Round 14 Preview – League Two Men’s
Round Fourteen of the Football New South Wales League Two Men’s season will once again see a four-way battle for first as the top six competition heats up.
The Match of the Round sees Prospect United look to continue their charge up the table as they host last-placed Western Rage.
Earlier, Nepean FC will hope to stay with the pack as they host Bankstown United FC, Sydney University SFC meet Hawkesbury City FC in an important encounter, before fourth hosts third as Gladesville Ryde Magic and South Coast Flame do battle.
Elsewhere, UNSW FC will look to retain top spot as they host Inner West Hawks FC, before Fraser Park FC hope to get back to form at home to the Newcastle Jets, while Hurstville FC chase the top six at home to Parramatta FC.
Camden Tigers FC have a bye this round.
Saturday, 6th May 2023
Match of the Round: Prospect United SC vs Western Rage, 7pm @ William Lawson Reserve
Previous Meeting: Western Rage 3-1 Prospect United SC
Prospect United SC continued their good form and won a third-straight match after their 3-1 triumph away to Camden Tigers FC last week, while the Western Rage lost in a tight encounter with Inner West Hawks FC, 1-0.
These two sides last met in Round 14 last season, where the Rage squared the season ledger with a 3-1 home victory.
Prospect are high on confidence despite key injuries and will be hoping to continue their charge up the ladder with another victory this week.
They sit seventh on the ladder, one point behind Fraser Park FC, and have conceded just three goals in their past five games, which included four wins; they will look to execute their game plan perfectly again.
With a squad filled with players with belief and hard work, as well as a focus on being strong defensively, look for Prospect to make a real impact in the defensive end again this week.
The Western Rage could not back up their victory in Round Twelve as they fell to Inner West Hawks FC 1-0.
They will also look to make their defence a focus again this week but will need to find a way to find confidence in hitting the back of the net.
If someone can stand up for the Rage, a moment in this match could shift the momentum as they look to close the gap and escape the bottom of the table.
With one team in form and another learning more every week, one moment could shift the outcome of the match as both sides hunt for their own successes.
Friday, 5th May 2023
Nepean FC vs Bankstown United FC, 8pm @ Wanderers Football Park
Previous Meeting: Nepean FC 1-2 Bankstown United FC
Nepean FC came away from the tough trip down south as they earned a 1-1 draw with South Coast Flame FC last week, while Bankstown United FC claimed a big victory under new interim coach Luke McGuire with a 2-0 home win over Fraser Park FC.
These two sides last clashed in the 2018 NSW State League season, where Bankstown United came away with a 2-1 away victory.
Nepean FC held first place in the league for several weeks but have fallen off since losing key players; however, they will be hopeful of turning hard work into three points this week.
They have a new game plan and if they can convert their chances, they will prove to be a threat back at home for the first time in three matches this week.
A win could take them back to third and put them right back in the mix at the top; the effort from their players will push them a long way towards that goal.
Bankstown United FC bounced back from a difficult week with a coaching change and will look to build on last week’s result.
However, captain Steven Wright will be on injury watch after he was substituted at half-time last week with a hamstring strain.
Following an important victory, how Bankstown back up and go again will determine how much they can chase the top half of sides in the ladder.
Mariem Gauthier moved to eight goals for the season last week and up to third in the top goal scorers list for the season; look for Nepean to limit him while attacking with a flair of their own.
Saturday, 6th May 2023
Sydney University SFC vs Hawkesbury City FC, 5pm @ Sydney University Football Ground
Previous Meeting: Sydney University SFC 1-0 Hawkesbury City FC
Sydney University SFC lost 2-0 to Hurstville FC in the Match of the Round last week, while Hawkesbury City FC came from 2-0 down to claim a 3-2 victory at home to Gladesville Ryde Magic.
These two sides have not faced each other since the NPL 3 NSW Men’s 2019 competition, where the students came away 1-0 winners.
Sydney University were unable to capitalise on their first-half possession and chance last week and will look to put those lessons into action this week.
They will make that their goal this week; being ruthless in front of goal and when presented with goal scoring opportunities.
They have not scored in their past two matches, since they put five in against the Rage; they will hope to utilise their possession and ball retention this week but turn chances into goals and into three points.
Hawkesbury City FC will look to build momentum after their first win in eight matches as they capitalised on their home ground last week.
The one things Hawkesbury needs to do is be more clinical when pushing hard for goals, which they can achieve through the likes of Harry Drew, who scored last week, and Marco Turpeinen.
They could prove a tricky opponent for University this week as they hope to gain momentum in the middle of the park and push on.
However, before they face off, Hawkesbury City are the first of two League Two Men’s sides left in the Australia Cup as they host League One Men’s side Mounties Wanderers FC in Round Five of the Preliminaries on Wednesday, May 3rd at 7:30pm at David Bertenshaw Field.
The winner will face NPL side Northbridge FC in Round Six for a shot at the Round of 32.
In the league, a win for either side would push them towards mid-table and away from the bottom; learnings will be vital towards the outcome.
Gladesville Ryde Magic vs South Coast Flame FC, 7pm @ Christie Park
This is the first meeting between these two clubs.
Gladesville Ryde Magic fell 3-2 to Hawkesbury City FC last week after they held a 2-0 lead, while South Coast Flame FC came from behind to secure a 1-1 draw with Nepean FC.
In a crucial battle of fourth versus third in the league, the Magic will hope to learn from their mistakes last week and battle through fatigue going forward.
If they can get on top in the match early and maintain momentum, it will work in their favour.
Their top goal scorers Bailey Stevens and Chris Gaitatzis both scored last week; if they can fire again, they could put the pressure on the Flame.
South Coast Flame FC battled through the tough rainy conditions at home last week in their draw and will hope to find goals this week.
Adam Voloder moved to fourth in the league’s top goal scorers list and will be the main outlet for the Flame moving forward with his finishing.
A battle of youth versus experience across the pitch could prove to be the difference, as the Flame look to fire forward.
In the league, with both sides on 24 points, two behind league leaders UNSW FC, a win for either could put them on top of the pile come the end of the round.
UNSW FC vs Inner West Hawks FC, 7pm @ The Village Green
Previous Meeting: University of NSW 1-2 Stanmore Hawks
UNSW FC remained top of the table despite their bye last week, while Inner West Hawks FC won back-to-back matches for the first time this season after their 1-0 win away to the Western Rage.
There is not much recent league history to base this encounter off; these two sides have not met in league competition in almost ten years, when the Hawks came away with a 2-1 away victory in July 2013.
UNSW FC are top of the table by one point over the Newcastle Jets, who are yet to have a bye, and are two points ahead of South Coast Flame FC and Gladesville Ryde Magic.
They will be buoyed being top of the table with results going their way last week and will look to build more momentum going forward to maintain their spot.
The league’s top goal scorer in Kevin Lopes will be hoping to continue his charge as UNSW look to consolidate their spot on the top of the table.
Inner West Hawks FC will hope to continue their push towards mid-table and will not back down at the prospect of facing the league leaders this week.
With a strong defence including Marcus Naom, Sid Malhotra and Matthew Paras, the Hawks will look to be strong at the back to create success.
They will look to utilise their pace down the wings again this week but will need to negate the press of UNSW if they are to come away with another positive result this week.
With a team refreshed hosting a team on the up, look for strong defence to be the main priority for both sides as they hope to display their attacking flair.
Sunday, 7th May 2023
Fraser Park FC vs Newcastle Jets, 5pm @ Fraser Park
Previous Meeting: Newcastle Jets 9-0 Fraser Park FC
Fraser Park FC lost back-to-back matches after their 2-0 defeat away to Bankstown United FC last week, while the Newcastle Jets lost only their third match of the season, 1-0 at home to Prospect United SC.
These two sides last met in Round 13 last season, where the Jets backed up an 9-0 away win earlier in the season with a 9-0 win at home in their two biggest victories of the season.
Fraser Park were strong in midfield last week against Bankstown United but were unable to find the clinical edge inside the box.
They will hope to create more chances this week through the likes of Alexander Nicolosi, Samuel Shepherd, and Shu Torihara as they hope to find the form that took them eight matches unbeaten not too long ago.
They face the best defence in the league in the Newcastle Jets, but with key learnings from previous weeks, they could take a result away from one of the title favourites.
The Newcastle Jets will hope to put last week behind them and will look ahead at first place if results go their way this week.
Ten different goal scorers for the Jets this season so far highlights their attacking power across the pitch; they can drive through the midfield and create chances with their quality.
If they can control the match early, they will be confident of wearing down Fraser Park as they look to take top spot off UNSW FC.
Fraser Park could close the gap to first to three points with victory, while the Jets could take a one or two point lead with success; this match could have massive ramifications for both sides’ seasons.
Hurstville FC vs Parramatta FC, 7pm @ Penshurst Park
Previous Meeting: Hurstville FC 1-1 Parramatta FC
Hurstville FC continued their strong run of form with a 2-0 victory at home over Sydney University SFC in the Match of the Round last week, while Parramatta FC ended a three-match winless streak as they beat Camden Tigers FC 4-2.
These two sides clashed in Round 17 last season, where Hurstville came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw at home.
Hurstville FC have ten points from their last five matches and are starting to make their way up the table as the season progresses.
The press from Hurstville was a feature in their victory last week and is a part of their game which has improved week-on-week as they look to build a strong side.
With pace down the wings, a keen sense of attack from set pieces and a resolute defence which holds strong, look for Hurstville to push up towards a potential sixth place with victory this week.
Parramatta FC, meanwhile, were resolute in their attitude as they held off a Camden Tigers comeback to win 3-2.
They looked to attack the space in behind the Tigers last week as they countered quickly and will hope to utilise the pace of the likes of Youssef Badr and Marco Sama again this week.
Sama continued to shine with his ninth goal of the season, just one behind the current leader in the standings, UNSW FC’s Kevin Lopes, as he continues his fine season for Parramatta; he will be key to victory again this week.
A win could move Hurstville into sixth on the ladder, while a victory for Parramatta could push them up into eighth and build confidence; it promises to be an exciting matchup where both sides will look to push on into the season.
By Football New South Wales League Two Men’s Writer, Dylan Costa @_dylancosta
