Round 19 Preview – League Three Men’s
Another bumper weekend of League Three Men’s competition is set to take place, with some crucial matches to be played across round 19.
To open the weekend, UNSW FC will take on Western Rage on Friday night, before Fraser Park take on Prospect United on Saturday.
In two more Saturday 7pm matches, Nepean FC and Hurstville FC will host Parramatta FC and South Coast Flame respectively, with Newcastle Jets coming up against Camden Tigers the next night to round out the weekend.
UNSW FC vs Western Rage – Friday 8pm, Hensley Athletic Park
To begin round 19, UNSW FC will take on Western Rage at Hensley Athletic Park on Friday night.
UNSW is currently second on the League Three Men’s table, after winning against South Coast Flame and drawing with Parramatta FC in the last week.
However, they’re only one point above both third and fourth in Newcastle Jets and Nepean FC, and the two sides directly below UNSW both have games in hand.
Interestingly, UNSW and Western Rage are the only two sides, along with Hurstville FC, to have played 17 games over the course of the League Three Men’s campaign, with every other team playing less.
Both teams have won three in their last five games, with Western Rage picking up their only four wins of the season within the space of 29 days.
However, the Rage hasn’t won in their last couple of matches in the competition and will be looking to build on their victories in a crunch match against UNSW FC.
Fraser Park vs Prospect United – Saturday 7pm, Fraser Park
In the first of three Saturday night matches, Fraser Park will take on Prospect United.
Fraser Park has had an impressive couple of fixtures in the last two weeks, beating Western Rage 2-1 before drawing against league leaders Hawkesbury City.
They’ve been rejuvenated by some new signings in the transfer window and will look to continue their good form and performances against Prospect United.
Prospect is coming off a loss in a crucial match against Hurstville FC, which now leaves them nine points off finals with three games in hand.
They’ve won two games in their last five – interestingly both have come in 2-1 victories over Parramatta FC – and they’ll be looking to continue to push for finals with a win over Fraser this Saturday night.
Nepean FC vs Parramatta FC – Saturday 7pm, Cook Park
Nepean FC will take on Parramatta FC in another Saturday night game at Cook Park.
The home side for this match has been in good form as of late, winning three of their last five matches.
Their latest victory came in a 4-1 scoreline against Western Rage, while they’ve also beaten Prospect United and UNSW FC in recent weeks.
Nepean’s two losses have come against two of the top three in Newcastle Jets and Hawkesbury City, and they currently sit in fourth place, just one point behind UNSW FC in second with a game in hand.
Parramatta FC is another side that has been rejuvenated by new signings – in their last two matches, they’ve taken points off Hurstville FC and UNSW respectively.
They’ll be looking to achieve a similar feat against another top five-member in Nepean FC this weekend, with the third win of Parramatta’s season in their sights.
Hurstville FC vs South Coast Flame – Saturday 7pm, Penshurst Park
In another Saturday night match, Hurstville FC will take on South Coast Flame at Penshurst Park.
Hurstville’s last game was a crucial one for the side, as they defeated fellow finals contender Prospect United 2-1.
The win puts them nine points clear of Prospect, albeit with them having three games in hand on Hurstville.
Hurstville’s last win before the Prospect game came against Nepean FC in mid-May, and they’ll be looking to build on their form to help secure themselves a finals spot.
South Coast Flame’s most recent game came in a 2-1 win over Camden Tigers, as they leapfrogged their opponents into seventh place on the table.
Their slim hopes of making finals rest on them defeating Hurstville on Saturday – a win would take them to 20 points compared to Hurstville’s 26 with two games in hand.
Newcastle Jets vs Camden Tigers – Sunday 7pm, Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility
In the final game of round 19, Newcastle Jets will take on Camden Tigers at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility.
Newcastle is coming off a bye and is currently third on the League Three Men’s ladder, although, as has been the theme throughout the campaign, they have a number of games in hand on the teams above them.
They’re currently six points off first-placed Hawkesbury City with three games in hand and could decrease that gap to three with two matches more to play if they beat Camden this weekend, with Hawkesbury having a bye.
Camden, on the other hand, fell to South Coast Flame by the solitary goal in their last match.
Their last win came five matches ago in a 3-0 victory over Fraser Park, and they’ll be looking to find similar form in a tricky match away to the Jets.
Bye: Hawkesbury City
By Football NSW League 3 Men’s Reporter, Jack George (@JackGeorge0004)
