their best performances of the season to beat now third placed Hurstville FC. It was a quality team effort but Naruyuki Kato stood out in that one and they will be joined by a couple of new acquisitions in the near future.
FC Gazy Auburn v Balmain Tigers, Sunday 2nd June, 3pm @ Progress Park
A sole Sunday fixture which has a lot more eyes on it then it would’ve a month ago concludes the weekends action.
It wasn’t easy but last weeks fixture showed a side to FC Gazy Auburn which we/I haven’t seen before. Coming into the fixture off the back of a disappointing draw, the got a vital goal with little time remaining to continue the good times at FC Gazy Auburn. Now they sit in unfamiliar territory and will be wanting to consolidate on it this coming weekend.
Football is very much a team game, in saying that though their new found success comes courtesy of a particular four players. Those players? Esoghume Dominic, Haydar Al-Ameri, Javier Diaz and keeper Pablo Meza. If they click, another Gazy victory is on the way.
Competitions with a bye included in it are tricky. So often it seems like they come at the wrong time. Nevertheless, you would suggest Sasha Tirovski and his team would’ve been putting in plenty of work on the training pitch in the lead up too this one. Perhaps the draw could’ve been more friendly though?
Last time Balmain Tigers were on the park they came away with their first victory of the season (a result that looks all the more impressive now given Nepean’s form). It was an encouraging return to Leichhardt and they will be hoping for back to back wins to narrow the gap at the bottom of the standings.
By Justin Smith (@smiththejustin)
