Round 15 Preview – League Two Men’s
Round Fifteen marks the halfway point of the Football New South Wales League Two Men’s season, as each team faces a new opponent for the final time this season.
The Match of the Round sees South Coast Flame FC look to continue their charge towards the top of the ladder as they host Parramatta FC.
Earlier, Sydney University SFC will look for a first win in four matches as they host the rising Nepean FC, before Bankstown United FC and Camden Tigers FC search for an important victory, while Inner West Hawks FC host the in-form Prospect United SC.
Meanwhile, the Western Rage host Fraser Park FC in a crucial clash, before the Newcastle Jets look to return to the summit against Hawkesbury FC, while Hurstville FC host ladder-leaders UNSW FC.
Gladesville Ryde Magic have a bye this round.
Saturday, 13th May 2023
Match of the Round: South Coast Flame FC vs Parramatta FC, 7:15pm @ Sir Ian McLennan Oval
Previous Meeting: Parramatta FC 2-1 South Coast Flame FC
South Coast Flame FC had their match against Gladesville Ryde Magic FC abandoned late due to a lighting failure while the score was 2-2, result pending, while Parramatta FC fell 3-0 to Hurstville FC in a comprehensive loss.
These two sides last clashed in the second-last round of the 2022 League Three Men’s season, where Parramatta stopped a Flame comeback as they took out a 2-1 victory.
South Coast Flame FC had progressed further than ever as they played against National Premier League side Sydney Olympic FC in Round Six of the Australia Cup preliminary rounds on Tuesday, May 9th at Belmore Sports Ground.
A youthful Flame squad held off Olympic for the first hour, before two strikes from Michael Vakis and a stoppage time third goal for John FitzGerald sent an experienced Olympic through to the next round, as the Flame became the final League Two Men’s side to be knocked out of the competition.
The Flame will be hoping to turn their fortunes around as they are without a win in their past three league matches heading into this week.
However, they had faced tough opposition in the current first, third and fifth placed teams in those matches and will be looking to use the lessons learned from those against Parramatta FC.
The main lesson will be holding onto a lead if they can get it, which they have failed to do in two of their past three matches, despite the heroics of their goalkeeper, Seiya Miyamoto.
Adam Voloder will look for his own personal milestone as he chases those at the top of the season’s goal scoring list; he will be a dangerous aspect of the Flame attack which will look to cause Parramatta problems.
Parramatta FC, meanwhile, will look for a strong response after an effort last week against Hurstville FC which was vastly different from the week prior.
Almost half-way through the season, Parramatta have conceded the equal-second-most goals of any side in the league and sit in ninth place, five points behind 8th-placed Prospect United SC.
The young side will need to find a way to affect the midfield battle in this match and find a leader who can take control of the troops in their search for a tough victory.
A win for South Coast Flame FC could move them up to second, while for Parramatta this match will all be about responding to their defeat last week; look for both sides to battle hard in an encounter filled with intrigue.
Sydney University SFC vs Nepean FC, 5pm @ Sydney University Football Ground
This is the first league meeting between these two clubs.
Sydney University SFC went down to ten men in their 0-0 draw at home to Hawkesbury City FC last week, while Nepean FC continued their resurgence with a 2-0 home win over Bankstown United FC.
These two sides will face off in league competition for the first time and will look to push on as the first half of the season concludes.
University will hope to put an end to their three-match streak without scoring as they welcome back a few players this week.
The hosts could be one of six big shakers in the bottom half of the ladder this week; a win could take them as high as 9th while a loss could drop them as low as 14th, with only three points seperating the two positions.
The squad has a good foundation amongst the group so with key players returning, University will be hopeful of a turn in fortunes as the weeks progress.
Nepean FC, meanwhile, have won two of their last three matches following their win last week, after they had lost three-in-a-row prior.
A win could potentially take the visitors as high as second on the ladder, a point behind UNSW FC, if other results go their way.
They will look to stick to their winning game plan and affect the match any way they can to open University and take their chances.
With Sydney University SFC looking to enter the second half of the season on a high and Nepean FC looking to continue their pressure on the top two, look for both sides to give their all this weekend.
Bankstown United FC vs Camden Tigers FC, 7pm @ Padstow Park
Previous Meeting: Bankstown United FC 1-0 Camden Tigers FC
Bankstown United FC fell 2-0 in a tough away match to Nepean FC last week, while Camden Tigers FC enjoyed the week off with a bye.
These two sides will meet in league competition for the first time since the NPL 3 NSW Men’s 2019 competition, where Bankstown United overcame a 10-man Tigers outfit 1-0 at home.
Bankstown United FC battled hard in defeat last week and will hope to bounce back with a strong defensive structure in place, as the side sits 12th in the league.
With pace on the counterattack and strong finishers in Marie Gauthier, who is chasing the top of the goal scorers list for the season, as well as Mitchell Cross, Bankstown will be hopeful of turning the result around this week.
Cross scored the lone goal the last time these two sides met; with only two goals from their past five matches, look for Bankstown to set up a sturdy base to attack from against the Tigers.
Camden Tigers FC will look for a response to four-straight losses following their bye last week as they look to push up the table.
With 9th place to 14th in the league separated by just three points, a win could move the Tigers up as high as 9th from their current 12th spot.
The Tigers have belief in attack with the equal-third-most goals scored of any team this season; however, they have conceded the most; look for them to respond with a robust performance this week.
With the two sides separated by two places and one point on the ladder, both sides will look to take a major step to improving their league standings this week.
Inner West Hawks FC vs Prospect United SC, 7pm @ Arlington Oval
This is the first meeting between these two clubs.
Inner West Hawks FC lost 1-0 to first-placed UNSW FC at home in a tough encounter last week, while Prospect United’s four-match winning streak ended after their 1-1 draw with the Western Rage.
The Hawks are another club struggling with a large injury toll currently and will have to look to some more youth players in the coming weeks.
However, with Shunsuke Sugiura between the sticks for the Hawks, who put in a big performance last week despite the loss, they will be hopeful of building a powerful base from the back to attack from.
With the pace of Peter Yannopoulos and Hesan Soufi up front, good distribution and ball movement will be critical for the Hawks to gain success this week and move potentially from 14th to 10th on the ladder.
Prospect United SC, meanwhile, will rue the missed opportunity they had to move up to 6th last week in their 1-1 draw at home to the Western Rage.
The focus this week will be on working hard for the victory and ensuring they iron out the fine details and one-percenters in matches moving forward.
A win could potentially move Prospect into 6th place, which should provide plenty of motivation for the squad which has the fifth-best defence in the league but has scored the second-least number of goals.
There is plenty at stake for both teams, as the Hawks look to move away from the bottom of the ladder while Prospect chase the top six; look for both teams to give their all on the back of losses, respectively.
Western Rage vs Fraser Park FC, 7pm @ Rydalmere Park
Previous Meeting: Fraser Park FC 2-1 Western Rage
The Western Rage showed plenty of fight and character in their 1-1 draw away to Prospect United SC last week, while Fraser Park will look to build on their 1-1 draw with the Newcastle Jets.
These two sides met in Round Seventeen last season in the League Three Men’s competition, where Fraser Park came from behind to complete the league double over the Rage with a 2-1 victory.
The Rage claimed points after being behind in a match for the first time this season last week and will look to build on the positives from their draw.
They sit last on the ladder but with a new playing system and good shape across the pitch, as well as a willingness to have possession, the hosts will be ready to tackle the challenge again this week.
The mentality of the side will be the biggest factor; if they can show the same fight they did last week against Prospect United SC, they could prove to be a tough opponent for Fraser Park FC to crack.
Fraser Park FC, meanwhile, will be buoyed by their performance against a strong Jets side last week and will hope to use that belief to claim a first victory in four matches, as they sit 6th in the league.
The trio of Samuel Shepherd, Alexander Nicolosi and Shu Torihara will be the main threat for Fraser Park again; the former scored his fifth goal of the season last week and will look to build off that.
Following tough losses as of late, the draw against the Jets last week could provide Fraser Park with the belief they can match it with anyone as they search for victory this week.
With the Western Rage showing positive signs and Fraser Park looking to stay with the top sides into the second half of the season, look for an exciting encounter where any result is possible.
Sunday, 14th May 2023
Newcastle Jets vs Hawkesbury City FC, 5pm @ Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility
Previous Meeting: Hawkesbury City FC 1-2 Newcastle Jets
The Newcastle Jets were held 1-1 last week by Fraser Park FC away from home, while Hawkesbury City FC also had a draw, 0-0 away to Sydney University SFC.
These two sides last faced off in Round Six last season, where a second half Adam Zervas goal helped the Jets to a 2-1 victory.
The Jets will have all the motivation they need for this clash already, knowing a win could potentially move them up to first if UNSW FC lose this week.
They will welcome in a few players from the Newcastle Jets A-League Men’s side over the coming weeks given the end of their season and will look to push on with quality and numbers moving forward.
They will hope to return to winning ways with a first win in three matches this week as they hope to enter the second half of the season on top of the ladder.
Hawkesbury City FC’s Australia Cup run ended in the sixth preliminary round last Wednesday, May 3rd, 4-3 at home to League One side Mounties Wanderers.
In the league, meanwhile, Hawkesbury sit in 13th and will hope to convert their chances this week against a strong Jets side after their scoreless draw last weekend.
With three chances on target saved well, as well as the post hit a few times, Hawkesbury were not without their chances and will hope to be more clinical this week.
However, the main battle in this match will be in midfield, where the Jets excel; if Hawkesbury can stay strong defensively early and break quickly, they could snag an important goal and a victory which could potentially move them up to 9th.
With the Newcastle Jets pushing to stay with first-placed UNSW FC and Hawkesbury City FC hoping to go a third match unbeaten, look for the Jets to try and capitalise early and for Hawkesbury to try their best to build a strong base from the start.
Hurstville FC vs UNSW FC, 7pm @ Penshurst Park
Previous Meeting: UNSW FC 1-1 Hurstville FC
Hurstville FC won their third match in a row after their 3-0 success at home over Parramatta FC last week, while UNSW FC made their possession count in a 1-0 home win over Inner West Hawks FC.
These two sides last met in Round Thirteen last season, where Hurstville came from behind to secure a 1-1 draw away from home.
Hurstville FC are one of the in-form teams of the competition currently as they sit just outside the top six in 7th place with three wins in a row.
They picked up their sixth clean sheet of the season en route to their 3-0 win last week and will hope to continue their goalscoring form, too, with seven goals from their last three matches.
Hurstville will look to move the ball well and utilise the pace of their players in behind with a solid backline as they look for a fourth-straight victory to potentially move up to sixth place.
UNSW FC, meanwhile, earned their first clean sheet in five matches after their 1-0 success last week and will hope to build on that as they look to maintain top spot.
UNSW will look to control more of the ball and will hope to take their chances again this week through the likes of the league’s top goal scorer, Kevin Lopes.
It proves to be a big match for UNSW FC, who could potentially move six points clear in first place heading into the second half of the season with victory.
Hurstville FC are in form and firing, while UNSW FC are first and will not fold; this encounter promises to provide plenty of passion as the two sides chase their own goals.
By Football New South Wales League Two Men’s Writer, Dylan Costa @_dylancosta
