Round 1 Preview – League Two Men’s
After months of waiting, Football NSW League Two Men’s is back and better than ever!
15 teams enter the new season that promises to deliver the most entertaining and drama filled 30 rounds of football in recent memory.
Our Match of the Round sees two League Two old foes do battle as Sydney University host Bankstown United.
There’s plenty of action happening around the state with a handful of new faces eager to impress at their new clubs.
Match of the Round
Sydney University SFC vs Bankstown United FC, 5pm @ Sydney University Football Ground
Previous Meeting: Sydney University SFC 2-0 Bankstown United FC
The first of two League Two rematches in Round One sees a rejuvenated Sydney University take on a motivated Bankstown United in the Match of the Round.
With plenty of change in the off-season, Sydney Uni will be hoping a preseason with new coach Rob Fleming will be the catalyst for a season-opening result.
Uni may look to kick-start the young first-grade careers of Jacob Barrett, Aidan Hardiman and Jordan Polyoza come Saturday evening.
The last time these two sides met, Sydney Uni secured a much-needed win in an impressive fashion by controlling the majority of possession and shutting down United’s attacking chances.
Although in the first fixture between the two sides, Bankstown United was incredibly unlucky to not have found the back of the net, with numerous chances being wasted.
With a preseason to reflect on what went wrong in 2022, United will be eager to get off to the best possible start for the upcoming season.
The return of Mitch Cross, along with the debut of Marie Gauthier should give United plenty of confidence in this outing.
In one of the hardest games to predict for the opening round, one thing is certain, we are set for an entertaining clash.
Friday, 3rd February
Nepean FC vs Prospect United SC, 8pm @ Wanderers Football Park
Previous Meeting: Nepean FC 1-0 Prospect United SC
The 2022 League Two season kicks off in the heart of Western Sydney as Nepean host Prospect United at Wanderers Football Park.
Nepean enter this match with plenty of expectations to get off to a strong under new coach Steven Appleby.
The hosts will look to field a relatively similar line-up to the side that started in the Grand Final, with skipper Edward Stewart and Matt Crossley expected to play key roles.
These two sides are no strangers on the field, playing each other three times last season including in the penultimate game of the finals series last season.
Prospect may have considered Nepean as their bogey team in 2022, gaining just one draw from those three meetings against them.
The visitors may be forced to put their faith in their young players with a few of the experienced players and new signings still recovering from injuries suffered in the preseason.
Although on paper Nepean look to be favoured to get a result, Prospect will be eager to avenge the two defeats from late last season.
Saturday, 4th February
Parramatta FC vs UNSW FC, 5pm @ Melita Stadium
Previous Meeting: Parramatta FC 1-1 UNSW FC
Parramatta FC returns to the iconic Melita Stadium to kick off its 2023 campaign against UNSW FC.
The Eagles are ushering in a new era, with Luis Contigiani set to take charge of his first competitive game as Parramatta coach.
The hosts are set to field a starting side comprised almost entirely of new faces, with Paul Lee likely to be the only player from 2022 to hold onto his spot come Round One.
Parramatta will be boosted by their last meeting with the Students, where they held on for a well-earned 1-1 draw.
On the other hand, UNSW will be highly motivated to go one better and start its season off in the best possible fashion.
The Students are raring to go in 2023, with a star-studded squad that is expected to make some serious noise this season.
After scoring his side’s lone goal in the previous fixture, Callum Fitzpatrick will be looking for more success against the Eagles.
UNSW will be full of confidence heading into this fixture but cannot take the new-look Parramatta side lightly.
Inner West Hawks FC vs Gladesville Ryde Magic, 7pm @ Arlington Oval
Previous Meeting: Inner West Hawks FC 2-3 Gladesville Ryde Magic
Arlington Oval plays hosts to the second League Two rematch of Round One, with Inner West Hawks hosting Gladesville Ryde Magic.
The Hawks are looking to put a disappointing 2022 season behind them and would do themselves plenty of favours with a positive showing in this fixture.
Phil Pavela takes the reigns for his first competitive fixture as Inner West coach and will look to lean on the experience of Peter Yannopoulos, Oliver Stickland and Chris Phillips to lead a youthful side on Saturday night.
When these sides met in 2022 it was the Magic who walked away with a 3-2 victory, holding off a late surge from the Hawks in the process.
The Magic were heavily fuelled by a late promotion push in the previous meeting but still put on an impressive showing regardless of the circumstances.
The visitors have plenty of experience playing against the Hawks but will field a relatively different line-up this time out.
One of the unanswered questions for the Magic is how much they will rely on the experienced core of players throughout the season and we may just get that answer in their opening fixture.
This game promises to deliver goals and plenty of them as these two old foes face off and add another page to their storied rivalry.
South Coast Flame FC vs Western Rage, 7pm @ Sir Ian McLennan Oval
Previous Meeting: South Coast Flame FC 1-3 Western Rage
It’s a repeat of the 2022 season opener for both clubs, as the Western Rage travels down south to face the Flame.
South Coast are looking rejuvenated and have assembled an exciting side for the 2023 season, with an abundance of new faces ready to make an immediate impact.
Jacob Poscoliero and James Baldacchino look likely to make their highly anticipated debuts for the club, lining up alongside Matthew Mazevski for the host side.
The Flame will be out for revenge after not being able to secure three points against the Rage in the two times the side met last season.
The Rage, on the other hand, will feel confident on the back of those fixtures but do travel to Wollongong with a large number of new faces.
Not only will new players be taking the field for the Rage, but it’ll also be a new chapter in the club’s history on the sideline with Joe Bacha taking charge of his first game.
The Rage’s mass recruitment will receive its first test in the opening round and will have to be on their game to match an equally impressive Flame side.
Camden Tigers vs Hawkesbury City FC, 7pm @ Ron Dine Memorial Reserve
Previous Meeting: Camden Tigers 1-0 Hawkesbury City FC
The Camden Tigers return to their fortress at Ron Dine Memorial Reserve to kickstart its 2023 season against Hawkesbury City
The Tigers have a feeling of positivity running through the club after a big off-season saw them recruit plenty of quality players.
Camden’s skipper Jack Harris will lead out a side featuring fellow veterans David Scott, and Bailey Simpson, alongside a handful of club debutants.
The last time these sides met, Camden was able to keep the Hawks scoreless, which put Hawkesbury on a downward trajectory to finish its season.
The Hawks are hungry to return to the winner’s circle after not being to secure three points in any of their last six games of the 2022 season.
Hawkesbury was relatively unlucky last season with its home ground being out of action but were able to gain some valuable experience consistently playing away from Bensons Lane.
With just one change to the squad from last year, The Hawks’ contingency could give them a massive advantage playing at a venue which has typically been negative for opposing sides.
Sunday, 5th February
Newcastle Jets vs Hurstville FC, 5pm @ Lake Macquarie Regional Football Centre
Previous Meeting: Newcastle Jets 0-0 Hurstville FC
The final game of the round sees Hurstville make the nearly two-and-a-half-hour trip up the coast to face the League Three Champions Newcastle Jets.
The Jets, much like their opponents will play their first competitive under new management, with Daniel Zane leading his young side out on Sunday evening.
With the A-League Men’s side returning from a trip to Perth, it is yet to be seen which players will be available for the opening-round clash.
The last time these two sides met, Hurstville kept the Jets’ rampant attack quiet in front of goal and were unlucky to not have been rewarded with one of their own.
Hurstville’s resurgence looks set to start in Round One when Davor Bajsic begins his journey as the side’s first-grade coach.
The visitors will be up for the challenge against the favourites to win it all, boasting a stacked attacking line-up whilst remaining structurally solid at the back.
Hurstville are looking to prove they are a different side from last season and will be eager to get off the blocks in the first game of the season, with the odds stacked against them.
Bye: Fraser Park
Written by Dominic Criniti, @DominicCriniti
