Round 2 Preview – League Two Men’s
The Football New South Wales League Two Men’s competition kicked off with a bang last week and Round Two promises to be just as exciting.
The Match of the Round this week sees Prospect United SC looking to bounce back at home after their first-round loss against South Coast Flame FC, who drew their opening match at home.
Meanwhile, Parramatta FC will look to fire up after their opening-round defeat as they host the might of the Newcastle Jets, Sydney University SFC will look to back up their win as they host Camden Tigers FC, while Padstow Park will see Bankstown United FC and Inner West Hawks FC look to bounce back from their opening-round losses.
Fraser Park FC get their first hit out of the 2023 season as they host last-start winners Gladesville Ryde Magic, Hurstville will look for a positive result as the winning Nepean FC visit, while UNSW FC and Hawkesbury City FC will look to continue their unbeaten starts to the season.
Western Rage have a bye in Round Two.
Saturday 11th Feb, 2023
Match of the Round: Prospect United SC vs South Coast Flame FC, 7pm @ William Lawson Reserve
Previous Meeting: South Coast Flame SC 1-2 Prospect United SC
Prospect United play their first home game of the season against a new opponent in South Coast Flame FC, who they beat 2-1 away last season.
Prospect will be hoping to get their first points of the season after their tight 1-0 loss to Nepean FC last week.
They showed their resolve in a young midfield and resilience in defence as they held out a strong Nepean attack throughout the match, despite the loss.
However, they will be hoping to convert their chances in front of goal this week against a strong South Coast Flame defence.
South Coast Flame SC drew 0-0 with Western Rage in their first match of the season, despite having the majority of possession.
The Flame will look to build pressure again this week, although possession may be more difficult to maintain away from home.
They will be hoping to showcase their might in front of goal with more ruthlessness this week.
Prospect took home the three points in FNSW League Three last season, meaning the Flame will know just how hard they will have to fight for victory.
Both sides will be looking for their first wins of the season as the battle of the midfield looks like it will play a key role.
Parramatta FC vs Newcastle Jets, 5pm @ Melita Stadium
Previous Meeting: Parramatta FC 1-3 Newcastle Jets
Parramatta FC play their second match in a row at Melita Stadium, this time with the Newcastle Jets visiting, who claimed victory in this fixture last season.
The hosts will be looking to show more intensity across the park after their 3-0 loss to UNSW FC last week.
Parramatta FC goalkeeper Jameson Hinwood will be looking to impress again as his side look for their first points of the season.
If they can get that desire sorted, they could prove to be a plucky opposition for the Newcastle Jets.
The Jets are top of the table after a convincing 4-0 home win against Hurstville FC.
They started fast, with two goals in the opening four minutes, as they remained sharp throughout the match.
With many young stars looking to impress, expect another fast start from the Jets as they look to continue their momentum.
Newcastle proved too strong in this fixture last season as they came away 3-1 winners, but know they will have it all to prove in a new league and new season.
With home support on a familiar pitch, Parramatta FC will be looking to cause an upset over the league favourite in the Newcastle Jets.
Sydney University SFC vs Camden Tigers FC, 5pm @ Sydney University Football Ground
Previous Meeting: Camden Tigers FC 4-1 Sydney University SFC
Sydney University SFC and Camden Tigers FC clash for the first time in four seasons as they meet at Sydney University Football Ground.
Uni will be looking to build on last week’s 4-1 win at home to Bankstown United FC, where the midfield battle proved crucial.
They proved they could score from multiple situations, whether it be a set piece or open play and will be hard to stop going forward.
With confidence high and finishing clinical, they will be looking to continue their start to the season with a win over Camden Tigers FC.
The Tigers were unlucky to lose 2-3 at home to Hawkesbury City FC last week after they held the lead in that match.
Despite an injury early, Camden were quick starters and quick to respond in a match which could have gone either way.
They, too, showed their might from different opportunities throughout the match, as they scored a penalty, as well as on the counter.
If they can get their communication right when the ball is played into the box, they could cause problems in behind the defence of Sydney University.
With both sides showing promise in the opening round, Uni with the want to win back-to-back and Camden hoping to convert quality into points, look for this to be an entertaining match.
Bankstown United FC vs Inner West Hawks FC, 6:30pm @ Padstow Park (Synthetic)
Previous Meeting: Bankstown United FC 3-1 Inner West Hawks FC
Bankstown United FC and Inner West Hawks FC clash in Round Two, after United came away with the three points in the final match of the 2022 season.
Bankstown were on the wrong end of a 4-1 scoreline against Sydney University SFC in Round One and will be hoping to turn it around at home this week.
United will be hoping to build on a promising end to their last match, where they dominated the ball and chances.
Playing at home this week, they will look to hold more of the ball from the beginning against the visiting Inner West Hawks.
The Hawks lost 2-1 to Gladesville Ryde Magic last week but were unlucky not to gain any points from a tight match.
They have pace on the counter with Peter Yannopoulos, who they will look to utilise if they can catch out United in possession.
Whether the Hawks opt to stick to the formation they started with in the second half last week remains to be seen, but they will prove a tough team to play.
They could also prove to be dangerous from set pieces, after their high-quality free kick effort last week and goal from a penalty.
Both sides will look to play to their strengths to ensure they can pick up their first points of the season.
Fraser Park FC vs Gladesville Ryde Magic, 7pm @ Fraser Park (Synthetic)
Previous Meeting: Gladesville Ryde Magic 0-2 Fraser Park FC
These two sides meet for the first time since the 2018 NPL 3 NSW Men’s season where they played each other in the final fixture which Magic took out 13-1 – meaning this fixture has a fresh new start.
Fraser Park FC will play their first match of the season after their bye in Round One, meaning they could be the surprise package this week.
Alex Araujo returns to coach the side after a year away with Sydney FC’s academy and will be looking to get his squad firing early in a new league.
They finished an uncharacteristic 8th last season in FNSW League Three and will be hoping to finish near the top of the table this season, if not in the top two.
They were challenging for the NPL 4 NSW Men’s title in 2021, so they will be hoping to compete for that mantle again in this restructured league.
They host Gladesville Ryde Magic, who are looking to win back-to-back matches after their tight win away at the Inner West Hawks in Round One.
They showed their power in the air, as well as with the ball at their feet, and will look to trouble Fraser Park in their first match.
The Magic will play their second away match in a row as they look to build upon promising signs against an historically tough opposition.
Anything could happen in this match with all the unknowns, making it an exciting prospect.
Hurstville FC vs Nepean FC, 7pm @ Penhurst Park (Synthetic)
Previous Meeting: Nepean FC 1-1 Hurstville FC
Hurstville FC and Nepean FC faced off in the second-last round of the 2022 FNSW League Three season, where the two sides couldn’t be separated.
Hurstville are looking to regroup and convert their chances after a 4-0 loss away to the Newcastle Jets last week.
They brought the fight to the Jets in the second half but were unable to score; however, they did show promising signs.
If Hurstville are able to find more open spaces to unleash shots from, they could trouble Nepean FC in goal.
Back at home, they will be hoping to start strong and consolidate their position in the match early to allow themselves a better chance at getting a result.
As for Nepean FC, they started with a 1-0 win at home to Prospect United SC and will be hoping to start their away campaign with a positive result.
Their experience in midfield and ability in the air should hold them in good stead in this matchup, as possession should be harder to come by away from home.
If they can start with the same momentum which they started the last match with, Hurstville will have to hold on early to get into the match.
Nepean FC are the favourites in this matchup as they look to chase a high finish this season, but Hurstville will be difficult to beat at home.
If Hurstville FC can remain in the match, they could cause real trouble to Nepean FC in an intriguing matchup.
UNSW FC vs Hawkesbury City FC, 7pm @ Hensley Athletic Field (Synthetic)
Previous Meeting: Hawkesbury City FC 0-2 UNSW FC
UNSW FC claimed all three points in the second matchup between these two sides last season as both sides look to continue their perfect start to the season.
It was a clinical performance by UNSW FC away to Parramatta FC in Round One as they picked up a 3-0 victory.
Their intensity and vocalness throughout the match characterised their play and they will hope that will drive them to more success in Round Two.
One of the top two favourites for this season, they will look to further showcase their variety in front of goal after a penalty, header and left-footed finish last week.
Looking to stop them this week is Hawkesbury City FC, who claimed victory over Camden Tigers FC 3-2 last week courtesy of a Marco Turpeinen hat-trick.
He will have extra attention on him this week after that performance as UNSW will look to limit his impact on the match.
Hawkesbury City were another side who showed their variety, as they scored from a penalty, a quick transition and from a header from a free kick.
They will hope to utilise all the weapons in their arsenal to unlock the tight defence of UNSW.
This promises to be an exciting matchup, with plenty of action in attack and defence, where one moment could prove to be the difference.
By Football NSW League Two Men’s Writer, Dylan Costa @_dylancosta
