Round 19 Preview – League Two Men’s

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It’s going down to the wire in League Two Men’s, as Round 19 gives us another weekend stacked with thrilling fixtures.

Our Match of the Round takes us to Jensen Park, as Bankstown City could possibly knock Dunbar Rovers out of a promotion spot with a win.

They don’t get much bigger than this across the other games, starting with a potential finals match-up as Central Coast United host Canterbury Bankstown, Rydalmere Lions look to deflate the promotion chances of Gladesville Ryde Magic, as Macarthur Rams and Bankstown United lock horns.

Dulwich Hill will be on upset watch as they take on Inter Lions, the weekend finishes off at Arlington Oval as Sydney University host Inner West Hawks.

 

Saturday 6th July, 2022

Match of the Round: Bankstown City FC vs Dunbar Rovers FC, 7pm @ Jensen Park

Previous Meeting: Bankstown City FC 1-0 Dunbar Rovers FC

Bankstown City return to Jensen Park in an eagerly anticipated match-up with Dunbar Rovers.

City are looking for a return to the winner’s circle after a tough 3-0 loss against Inter last week.

The hosts currently sit tied on points for a finals spot and with just four games remaining, every game is going to be crucial if they are to play in the knockout stages of the season.

City struggled in attack last week and were unable to create more than a handful of chances and with just one goal in their last two games, they’ll need a big performance in front of goal.

The last time these sides met it was City who got the win by one goal, but City were forced to put it all on the line to hold out Dunbar.

Dunbar have slid in recent weeks, with just one point from their last four games they now find themselves within one loss of falling out of promotion.

The Rovers left it late against Rydalmere last week, but a two-goal deficit was too much to overcome in the final stages of the game.

For Dunbar every game has to be considered a must-win if they want to get promoted and to put themselves in the race for a finals spot.

Both of these sides hold impressive defensive records but look set to put their focuses to attack as they both search for a much-needed win.

 

 Central Coast United FC vs Canterbury Bankstown FC, 5pm @ Pluim Park

Previous Meeting: Central Coast United FC 2-5 Canterbury Bankstown FC

 Central Coast United head back to the fortress at Pluim Park as they look to avenge their previous loss to Canterbury Bankstown earlier in the season.

United returned back to their best against Inner West last week, with a trademark attacking performance giving them a 3-0 win.

The Pirates are still undefeated at home this season and with just one more game after this week at Pluim Park, they’ll be aiming to keep their perfect home record intact.

United were outclassed by the Berries in their last outing and will have to use this as motivation as they look to extend their home winning streak to nine.

Canterbury Bankstown head up the coast on the heels of a tough one goal loss to Macarthur last week.

The Berries were held scoreless for just the second time this season and with the third best attacking record in the league they’ll be eager to prove that last week was just an off-night.

Canterbury Bankstown could be down a few key players in the centre of the park and will have to rely a few of their new acquisitions to step up.

With a win here the Berries could put themselves within striking distance of their opponents in third, as they look to leave their destiny of a finals spot in their own hands.

With United holding the second best attacking record and the Berries holding the third best, we are sure to see plenty of goals at Pluim Park.

 

Rydalmere Lions FC vs Gladesville Ryde Magic, 7pm @ Rydalmere Park

Previous Meeting: Rydalmere Lions FC 2-2 Gladesville Ryde Magic

Rydalmere Lions host a Gladesville Ryde Magic side that has everything to play for in one of the most intriguing games of the round.

The Lions secured their second consecutive win and cemented themselves back into second place after a strong win over Dunbar last week.

Rydalmere were denied of three points in the previous fixture as a 90th minute equaliser from the Magic forced the sides to share the points.

This game will have major consequences on both sides, as a Rydalmere win would secure promotion and could put the Magic out of the race for promotion.

Gladesville Ryde have asserted themselves back in fight for the final promotion spot with a convincing 3-0 win over Dulwich Hill last week.

The Magic are currently embarking on their hardest stage of the season, facing the top two sides in consecutive weeks before facing their closest rival in Dunbar.

Anything but a win in any of these next three games could spell disaster for the Magic and could see them fall just short of a dream promotion spot.

With club legend, Kiriakos Tohouroglou missing from their last game as he was in Greece, Gabriel Koliomihos stepped up with a clean sheet and some crucial saves that will give the Magic plenty of confidence in holding off Rydalmere in attack.

Gladesville Ryde have everything to play for and will have to repeat their successful performance from last week in order to get past the Lions.

 

Macarthur Rams FC vs Bankstown United FC, 7pm @ Lynwood Park

Previous Meeting: Macarthur Rams FC 0-1 Bankstown United FC

Macarthur Rams will head back to Lynwood Park with the confidence to get some revenge on Bankstown United on Saturday night.

The Rams gained three crucial points against the Berries last week and put themselves on equal points with their opponents.

Another Macarthur win here would give them a much needed boost in the race for finals and could also see them secure promotion for 2022.

In the previous meeting, the Rams were caught off guard by United and will be hungry to go one better in this fixture.

After keeping a clean-sheet and netting the game winning goal last week, Jacob McDonald looks to set for another big performance.

United are reeling after a tough loss to Sydney Uni last week that officially ruled them out of the promotion race.

It’s been an incredibly frustrating season for United with a lot of things going wrong that have ultimately led them to miss out on promotion.

With seemingly nothing to play for in the next couple of weeks, United may be begin to experiment and display some of their exciting youth players in preparation for bigger roles next year.

The Rams will enter this match as the favourites, but will still have to remain wary of what United can do considering their last outing.

 

Dulwich Hill FC vs Inter Lions FC, 7pm @ Arlington Oval

Previous Meeting: Dulwich Hill FC 2-2 Inter Lions FC

It’s a crucial battle at Arlington Oval as Dulwich Hill look to stall Inter Lions’ premiership hopes on Saturday night.

Dulwich Hill missed an opportunity to get back into a finals spot last week, as they were dispatched by a desperate Gladesville Ryde outfit.

With just four points from their last five games, Dulwich Hill have gone from an almost secured finals spot to sitting on the outer.

A win here for Dulwich Hill is almost a necessity if they want to maintain their spot in the top eight, as a loss could see them fall out of the top eight for the first time this season.

Inter Lions are looking to all but lock down their spot as premiers with a win here and to give themselves so much-earned rest before the gruelling finals campaign.

Inter were back at their best last week, putting Bankstown City to the sword and displaying their world-class attack.

Not only was it a classic Inter attacking night, they also kept their first clean sheet of the season and will look to build on that in the final weeks of the season.

Inter now possess two players at the top of the golden boot tally, with Ollie Green equal first with 15 and Owen Duke breathing down his neck in equal second on 14 goals.

Although Inter will be favoured for a win, with a chance to give themselves an extra lifeline in the promotion race, Dulwich Hill may raise a few eyebrows.

 

Sunday 7th July, 2022

Sydney University SFC vs Inner West Hawks FC, 3pm @ Arlington Oval

Previous Meeting: Sydney University SFC 0-1 Inner West Hawks FC

Our final game of the round takes us to Arlington Oval, as the normal custodians Inner West return as the visitors to face Sydney University.

Uni kept their season alive for another week after a well-rounded victory over Bankstown United in Round 18.

Sitting nine points out from eighth spot, Sydney Uni must remain perfect for the rest of the season and will need some other results to fall into their favour.

Uni currently sit on a goal difference of negative nine and may look to put a few extra goals away in order to push their record to positive.

Critical to their success up-top will be the in-form Thomas Quilligan, who has been a shining light in attack for Uni all season.

Inner West were held goalless in a tough loss to Central Coast United last week and will be looking for an improved showing.

The Hawks will be down a key player after Emmanuel Koumis was taken out of the last game with a shoulder injury.

Other than Koumis, Gus Cerro could still name a strong starting side, as they look to end Uni’s promotion bid.

With two side’s having two different goals to end the season, we are sure to have an entertaining game to cap of the weekend.

By Football NSW Men’s League Two Writer, Dominic Criniti @DominicCriniti