Round 12 Preview – League Two Men’s
As we approach the second half of the League Two Men’s season, the race for promotion and finals is heating up.
Our Match of the Round gives us an intriguing clash of two sides on different ends of the table, with Sydney University hosting Dulwich Hill.
Round 12 wraps up on Saturday night with seven fixtures including, Central Coast United hosting Macarthur Rams, Bankstown United facing Gladesville Ryde Magic, Rydalmere Lions and Bankstown City battling for second-place.
Inner West Hawks host an inform Dunbar Rovers, as Canterbury Bankstown return to the Crest Athletic for a highly anticipated match with Inter Lions
Friday 27th May 2022
Match of the Round: Sydney University SFC vs Dulwich Hill FC, 8:15pm @ Sydney University Football Ground
Sydney University look to re-ignite their charge for promotion as they host a clinical Dulwich Hill outfit.
The hosts are without a win in their last seven games and have been held to draws in four of their last six.
It’s been a frustrating first half of the season for Uni in front of goals, however they hold a respectable sixth best defensive record that has seen them stay alive in the majority of games they’ve played in.
Key to their defensive success has been Anthony Costa, who will need a repeat of his efforts last week in order to tame the opposition this week.
Dulwich Hill are flying high in League Two and with another positive result over top four opposition, confidence will be at an all-time high for this season.
The visitors have just one-point between themselves and their closest rivals for a finals spot Macarthur Rams.
Dulwich Hill should feel confident of a result on Friday night, despite only two wins in their last six, they’ve face three opponents in the top four and haven’t lost.
18-year-old Ben Hayes could give Dulwich Hill an X-Factor in attack, after his brace in just his third game of first-grade last week.
Dulwich Hill are one of the form sides of the competition and will be eager to add another three points to not only ensure their spot in the finals, but add some pressure in the race for first
Previous Meeting: Sydney University SFC 0-1 Dulwich Hill FC
Saturday 28th May 2022
Central Coast United FC vs Macarthur Rams FC, 5pm @ Pluim Park
After taking down Rydalmere last week, Macarthur will look to defy the odds once again as they travel to the Central Coast.
Central Coast United sent a message to the league last week with their devastating 5-1 victory over Inter Lions.
The trip to Pluim Park is one that no team wants to make, with United firmly making it a fortress.
United’s win ensured they would remain three points clear in the final promotion spot and they’ll be eager to give themselves even more breathing room.
Zac Pezzutto will look to get just his second first-grade start, after an impressive brace last week.
Macarthur Rams are in the midst of their first undefeated month since 2018 and will need one more positive result to keep their record intact.
The Rams stunned Rydalmere last week in dramatic fashion and now will look to back it up with an even harder task up the coast.
Sitting just one-point off a coveted finals spot, Macarthur will look to continue their good form and keep the pressure up on the top four.
In the reverse fixture, the sides shared the points in a thrilling six-goal draw and will give the fans plenty of hope for another exciting clash.
Previous Meeting: Central Coast United FC 3-3 Macarthur Rams FC
Bankstown United FC vs Gladesville Ryde Magic, 7pm @ Jensen Park
Bankstown United return to Jensen Park to host the Magic in a promotion six-pointer.
United are rapidly improving on the heels of their second win of the season last week and will have to continue the winning ways to stay in the race for promotion.
The main problem plaguing United this season has been goalscoring, but it looks like they turned a corner last week and were unlucky to have finished the game with just two goals.
They’ll be hoping to find the goals against a Magic side that has conceded 17 goals in their last five games.
The visitors in this clash will look to go one better from last week and do the double on United for the season.
Round 11 saw Gladesville Ryde held to their sixth draw of the season, the most draws in the league.
With a game in hand and sitting just three points off eighth place, a positive result in this clash is crucial.
The last time these teams meet, the Magic walked away with a 1-0 win in the Stroke Recovery Cup and will likely be favoured for a repeat result.
Previous Meeting: Bankstown United FC 0-1 Gladesville Ryde Magic
Rydalmere Lions FC vs Bankstown City FC, 7pm @ Rydalmere Park
Its second versus third in League Two, with Rydalmere Lions and Bankstown City looking to avenge tough losses in Round 11.
Rydalmere have surprisingly lost their last two games, conceding six goals in the process.
The Lions still remain firmly in reaching distance of first-place Inter and can re-assert themselves into second with a win over City.
With just one win in their last five, Rydalmere are in the midst of undoubtedly their toughest fixture list of the season.
With another battle with Inter Lions and Central Coast United awaiting them after this game, Rydalmere will be hungry to turn the results around before the daunting matches in the coming weeks.
Their opponents this week, Bankstown City are also coming off a tough loss in Round 11 and will need a result to keep themselves ahead of Rydalmere.
It’s been a tough season for City at home, losing three out of seven, but have shown plenty of promise away from Jensen Park.
In the league this year, City have won all four games away from home and will look to take their good away form to Rydalmere Park come Saturday.
City still hold a comfortable lead with their league best defensive record and will be eager to gain their fifth clean sheet of the season.
In the reverse fixture, Rydalmere walked away with a comfortable win, which will be hard to repeat given how close the sides are on paper.
Previous Meeting: Rydalmere Lions FC 3-1 Bankstown City FC
Inner West Hawks FC vs Dunbar Rovers FC, 7pm @ Arlington Oval
Inner West Hawks return to Arlington Oval to host a tough Dunbar Rovers side.
The Hawks were frustrated to have not got a result against Bankstown United last week, but are looking better by the week in attack.
With just ten goals in their first 11 games, the Hawks will need to be at their best to get past the league’s third best defence in Dunbar.
Inner West showed promising signs in the Round one fixture between these two sides, holding Dunbar goalless whilst coming close to sealing the win.
However, they’re now faced with a completely different Dunbar side that has its eyes on a massive jump up the table.
Dunbar got their first win in seven games against Berries last round and asserted themselves in the stacked hunt for finals.
The Rovers are currently in a three way tie with Berries above them and Central Coast below, with all three sides at risk of falling out of promotion if they were to lose.
Dunbar will have to use the reverse fixture as motivation and will need to bring their recent form to Arlington Oval.
The visitors will be favourites heading into this, but the Hawks will be up for the fight.
Previous Meeting: Inner West Hawks FC 0-0 Dunbar Rovers FC
Canterbury Bankstown FC vs Inter Lions FC, 7pm @ The Crest Athletic Centre
Our final game of the round takes us the Crest Athletic Centre, as two sides battle to return to the winners circle after coming fresh off defeats.
Canterbury Bankstown were taken down by Dunbar last round, being held goalless for the first team this season.
The Berries have been missing the potent attacking presence of Nathan Manno and will look to recapture their lethal attacking form against Inter without him.
Sitting with a game in hand and just four points off a finals spot, the Berries have all the motivation to get their sixth win in eight games.
Inter Lions head into this clash fresh off their first loss of the season and will out to prove the result was a mere outlier.
Inter still sit three points clear in first-place and with a tough couple of weeks ahead of them, they’ll need three points in this clash to remain favourites for first-place.
The attacking flow of Inter came to a halt last week, being held goalless for 80 minutes after averaging 3.2 goals per game prior.
Inter’s rampant attack has undoubtedly got them over the line in recent weeks, however with 13 goals conceded in their last five, they’ll want to clean up their defensive record.
In the reverse fixture, it was a wild affair with Inter holding off a late comeback from the Berries to get the win.
Inter’s form suggest they will be favourites, but the Berries have proven this season they can beat anyone on their day.
Previous Meeting: Canterbury Bankstown FC 2-4 Inter Lions FC
By Football NSW Men’s League Two Writer, Dominic Criniti @DominicCriniti
