Round 13 Preview – League Two Men’s
Round Thirteen of the Football NSW League Two Men’s season could see any of the top four teams finish the round on top of the table as encounters take place across the state.
The match of the round sees two teams with contrasting fortunes attempt to chase the top six as Hurstville FC host Sydney University SFC.
Earlier, Hawkesbury City FC will hope to end their seven-match winless streak as they host top-spot chasing Gladesville Ryde Magic, Parramatta FC will look to turn their fortunes around as they host a desperate Camden Tigers FC, before the winless-in-five Bankstown United FC look to upset Fraser Park FC.
Elsewhere, South Coast Flame FC will chase towards the top spot as they host a Nepean FC side hoping to stay with the pack, the Western Rage host Inner West Hawks FC with both sides coming off victories, before the Newcastle Jets chase top spot as they host a side on a three-match winning streak in Prospect United SC.
Ladder-leaders UNSW FC have a bye this round.
Saturday, 29th April 2023
Match of the Round: Hurstville FC vs Sydney University SFC, 7pm @ Penshurst Park
Previous Meeting: Hurstville FC 0-1 Sydney University SFC AET
Hurstville FC won their first match in three and rose to eighth on the league table after a 2-1 win over the in-form Fraser Park last week, while Sydney University SFC lost in a tough encounter at home to the Newcastle Jets.
These two sides have not met in league competition before, but drastically different line-ups faced off in Round Four of the Australia Cup Preliminaries a few weeks ago, where Sydney University progressed at Hurstville’s expense.
Hurstville returned to winning ways last week away to Fraser Park FC and will use the victory to push on this season.
With ten points from their last five matches, after only four points from their first six, Hurstville are travelling in the right direction, despite missing some key players.
They will for their strong defence to lead them forward again as they have conceded only three goals from their last five matches, including two clean sheets, as they push to close the gap on the top six.
Meanwhile, Sydney University SFC faced a tough opponent in the Newcastle Jets last week and will look to use the learnings from that match in Round Thirteen.
They showed positive signs with their ball movement and purpose going forward; however, they lacked the finishing touch in the final third, unlike the weeks prior.
With a belief in their play style and players returning to fitness over the coming weeks, there is plenty of optimism at University to push on through to the second half of the season, starting this week.
However, beforehand on Wednesday, 26th April at 6:30pm, Sydney University SFC travel to face League One side Nothern Tigers FC, who currently sit seventh in their division, at North Turramurra Recreation Area in the fifth round of preliminaries in the Australia Cup, where the students will hope to continue their strong cup run.
In the league, the two sides will be desperate for victory, where a University win would see them leapfrog Hurstville into eighth; expect defences to be tight and attacking flair to be on display as both sides chase an important victory.
Friday, 28th April 2023
Hawkesbury City FC vs Gladesville Ryde Magic, 8pm @ David Bertenshaw Field
Previous Meeting: Hawkesbury City FC 1-1 Gladesville Ryde Magic
Hawkesbury City FC lost their fifth match in a row and are winless in seven after their 4-1 loss to Inner West Hawks FC in the Match of the Round last week, while Gladesville Ryde Magic recorded their third-straight victory with a come-from-behind win over Parramatta FC.
These two sides will clash in the league for the first time in almost four years, where the Magic came from behind and received a red card to earn a 1-1 draw away from home.
Hawkesbury will hope to sure up in defence this week and punish their opponent early if possible after they fell last week after leading.
They will look to utilise their pace up front again this week, including their star man Marco Turpeinen, and attack with long balls over the top to catch out the Magic backline.
If they can stop the likes of Magic’s Yousuf Amini and Chris Gaitatzis, as well as press from the front, they could find success this week.
Gladesville Ryde Magic continued their form last week as they pushed towards the top spots with a win courtesy of their determination; they are one of two sides yet to draw a match this season.
Bailey Stevens is the man in form for the Magic with five goals from his last three matches and he will be eager to grab more this week.
A win could take the Magic to first place if the Newcastle Jets drop points this week; that will be motivation enough to fight away from home.
With Hawkesbury hoping to show improvement and push away from the bottom places in the league and the Magic hoping to take top spot, key learnings from weeks gone by will be crucial in deciding the outcome.
Saturday, 29th April 2023
Parramatta FC vs Camden Tigers FC, 5pm @ Melita Stadium
Previous Meeting: Camden Tigers FC 0-0 Parramatta FC
Parramatta FC lost back-to-back matches as they surrendered a lead in their 2-1 loss to the Magic last week, while Camden Tigers FC fell 3-1 to Prospect United SC at home.
These two sides last met in Round 15 in League Three Men’s last season, where the two sides played out a goalless draw.
Parramatta were unable to deal with Gladesville’s attack late in the match in their defeat last week and will look to learn quickly ahead of this week’s match.
However, the club will be without Yuto Mochizuki, who departed the club before last weekend’s match; a combined seven injuries and departures have caught up with Parramatta, who will look to their younger players to provide a spark.
If a leader within the squad can emerge and help the younger talent, Parramatta could learn by trial and error the way to win more matches moving forward.
Camden Tigers FC conceded three goals in a match for the third game in a row and will look to address their individual errors going forward.
They will look to apply pressure early in the hopes of forcing Parramatta into a mistake of their own early.
With the competition’s equal-second top goal scorer Leandro Guzman in their side, scoring will not be the issue; they will look to tighten up at the back as they are still the worst defensive side in the league with 31 goals conceded in 12 matches.
With two sides desperate for victory, look for neither side to settle for a draw in this encounter.
Bankstown United FC vs Fraser Park FC, 7pm @ Padstow Park
This is the first meeting between these two clubs.
Bankstown United FC lost their fourth match in five after they fell 1-0 at home to the Western Rage last week, while Fraser Park’s five-match winning, and seven-match unbeaten streak, ended at home to Prospect United SC.
This is the first time these two sides will meet in any competition.
Bankstown United FC will look for a positive result this week after their loss last weekend, as possession, shots and territory did not convert to points.
Their defence has tightened up lately, with only two goals conceded from their last three matches, but they need to find more confidence in hitting the back of the net.
Since their bye, they have not scored a goal; they will work hard this week to rectify that in what they hope to be a strong home performance.
Fraser Park FC are in an unfamiliar position this week coming off a loss and will look to push early this week in the hopes of responding with a victory.
They will look to press from the front from the beginning, have relentless attacking periods and utilise their pace in counterattacks with their front three.
Alexander Nicolosi, Samuel Shepherd, and Shu Torihara will look to cause problems for the Bankstown defence as Fraser Park look to stay with the sides fighting at the top of the table.
Bankstown need confidence in front of goal and Fraser Park need to ensure one lost match does not turn into two; this match will provide plenty of excitement as both sides chase victory.
South Coast Flame FC vs Nepean FC, 7pm @ Sir Ian McLennan Oval
Previous Meeting: South Coast Flame FC 1-1 Nepean FC
South Coast Flame FC’s club-record breaking five-match winning streak ended last week in their home loss to UNSW FC, while Nepean FC rested up with a bye last round.
These two sides last met in the final round of last season’s League Three Men’s competition, where the Flame came from behind in the second half to secure a 1-1 draw through Samuel Alston.
South Coast Flame FC will be hoping for a response to their stoppage-time-induced defeat at the hands of UNSW FC last week as they remain poised to make a push for the top spots in the league.
Playing at home against another strong side, they will be hoping to for another strong turnout, as a victory in the right circumstances could potentially move them to the top of the table.
However, before this clash, the Flame travel to Heffron Park on Wednesday, 26th April at 7:00pm, to face Eastern Suburbs Football Association side Randwick City in the fifth round of the Australia Cup preliminary rounds, where they will look to progress to the next round.
With more members of the Flame’s squad finding goals lately, as well as two goals in each of their last three matches, they will look to pose a threat to the defence of Nepean FC from kick-off.
Nepean FC will look to build on their victory in Round Eleven and welcome back refreshed players following their bye last week.
They will hope to be compact at the back and use their leadership to ensure they do not concede any easy goals in a tough away fixture.
With a squad refreshed and not too far from the teams at the top, perspective and fight will help Nepean this week in their search of three points.
A team in form coming off a loss against a team coming off their first win in four matches; this clash could provide anything as fourth and fifth in the league clash.
Western Rage vs Inner West Hawks FC, 7pm @ Rydalmere Park
Previous Meeting: Stanmore Hawks FC 3-2 Granville Rage
The Western Rage picked up their first win of the season last weekend, 1-0 away to Bankstown United FC, while Inner West Hawks FC put four goals past Hawkesbury City FC in a strong victory.
These two sides last met almost four years ago in the 2019 NPL 3 NSW Men’s competition, where the Hawks recorded a 3-2 victory.
The Western Rage will look to build on their victory last weekend as they continue to show improvement.
If they can get confidence up with their goal scorers, they will believe they can grab more victories after their strong performance last weekend.
However, before this match, the Rage travel to John Crehan Park on Wednesday, 26th April, as they face Illawarra Premier League side Cringila Lions FC at 7:30pm in the fifth round of the Australia Cup preliminary rounds, where they will look to continue their cup run.
With a solid defence and pace to play on the counter, as well as a new midfield partnership which worked last weekend, they will have belief of putting in another secure performance this week as they display their squad belief.
Inner West Hawks FC won their first match in four last week and recently appointed new head coach Bill Condoleon will hope his side can push forward.
The Hawks will hope to stick in the contest again this week and continue to build combinations as the new coach looks to proceed with a mix of youth and experience in the side.
The mood in the squad will be lifted following the win and the Hawks will hope to use that, as well as smart play, as they take on the Rage this weekend.
With two sides near the bottom of the table picking up important victories last week, both will be full of energy and confidence to win back-to-back matches as they face off in an exciting encounter.
Sunday, 30th April 2023
Newcastle Jets vs Prospect United SC, 5pm @ Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility
Previous Meeting: Newcastle Jets 2-1 Prospect United SC
The Newcastle Jets recorded back-to-back clean sheets as they won 2-0 away to Sydney University SFC last week, while Prospect United SC won their third match in a row as they beat Camden Tigers FC 3-1 away.
These two sides met in Round 21 last season, where the Jets responded to a 4-0 away loss three days earlier with a 2-1 win at home, courtesy of an 81st minute goal from Xavier Bertoncello, after Prospect’s Tallon Zahra was sent off earlier in the match.
The Jets will be hoping to reclaim top spot with victory this week, given first-placed UNSW FC have a bye this round.
They have scored eleven goals between their last three matches as Xavier Bertoncello became the club’s outright top scorer for the season so far with five goals.
Having scored more goals and conceded less goals than anyone else in the league, the Jets will look to continue their push for top spot.
Prospect United SC are one of three teams on a three-match winning streak and will hope to continue their push up the table with a win this week.
The side sits seventh heading into the weekend but could potentially close the gap on sixth place to just one point with victory this weekend.
With key players out injured, Prospect’s squad depth is being tested but they will be hopeful of good luck in matches and hope players return soon, as they look ahead to the teams above them.
The Newcastle Jets could reclaim their spot at the top of the ladder, while Prospect United SC could continue their charge towards the top half; this match has a lot at stake for both sides as they prepare to do battle.
By Football New South Wales League Two Men’s Writer, Dylan Costa @_dylancosta
