Round 9 Preview – League Two Men’s
Round Nine of the Football NSW League Two Men’s competition promises to deliver once again as teams battle for points around a quarter of the way through the season.
The Match of the Round this week sees Fraser Park FC on a four-match unbeaten streak as they host Sydney University SFC.
Earlier, Hawkesbury City FC will look to end their four-match winless run as Prospect United SC visit, high-flying Parramatta FC host first-time winners Inner West Hawks FC, while first plays last as UNSW FC host the Western Rage.
Elsewhere, Hurstville FC and Gladesville Ryde Magic search for back-to-back wins as they clash, Camden Tigers FC and Nepean FC hope to bounce back from losses in their match, while South Coast Flame FC make the three-hour trek up the coast as they face the Newcastle Jets in a crucial encounter.
Bankstown United FC have a bye this round.
Saturday April 1st, 2023
Match of the Round: Fraser Park FC vs Sydney University SFC, 7pm @ Fraser Park
Previous Meeting: Fraser Park FC 1-1 Sydney University SFC
Fraser Park FC continued their good form last week as they defeated Hawkesbury City FC 2-1 for their first back-to-back wins of the season, while Sydney University lost back-to-back for the first time this season as they fell 2-1 to Parramatta FC at home.
These two sides meet for the first time in almost five years, since the 2018 National Premier League NSW Men’s 3 season, where both sides had to settle for a point each.
Fraser Park are in good form; unbeaten in four matches, having won their last two, while they have scored eight goals and only conceded four.
They will look to utilise possession at home, while they also had two new goal scorers last week, as they look to push up the table.
If they can remain vigilant in defence and hold out attacks, especially late on in matches, they could continue their momentum against Sydney University SFC.
Sydney University controlled first-half possession, but defensive lapses saw them concede two quick goals last week as they fell at home to Parramatta FC.
They have not kept a clean sheet in four matches, so their defence will be a bigger focus this week.
However, with captain Liam Thomas expected to return in midfield, along with two or three other key players, they will be hopeful of setting up a solid base for victory away.
With an in-form Fraser Park hosting a strengthen and determined Sydney University SFC, expect nothing less than a clash where both sides give their all until the final whistle.
Friday 31st March, 2023
Hawkesbury City FC vs Prospect United SC, 8pm @ David Bertenshaw Field
Previous Meeting: Hawkesbury City 1-5 Prospect United SC
Hawkesbury City FC lost their third match from their last four after their 2-1 away defeat to Fraser Park last week, while Prospect United SC failed to convert chances early as they lost 1-0 away to UNSW FC in rainy conditions.
However, Prospect had joy on Tuesday 28th March, as they progressed to the next round of the Australia Cup courtesy of a 9-0 away win over Fairfield Pats FC, where Prospect had six different goal scorers.
These two sides last met in August 2022, in Week Two of the FNSW League Three Men’s finals last season, where three goals within five minutes helped Prospect advance with an eventual 5-1 victory.
Hawkesbury have failed to keep a clean sheet so far this season and will look to rectify that with a strong defensive performance this week.
They will hope to welcome back at least half of their eleven unavailable players this week as they look to work their way back into the season, starting with this test against Prospect United SC.
Prospect showed good signs as they ultimately fell away to UNSW FC last week and will look to build on the positives from that performance.
They will look to dictate the tempo of the match and continue to play their style of football against a tough side in Hawkesbury.
With six different goal scorers this season, they will look to cause a threat across the park but convert their chances in hopes of victory.
A win for either side would be crucial in the context of their season; for Hawkesbury to build with key players back and for Prospect to show what they can do against another tough opposition.
Saturday April 1st, 2023
Parramatta FC vs Inner West Hawks FC, 5pm @ Melita Stadium
Previous Meeting: Parramatta FC 1-3 Stanmore Hawks
Parramatta FC are unbeaten in four matches and have won back-to-back after their come-from-behind 2-1 win away to Sydney University SFC in the Match of the Round, while Inner West Hawks FC won their first match of the season with a 2-1 win at home to the then-ladder-leading Nepean FC.
These two sides meet for the first time since the 2019 NPL 3 NSW Men’s season, where the Hawks came away 3-1 victors away from home.
Parramatta have found form lately and will look to build on their positive results to push up the ladder.
However, they will need to cut out individual errors and push higher up the field from the start of the match this week as they search for a better performance than that in their win last week.
Youssef Badr and Marco Sama have been on fire this season for Parramatta with six and four goals, respectively, including a goal each last week, and they will be crucial for their side again in Round Nine.
Inner West Hawks FC claimed a shock scalp for their first win of the season against Nepean FC, where they controlled large periods of the match and held strong in defence.
The Hawks also looked dangerous on the counter and will hope to utilise their pace in the squad moving forward.
With Hesan Soufi in form this season on five goals, as well as confidence to claim back-to-back victories, they will be a strong opponent for Parramatta this week.
Both sides will be brimming with confidence based on last week’s results and will fight until the end for a positive result this week; this promises to be a tight and entertaining match.
UNSW FC vs Western Rage, 5pm @ The Village Green
Previous Meeting: UNSW FC 3-1 Western Rage
UNSW FC moved to the top of the table last week after their 1-0 away win over Prospect United SC, while the Western Rage’s search for their first win of the season continued as they fell in the final minute at home to the Newcastle Jets last week, 1-0.
UNSW lost in the latest round of the Australia Cup, as the young side that was fielded fell 4-1 at home to Lindfield FC.
These two sides meet for the first time since Round 19 of League Three last season, where UNSW came away with 3-1 win at home.
UNSW will be hoping for better conditions this week after the rain dampened their win last week.
With pacey attackers, a midfield that fights for the ball and two in-form players on six goals each this season in Jack Fulton and Kevin Lopes, UNSW will look to continue to prove why they are fighting at the top of the table this week.
The Western Rage have lost their last six matches and remain without a win this season, but they will remain hopeful of a positive result soon.
They will look to utilise their top goal scorer this season in Timothy Borg-Williams more as they look for an upset this week.
If they can hold out UNSW early, they could have every chance of securing a result with a bit of action late.
First versus last will not be as straightforward as the table suggests, as seen from results last week; UNSW FC and the Western Rage will give everything in this match.
Hurstville FC vs Gladesville Ryde Magic, 7pm @ Penshurst Park
Previous Meeting: Hurstville ZFC 0-0 Gladesville Ryde Magic
Hurstville FC return from the bye after their 3-0 away win over Hawkesbury City FC the week before, while Gladesville Ryde Magic claimed the Stroke Recovery Cup last week 4-3 in a seven-goal thriller at home to Bankstown United FC.
These two sides meet in league competition for the first time since the 2012 NSW State League Division 1 season, the former makeup of the third tier of football in New South Wales.
Hurstville had a big win in the Australia Cup last week, as six different players scored in their 8-0 win away to Auburn FC.
They have as diverse a scoring list as any, with nine different goal scorers for their 13 goals in the league so far this season.
They will be hoping to build into the season with those back-to-back wins in all competitions and fight with pride as they look for that focal point in attack.
Gladesville Ryde Magic rabounded from back-to-back losses as they claimed the Stroke Recovery Cup last week.
They have scored goals from different avenues lately, both in terms of personnel and the way they score, from crosses to counterattacks to scrambles in the box.
With Chris Gaitatzis and Kohki Hiyaoka leading the goal charge and a young squad full of exuberance, they will hope to achieve their sixth win from nine matches this season.
With both sides coming off important victories, this clash will be a battle for pride and crucial points where neither side will give up.
Camden Tigers FC vs Nepean FC, 7pm @ Ron Dine Memorial Reserve
Previous Meeting: Camden Tigers FC 2-2 Nepean FC
Camden Tigers FC lost for the first time in four matches last week as they fell 3-1 away to South Coast Flame FC, while Nepean FC lost 2-1 away to Inner West Hawks FC.
These two sides last met in the second-last match week of last season in League Three, where Nepean FC came from behind twice to grab a 2-2 draw away.
The Tigers will look to start strong this week after they gave up two first-half goals last week before they kicked into action.
The competition’s joint-leading goal scorer, Leandro Guzman, was on the scoresheet once again and his side will look to him and Francesco Giannetto to lead the attack once again.
They will look to utilises long diagonal balls, use their height from set pieces and fight until the very last minute to try and take down the team currently in second place.
Nepean FC lost for the second time this season as they fell away to Inner West Hawks FC.
Defensive mistakes and a lack of clinical decision-making in the final third cost Nepean, who will hope for an improvement this week.
If they can get their main men in Bradley Whitworth and Leonard Abdo into the match, they could cause problems for the Tigers in a tough away fixture.
With two sides who were flying high coming off losses, both the Tigers and Nepean will battle it out until the final whistle in what promises to be a crucial result for both.
Sunday April 2nd, 2023
Newcastle Jets vs South Coast Flame FC, 5pm @ Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility
Previous Meeting: South Coast Flame FC 0-3 Newcastle Jets
The Newcastle Jets backed up from their bye in Round Seven with a 1-0 victory away to the Western Rage last week, while South Coast Flame FC beat the in-form Camden Tigers FC 3-1 at home.
These two sides last met in Round 20 of last season, where the Jets completed the league double over the Flame courtesy of a 3-0 away win.
The Newcastle Jets kept back-to-back clean sheets for the first time this season as they continue to fight near the top of the ladder.
They have scored the second-most goals and conceded the equal-second-least; they are a force in both defence and attack.
If they can create more chances this week and have a bit more luck, they could be on their way to reclaiming top spot on the ladder.
South Coast Flame won over the Tigers last week as their leading goal scorer, Adam Voloder, got on the scoresheet once again.
They utilised positive and quick ball movement to set up their goals and will hope to utilise that style of play away in the long trek to the Jets.
The Flame have not kept a clean sheet since Round One and will have a strong test to rectify that against the Jets’ attack.
With both sides coming off back-to-back victories and looking to push towards the top of the table, this encounter could provide some special moments as both sides chase victory.
By Football New South Wales League Two Men’s Writer, Dylan Costa @_dylancosta
