Round 7 Preview – League Two Men’s
Last week in Round Six of the Football New South Wales League Two Men’s season, competitive battles up and down the ladder saw movers and shakers and this week in Round Seven could see gaps appear in the pack.
The Match of the Round this week sees Camden Tigers FC coming off back-to-back wins as they host a winless Inner West Hawks FC.
Beforehand, first battles fourth as Nepean FC host Gladesville Ryde Magic, Hawkesbury City are at home again as Hurstville FC visit, while Bankstown United FC will look to continue their momentum at home to South Coast Flame FC.
Elsewhere, Parramatta FC host Western Rage in the derby, league leaders UNSW FC host a hopeful Fraser Park FC and Prospect United SC will hope to claim victory at home to Sydney University SFC.
The Newcastle Jets have a bye this round.
Saturday, 18th March 2023
Match of the Round: Camden Tigers FC vs Inner West Hawks FC, 7pm @ Ron Dime Memorial Reserve
Previous Meeting: Camden Tigers FC 0-4 Stanmore Hawks FC
Camden Tigers FC won their second match in a row last week away to Western Rage, while Inner West Hawks FC had the week off due to their bye.
The two sides will meet for the first time in over three and a half years; their last encounter resulted in a 4-0 win away for the Hawks against the Tigers in the 2019 NPL 3 NSW Men’s competition.
Camden Tigers FC come into this match in form having won their last two matches against Western Rage and Hurstville FC, respectively.
They are the joint-second highest scoring team in the competition with 16 goals so far this season after their respective four and five goal outings their last two matches.
Leandro Guzman is the competition’s joint-top goal scorer with six goals, while fellow Tiger Francesco Giannetto is closely behind him with five.
With confidence up front and consecutive victories to build on, the Tigers will hope to make it three-in-a-row as Inner West Hawks FC visit.
The Hawks will be well rested after their bye last round and are unbeaten in three matches, however remain winless for the season.
They will hope for an away win against a tough side after being close to victory in their last two matches this season.
The Hawks have plenty of firepower with the likes of Hesan Soufi, Andre Guzman and Emanuel Koumis all complimenting captain Peter Yannopoulos and hope that will help them win their first match of the season.
With a side in form in Camden Tigers FC coming up against a side who have been pushing their opponents of late in Inner West Hawks FC, expect this to be an encounter where neither side will give up the match without a fight.
Friday, 17th March 2023
Nepean FC vs Gladesville Ryde Magic, 8pm @ Wanderers Football Park
Previous Meeting: Gladesville Ryde Magic 0-2 Nepean FC
These two sides will meet for the first time since the 2015 NSW State League Division 1 Men’s competition in the third division, as they battle at Wanderers Football Park.
That season saw Nepean FC relegated to the NSW State League Division 2, the former fourth division in NSW football, while Gladesville finished eighth.
Nepean FC will look to learn from their first loss of the season last week against UNSW FC and put it behind them.
Nepean’s Bradley Whitworth is the competition’s joint-leading goal scorer and Nepean will hope to get the ball to his feet to create chances, along with Leonard Abdo.
They will look to get back to their strong gameplan with injuries in their squad as they hope to bounce back at home against Gladesville Ryde Magic.
The Magic lost to the Newcastle Jets at home in a top four clash last week and will hope to respond against a strong Nepean side.
Despite their high intensity play and pace down the wings, the Magic were unable to crack the Jets last week.
If they can find their clinical edge in the final third, the likes of Chris Gaitatzis, Kohki Hiyaoka and David Ustimenko could cause problems with their respective pace and finish.
With both teams in unfamiliar territory coming off losses, the result of this match could be crucial as the season goes on.
Hawkesbury City FC vs Hurstville FC, 8pm @ David Bertenshaw Field
Previous Meeting: Hawkesbury City FC 3-1 Hurstville FC
Hawkesbury City will hope for another big crowd in their second match at Benson’s Lane after their come-from-behind draw last week, while Hurstville FC had positive play but fell at home to Bankstown United FC.
These two sides met in Round 16 last season in the Football NSW League Three Men’s competition, as Hawkesbury City FC came away with the three points in a 3-1 victory.
Hawkesbury City FC made their return to Benson’s Lane after a 630+ day absence as they came from behind to draw against Parramatta FC.
Joint-top league goal scorer Marco Turpeinen continued his form last week with a goal, but they must tighten up in defence as they have conceded 13 goals across their opening six matches.
If they can do that and find their clinical edge this week, they could prove to be a problem for Hurstville FC.
Hurstville went down to Bankstown United FC last week in a physical encounter and will hope to turn their fortunes around and turn good performances into more points.
They will hope for a much-improved defensive showing after conceding four and five goals in their last two matches, respectively.
If they keep plugging away at their style of play, they will create chances to win against Hawkesbury in what should be an intriguing matchup.
With two sides with plenty of firepower, expect there to be goals in this match as both sides search for a crucial victory.
Bankstown United FC vs South Coast Flame FC, 8pm @ Padstow Park
Previous Meeting: Bankstown United 3-0 South Coast Flame FC
Bankstown United FC will look to build off back-to-back wins as they host South Coast Flame FC, who lost last round.
These two sides wall face off for the first time since the 2018 NSW State League 1 Men’s season, where a first-half Mitchell Cross brace helped the home side to victory.
Bankstown United FC were too good for Hurstville FC in a tough encounter last week and will look to build momentum heading into Round Seven.
Marie Gauthier cannoned to the equal-top of the goalscoring charts after his hat-trick last week and will look to continue his form.
Keeping a clean sheet will be a priority as they face a side who has only scored seven this season in South Coast Flame FC.
The Flame lost their first match of the season last week as they fell at home to Sydney University SFC and will be looking to bounce back this week.
Defensive errors cost the Flame last week as they failed to hold their 1-0 lead as they lost 3-1.
They came close to scoring multiple goals last weekend, which should give them encouragement if they can tighten up their finishing against Bankstown United FC.
With a red-hot Bankstown looking to make it three wins in a row against a South Coast side who are hoping to bounce back, expect both sides to give their all until the final whistle this week.
Saturday, 18th March 2023
Parramatta FC vs Western Rage, 5pm @ Melita Stadium
Previous Meeting: Parramatta FC 3-1 Western Rage
Parramatta FC came close to their first win of the season before Hawkesbury City completed a comeback in a 2-2 draw, while Western Rage lost 4-2 to Camden Tigers FC as they fell trying to make a comeback.
These two sides last met in Round 21 of the FNSW League Three Men’s competition last season, as Parramatta FC did the league double as they held off Western Rage in a 3-1 home win.
Parramatta FC had a 2-0 lead over Hawkesbury City FC last week before the match ended in a 2-2 draw.
Youssef Badr is the main threat for Parramatta this season and after his side created many chances last weekend, will be hoping to punish the Rage defence.
If they can reduce their mistakes and convert in front of goal, they could be well on their way to their first win of the season against Western Rage,
The Rage came from two goals down away to Camden Tigers FC last week but could not complete the comeback as they lost 4-2.
They have scored the least number of goals in the competition with five goals across their opening five matches and will be hoping to improve offensively against Parramatta.
However, if they can find the fire in the derby, they could claim all three points.
In a derby with both teams searching for their first win of the season, expect a fiery affair which could go either way.
UNSW FC vs Fraser Park FC, 5pm @ The Village Green
Previous Meeting: UNSW FC 4-0 Fraser Park FC
UNSW FC moved to the top of the league after their win over first-placed Nepean FC last week, while Fraser Park could not hold on as Prospect United SC earned a draw with them.
Three late goals helped UNSW FC to a 4-0 win at home to Fraser Park FC last season as they did the league double.
UNSW FC showed their title credentials as they beat Nepean FC in a top-of-the-table clash last week and remained unbeaten with five wins and one draw.
Jack Fulton and Kevin Lopes are firing at full force for UNSW with six and five goals this season, respectively, Fulton in joint lead of the top goal scorer mantle.
They defended stoutly to limit Nepean while creating many chances of their own; they will be confident against Fraser Park FC this week.
Fraser Park FC failed to hold on for their second win of the season as Prospect United SC came from behind in a 1-1 draw.
Despite having seven shots on target, they were unable to take their chances as Prospect’s goalkeeper kept them at bay.
They will look to try and control the game and take the match to UNSW; they will back themselves with their quality.
With two strong sides with differing fortunes this season going head-to-head, expect both sides to give their all as they look for the three points for different reasons.
Prospect United SC vs Sydney University SFC, 7pm @ William Lawson Reserve
These clubs will meet for the first time in FNSW competitions this weekend.
Prospect United SC came from behind to claim a 1-1 draw with Fraser Park FC last week, while Sydney University SFC came from behind to win their second match of the season away to South Coast Flame FC.
These two sides have never met in FNSW competitions before so this will be a fresh experience for both clubs.
Prospect United will hope to build on last week’s draw as they look for their second win of the season.
They have six goals from five different goal scorers this season; they can spread the scoring but will be hoping it comes more consistently as the season progresses.
With tough lessons learned, rough matches played and key players returning to bolster their squad, Prospect will be hopeful of claiming all three points against Sydney University SFC this week.
Sydney University came from behind in their 3-1 win over the Flame last week and will look to build on their second-half momentum.
They have shared the goals this season with seven different goal scorers, showing their ability across the pitch and squad.
With a goalkeeper in Jasper Sarkies and a squad full of goals, they could build some momentum as they chase victory this week.
With two sides hoping to kick on this season, key players returning and plenty of chances to be had in this match, it could go either way as both sides hunt for the three points.
By Football New South Wales League Two Men’s Writer, Dylan Costa @_dylancosta
