Round 21 Preview – League Two Men’s

L2M-R21-Preview-scaled

It’s the penultimate round of League Two Men’s football and it doesn’t get much bigger than these as the stakes are raised to an all-time high.

Our Match of the Round is the most important game of the regular season as Gladesville Ryde Magic face Dunbar Rovers in a promotion play-off.

There’s plenty of more crucial fixtures around the state, starting with Central Coast United hosting Sydney University, Rydalmere Lions battling Dulwich Hill and Macarthur Rams battling for a finals spot against Inter Lions.

Inner West play their final home against Canterbury Bankstown, as Jensen Park plays host to the Bankstown derby between Bankstown City and Bankstown United.

 

Sunday 31st July, 2022

Match of the Round: Gladesville Ryde Magic vs Dunbar Rovers FC, 3pm @ Christie Park

Previous Meeting: Gladesville Ryde Magic 4-4 Dunbar Rovers FC

It’s only fitting that the most crucial game of the season sends us to the Arctic Circle as the final promotion spot is up for grabs in Round 21.

Both sides enter this game on the heels of some undesirable losing streaks that has put the teams within two points of each other.

Gladesville Ryde are on the back of two straight losses and were disappointingly taken down by Inter last week.

With a loss in this game, the Magic will officially be out of the promotion race and would be up against it in the final round if they shared the points with their opponents.

The Magic have had a habit of being held to draws this season, as they lead the league with eight draws thus far.

One of their eight draws this season came in the reverse fixture where both sides played out an eight-goal thriller to share the points.

Dunbar were on the right side of the previous result, after coming from behind three times to salvage what is now a crucial point.

The Rovers have been hit with an all-time injury bug and it couldn’t of come at a worse time in the season as their promotion hopes now may rely on a result in this game.

Dunbar are severely down on numbers and with Kyle Hazebroek out with a suspected ACL tear it doesn’t get any easier for the visitors.

Both sides will be desperate for the win, but the Magic may look to take the advantage early and send the race for the final spot for promotion into Round 22.

 

Saturday 30th July, 2022

Central Coast United FC vs Sydney University SFC, 5pm @ Pluim Park

Previous Meeting: Central Coast United FC 2-2 Sydney University SFC

Central Coast United return to Pluim Park for what could be the final time this season as they look to lock down the best home record in the league, when they welcome Sydney University.

The Pirates grinded out a tough win against Bankstown United last week that has seen all but secure a spot in the top three.

United currently boast the best home record in the league, with eight wins, one draw and one loss.

Central Coast will look to put on a spectacular farewell party to their loyal fans and sponsors as they cap off one of the most successful home campaigns in league history.

After bagging the crucial goal last week, Cade Mapu will look to cause more unrest in the Uni defence.

Sydney Uni enter this match-up on the back of a tough loss to Bankstown City, where they conceded three second-half goals.

Uni are in a tricky spot on the ladder with two games remaining, too far away from promotion but not within any real danger of slipping to the bottom of the table.

With that in mind, Uni could struggle to get up for this game and will have to try and stall United’s finals hopes with a positive result.

After a phenomenal run of form in front of goals, Thomas Quiligan will be looking to send his goal scoring tally into double figures before the season ends.

The Pirates will be favourites heading into this match but cannot be complacent against a side that has taken points from them earlier in the season.

 

Rydalmere Lions FC vs Dulwich Hill FC, 7pm @ Rydalmere Park

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

Rydalmere Park plays host to an interesting game between two sides eager to add another win to their tallies for the year.

The Lions will enter this match-up following a mid-week clash with the Berries, after their Round 19 fixture was postponed due to the weather.

With three games in the final two weeks of the season, Rydalmere may look to rotate their squad in order to prepare for a massive finals campaign.

With three games left in his season, Ahmed Taleb will be hungry for more goals as he looks to extend his lead on top of the golden boot race.

Rydalmere will be eager to avenge their previous draw to Dulwich Hill, where they came from behind twice in the first half to share the points.

Dulwich Hill returned to the winner’s circle last week when they took down Dunbar Rovers in a crucial fixture.

With the win, Dulwich Hill secured their spot in League One for next year and will now look to make a late push for finals.

Dulwich Hill will need to remain perfect for their last two games and will need some other results to fall in their favour in order to finish in the top five.

After scoring the most important goal of his side’s season last week, Daniel Fornito will look to repeat his successful outing against Rydalmere from Round 10.

Rydalmere on paper will look likely to take out the win, but with two games in five days fatigue may play a factor in their performance

 

Macarthur Rams FC vs Inter Lions FC, 7pm @ Lynwood Park

Previous Meeting: Macarthur Rams FC 2-2 Inter Lions FC

Lynwood Park gives us a thrilling match-up between the best defence in the league and the best attack in the league.

Macarthur Rams return to their home after a successful night at Arlington Oval where they took down Inner West.

The Rams hold a very respectable record against the top three sides this season, with just one loss in four games against those teams.

Macarthur have held their spot in the top-five in the last couple of weeks and with another positive result here they will all but secure their in the finals.

With just two games remaining in their season and a healthy lead in least goals conceded, the Rams will get their biggest test of the season when they face the deadly attack of Inter.

Inter Lions made it three straight wins last week when they took down the Magic in a dominant performance.

The Lions have improved defensively in the last three week, keeping three straight clean sheets and winning all of those games.

Anthony Costa’s emergence in goals has given the Lions a boost in defence, whilst Daniel Georgievski’s attacking presence has given them another spark in front of goal.

Inter have seemingly recovered and returned to their peak in the final stages of the season and will look to make another statement when they travel to Macarthur – with the chance to secure the premiership.

Considering their recent form, Inter will be odds on favourites but they will be up against a Rams side eager to prove their ability against the top side in the league.

 

Inner West Hawks FC vs Canterbury Bankstown FC, 7pm @ Arlington Oval

Previous Meeting: Inner West Hawks FC 0-3 Canterbury Bankstown FC

Inner West remain at Arlington Oval for the fourth straight week as they battle Canterbury Bankstown in Round 21.

The Hawks were dispatched by a clinical Rams side last week and will be looking for a bounce back performance this week.

Inner West still remain at the bottom of the ladder but are just one point away from Bankstown United in 11th and will be desperate to leap-frog their closest rivals.

The Hawks continue to improve as the season progresses and with the Berries playing mid-week, they may feel confident of a positive result.

Canterbury Bankstown are now in the midst of a jam-packed end to the season, with four games in the final two weeks.

The Berries will play Rydalmere on Wednesday, before this match-up with the Hawks on Saturday, only to play once more next Wednesday against Bankstown United.

Wally Savor’s men currently sit five points out of a finals place, but with two-games in hand they can control their own destiny.

Squad rotation will be crucial for the Berries to finish in as high of a position as possible and we may get our first glimpse of this on Saturday.

The last time these sides meet, the Berries walked away with a convincing win and will be looking for much more of the same in Round 21.

 

Bankstown City FC vs Bankstown United FC, 7pm @ Jensen Park

Previous Meeting: Bankstown City FC 5-0 Bankstown United FC

Last but certainly not least is the always-entertaining Bankstown derby between two sides on opposite ends of the table.

The hosts and traditional custodians of Jensen Park put themselves one step closer to a finals berth with an impressive come from behind victory over Sydney Uni.

City have been to their best defensively, with just one goal conceded in the last two games seeing them reclaim the second-best record in the league.

Not only will be City fighting to secure a finals spot, they could also send their bitter-rivals to the bottom of the ladder, giving them that little bit of extra motivation.

City embarrassed their rivals in the first derby of the season, with Tai Smith and Nikola Todoroski both securing braces in the statement win.

United enter this match-up after a difficult 1-0 loss to Central Coast, where their missed chances in front of goal came back to haunt them.

The visitors will be eager to restore their form in front of goal, with Inner West breathing down their necks in the battle of last.

United will look to halt the impressive attack of their opponents, but will up against it with a few injuries in defence and the suspension of their skipper, Steven Wright.

Although City will be favoured for a repeat of the Round 10 fixture, form tends to go out the window in what should be a fierce derby.

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