Round 10 Preview – League Three Men’s

League Three Men’s enters double digits in rounds, with a stable ladder still yet to be formed due to postponed matches, making for increasingly intriguing weeks of action. 

Hurstville FC will host Nepean FC on Saturday night as two of the most in-form sides in the competition face-off, while Western Rage will play Parramatta FC at Blacktown City Sports Centre, also in the 7pm timeslot.

Camden Tigers will host league leaders Hawkesbury City at Ron Dine Stadium, while 15 minutes later, South Coast Flame and Fraser Park will kick off in Wollongong.

To conclude round 10 of the League Three Men’s competition, Prospect United will play Newcastle Jets, with both sides looking to capitalise on games in hand to continue their pushes up the table.

 

Hurstville FC vs Nepean FC – Saturday 7pm, Penshurst Park

Two of the most in-form sides will face off at Penshurst Park to jointly begin round 10 of the League Three Men’s competition.

It’s a match that pits second against fourth on the league table, with both sides coming off important three points as they sustain the race for top two in the league.

Hurstville most recently beat Fraser Park 1-0, following a loss to South Coast Flame – just the second of their season.

Their only other defeat came against third-placed Newcastle Jets, and they’ll be facing off against Nepean for the first time this campaign.

Meanwhile, Nepean – the away side for this clash – has gone an astonishing seven games without being defeated this season, with their last loss coming in their first match of the season against Hawkesbury City.

They last defeated Camden Tigers 2-0, and have won four of their last five matches in League Three Men.

Nepean also has the second tightest defence so far this season, having shipped only eight goals throughout the year.

The top four clash is set to be a hotly contested affair in Penshurst, with both sides looking to continue pushing for a top-two spot as the rounds hit double digits in League Three Men.

 

Western Rage vs Parramatta FC – Saturday 7pm, Blacktown City Sports Centre

Western Rage will take on Parramatta FC at Blacktown City Sports Centre in part of the trio of Saturday 7pm matches, with both sides hoping for a win to move their seasons back on track.

Western Rage is coming off a bye in the league, with the side looking to secure the first three points of the season, after having come so close on countless occasions so far this campaign.

The home side has scored thirteen goals this season without reward – more than the three teams above them on the ladder, but haven’t managed to produce a win so far this season.

They will be looking to capitalise on a Parramatta side that hasn’t had the start to the season they’ve hoped for, after a promising preseason.

Parramatta’s last win came against Camden Tigers five games ago, and they’ll be looking to kickstart their campaign with a victory over Western Rage away from home.

 

Camden Tigers vs Hawkesbury City – Saturday 7pm, Ron Dine Stadium

Camden Tigers will take on league leaders Hawkesbury City at Ron Dine Stadium on Saturday night, with the away side looking to sustain their title challenge.

Camden Tigers have won two of their last five games, beating Fraser Park and Western Rage amid three defeats.

The home side for this match is one of the only three sides yet to draw a game so far this campaign but will be looking for their third victory of the season.

However, they’ll come up against table-toppers Hawkesbury City, who are mounting a serious title challenge this season.

Following a loss to fellow contenders Newcastle Jets, Hawkesbury have won their last two matches, beating Fraser Park and Parramatta FC.

Their only loss of the season was sustained against that Jets side, while they have won every other game apart from a thrilling 3-3 draw against current second-placed team Hurstville FC.

They have scored the third most goals this season and conceded the third least, and will be looking to continue their formidable form on Saturday against Camden.

 

South Coast Flame vs Fraser Park – Saturday 7:15pm, Ian McLennan Oval

South Coast Flame will take on Fraser Park at 15 past seven on Saturday night, with Flame looking for their third win in four matches.

South Coast Flame went down to Newcastle Jets 4-1 last Sunday, but prior to that found form with victories over Camden Tigers and Hurstville FC respectively to propel themselves to seventh on the table.

They’ll be looking to build on their form in the last few game weeks with a victory over Fraser Park at Ian Mclennan Oval, after stunning Camden and Hurstville at home 5-1 and 3-1 respectively.

Meanwhile, Fraser Park may not have continued on from their opening win of the campaign in terms of results, but they’ve troubled two of the top six sides in recent weeks with good performances.

They’ve gone down 2-1 and 1-0 to Prospect United and Hurstville FC in their last two matches, but have pressured both sides, and will be looking to put in a similarly positive performance against South Coast, with a more productive result.

 

Prospect United vs Newcastle Jets – Sunday 7pm, William Lawson Reserve

To conclude the weekend of League Three Men’s action, Prospect United will host Newcastle Jets at William Lawson Reserve.

Prospect United currently sit sixth on the table, but are two games behind some teams in front of them, and single matches behind others.

They most recently drew 2-2 against UNSW FC, after going 2-0 up with a brace to Cristian Martinez.

Prior to that fixture, they beat Fraser Park away from home, and will be looking for a statement win at William Lawson Reserve in a tricky match against Newcastle Jets.

If the Jets are to win their games in hand, they will sail to the summit of the League Three Men’s table, as they currently sit two points behind Hurstville FC and Hawkesbury City, while being two and one matches behind on the top two respectively.

Newcastle are the only side yet to be defeated still over the course of the season, and will face a Prospect United side looking to change that and return to winning ways.

Bye: UNSW FC

By Football NSW League 3 Men’s Reporter, Jack George (@JackGeorge0004)