Round 17 Preview – League Two Men’s
Round Seventeen of the Football New South Wales League Two Men’s season will see the battle for first fire up as the teams behind chase the top two.
The Match of the Round this week sees Hawkesbury City FC look to avoid dropping to last as they host ladder-leaders UNSW FC.
Elsewhere, Nepean FC and Hurstville FC look to wrestle momentum back following defeats, before the South Coast Flame FC look to halt their slide at home to the rising Prospect SC, preceding a clash between Inner West Hawks FC and Bankstown United FC.
Meanwhile, Gladesville Ryde Magic and Fraser Park FC will look to return to the winner’s list, while Camden Tigers FC look to build against Sydney University SFC, before the Newcastle Jets chase top spot at home to Parramatta FC.
The Western Rage have a bye this round.
Friday, 26th May 2023
Match of the Round: Hawkesbury City FC vs UNSW FC, 8pm @ David Bertenshaw Field
Previous Meeting: UNSW FC 2-2 Hawkesbury City FC
Hawkesbury City FC lost a second-straight match last week at home to Camden Tigers FC, 3-1, while UNSW capitalised on errors as they took out a 4-1 home victory over Parramatta FC.
The last time these two sides met, in Round Two, a 95th minute goal from Zac Miletic rescued a point for Hawkesbury in a dramatic finish.
Expect UNSW to try and dominate the match through their possession and chances once again, while Hawkesbury look to set up a solid base to launch from.
14th-placed Hawkesbury City FC lost to a well-organised Tigers outfit last week and will hope to set up a platform for a result against UNSW early.
It would be an upset if they manage to do so, given the students desire to push for promotion and maintain their current four-match unbeaten run.
However, with a home crowd behind them, expect Hawkesbury to give their all in pursuit of victory.
League-leaders UNSW FC utilised their pace and strength in attack as they capitalised on Parramatta mistake for their victory last week.
The league’s top goal scorer with 13 goals, Kevin Lopes, picked up another two in that match as he looks to continue his personal good form and milestone.
However, despite their goal scoring success, UNSW will hope for a clean sheet this week, with only one in their past six matches.
Look for Hawkesbury to sit back and press when they can while UNSW try to charge forward with their powerhouses in pursuit of another three points towards the top two come season’s end.
Nepean FC vs Hurstville FC, 8pm @ Wanderers Football Park
Previous Meeting: Hurstville FC 0-1 Nepean FC
Nepean FC’s four-match unbeaten run ended abruptly last week in a 3-0 away loss to Prospect United SC, while Hurstville FC fell 6-1 in a harsh home defeat to the Newcastle Jets.
In the two sides’ earlier encounter in the season, an 88th minute Leonard Abdo goal saw Nepean come away 1-0 winners against the possession and chances.
Both sides have had up-and-down season and sit seven points apart on the table coming into the clash.
3rd-placed Nepean FC will hope to make better decisions in defence and convert their opportunities in attack after their loss last week.
Three wins from their four matches prior saw the hosts rise to third on the table as the teams ahead of them fell; they will hope to wrestle back that momentum sooner rather than later.
A win could take Nepean within a point of second-placed Newcastle and within two of first-placed UNSW FC if results go their way; expect a strong response from the hosts this week.
8th-placed Hurstville FC, meanwhile, were on a four-match unbeaten run themselves before their rough defeat last week and will hope to reset and go again moving forward.
Hurstville can take solace in their defeat given their run of form beforehand, where they scored eight goals across three wins and one draw; they had a bad run of luck recently facing the teams in first and second, respectively.
This week they face the team in third place but will be battle hardened and ready to take on Nepean on their home turf.
Victory for Nepean would put pressure early on UNSW FC and the Newcastle Jets, while a win could move Hurstville into 7th and build their form back up; the outcome could shape the table in a strong way.
Saturday, 27th May 2023
South Coast Flame FC vs Prospect United SC, 3:30pm @ Sir Ian McLennan Park
Previous Meeting: Prospect United SC 1-2 South Coast Flame FC
South Coast Flame FC fell 2-1 away last week to the Western Rage in the Match of the Round despite a late attempted comeback, while Prospect United SC went a seventh-match unbeaten after their 3-0 home win over Nepean FC.
In their Round Two encounter, the Flame took out the Match of the Round 2-1 courtesy of goals minutes before and after half-time.
The midfield battle and solidity in defence will need to be on display for both teams in a critical encounter in Round Seventeen.
6th-placed South Coast Flame FC will hope for a first win in six matches this week; the side have dropped from their 2nd-placed position in Round Eleven, which resulted from their record-breaking winning run.
They will be hopeful of making a triumphant return home this week in search of victory.
A win with other results going their way could move them back up to third, but they will need to defeat the most in-form side in the competition to do so.
5th-placed Prospect United SC won their sixth match from their last seven after their 3-0 triumph over Nepean FC last week.
They are flying and have their main four goal scorers in Housam Sayour, James Pelletier, David Muller, and Rhys Osmond to thank.
They will hope to utilise their defensive structures once again as the equal-third-best defensive side in the competition to set a base for another victory, which could move them into 3rd place.
6th hosts 5th, but the form table is vastly different from the league table; look for a fight from both sides as they look to wrestle and maintain momentum, respectively.
Inner West Hawks FC vs Bankstown United FC, 7pm @ Arlington Oval
Previous Meeting: Bankstown United SC 5-1 Inner West Hawks FC
A Hesan Soufi double helped Inner West Hawks FC come from behind in a 2-2 draw away to Gladesville Ryde Magic last week, while Bankstown United FC came from 3-1 down to earn a 3-3 draw at home to Sydney University SFC.
In their Round Two encounter, Bankstown ran out 5-1 winner over the Hawks, who had Christopher Phillips sent off to compound their loss.
However, this encounter poses a different prospect as the Hawks look to avoid potentially dropping to last place.
The Hawks were dominant with possession and had chance to take all three points last week against the Magic and will hope to take their chances this week.
Hesan Soufi moved into double figures on ten goals for the season and sits in third place in the season’s goal scoring standings ahead of this week’s matches.
Look for him to get on the end of passes from his teammates in a pacey attack to capitalise on any Bankstown mistakes.
Bankstown put the Hawks to the sword when they met earlier in the season and will hope to use the memories of that clash to build on a victory this week.
Bankstown have become more clinical with their shot conversion lately and will hope to continue that form heading into this encounter.
They will hope for another spirited team performance which could carry them to a third win in five matches and potnetially take them up a spot into 8th on the ladder.
With pride, points and positions up for grabs, both sides will hope to claim victory in a clash which could serve up anything.
Gladesville Ryde Magic vs Fraser Park FC, 7pm @ Christie Park
Previous Meeting: Fraser Park FC 3-2 Gladesville Ryde Magic
Gladesville Ryde Magic were unable to hold their lead as they drew 2-2 at home to Inner West Hawks FC last week, while Fraser Park will be refreshed following their bye in the last round.
Fraser Park survived a late Magic comeback the last time these two sides met; a 3-0 lead for Fraser Park ended in a 3-2 win and they will hope to complete the double this week.
Form and the league table will be determined by the outcome of this match as the sides look to take their learnings forward.
4th-placed Gladesville Ryde Magic came from behind then surrendered a lead as they drew 2-2 with Inner West last time out.
The youth of the Magic will need to take the lesson from last week and hope to hold on to a lead if they can grab it early.
A win could move the Magic back into 3rd place and put pressure on the top two sides, but they face a tough task in a team coming off a bye.
7th-placed Fraser Park FC’s bye came at a suitable time for the club following four matches without a win; they will hope to return refreshed and ready to claim an important victory.
Their focus will be on creating meaningful chances for victory and will have had time to iron out some of their issues over the break.
With refreshed minds and a willingness to go again, expect nothing less than a strong reaction from Fraser Park this week, which could move them back into 6th place.
Winless in three and winless in four, respectively, expect to see both sides fight to the end to earn an important victory.
Camden Tigers FC vs Sydney University SFC, 7pm @ Ron Dime Memorial Reserve
Previous Meeting: Sydney University SFC 2-2 Camden Tigers FC
Camden Tigers FC broke a five-match losing streak in style last week with a 3-1 away win over Hawkesbury City FC, while Sydney University SFC let a two-goal lead slip in their 3-3 draw away to Bankstown United FC.
There was late drama the last time these two sides met as a 93rd minute Jack Harris own goal gave the students a 2-2 draw at home to the Tigers.
That remains the Tigers only draw of the season so far and both sides will hope for three points this time out.
Dean Bradley’s first match in charge as head coach of 11th-placed Camden Tigers FC saw them come away with a 3-1 win away over Hawkesbury City FC.
The group has some confidence back following the performance of and result and will hope to execute their gameplan well again this week.
With players understanding their roles and having the freedom to play football, they will hope to continue to play for the coach and put in another strong display this week to potentially rise to 9th-place.
12th-placed Sydney University SFC, meanwhile, will hope to build on the positives of their 3-3 draw with Bankstown United FC last week.
With injury and adversity in the squad, the players will hope to band together and produce a performance they can continue to improve on given they are winless in five matches.
Away from home at a tough Carbiz Stadium, possession may be harder to come by for the students; look for them to be clinical in front of goal with the chances they get.
A win for the visitors would see them overtake the Tigers; that alone should provide plenty of motivation for the two sides heading into the clash.
Sunday, 28th May 2023
Newcastle Jets vs Parramatta FC, 5pm @ Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility
Previous Meeting: Parramatta FC 3-5 Newcastle Jets
The Newcastle Jets kept the pressure on UNSW FC at the top of the table following their 6-1 away win over Hurstville FC last week, while Parramatta FC fell to the league-leaders 4-1 away.
An eight-goal encounter was on display the last time these sides met in Round Two, where five different Jets goal scorers were on hand to see off Youssef Badr’s hat-trick and Parramatta FC in a 5-3 away win.
The goals the Jets conceded in that match account for 20% of their goals conceded in the season to this point; expect defence to be tighter from the Jets this time around.
The 2nd-placed Jets are on a rich run of scoring form with ten goals combined from their last two matches.
In an ominous sign for Parramatta, the Jets are showing a very clinical edge in front of goal; Parramatta’s defence will need to be on top of their game to keep them out.
A win for the Jets and dropped points for UNSW FC would take them top; alternatively, a draw for the Jets and a loss for UNSW would do the same but expect the Jets to fire on all cylinders to chase victory.
10th-placed Parramatta FC, meanwhile, have shown inconsistent form in the past five weeks, with two wins and three losses.
They will hope their lapses in concentration do not become a habit as they look to hold off a dangerous Jets attack.
The most important thing for Parramatta to do is fight for the one-percenters in the match and remain vigilant in defence; if they can do that, they give themselves a chance of a result from the match.
With top spot potentially on the line for the Newcastle Jets with a win and with Parramatta hoping to show some of the good signs they have shown previously, look for the Jets to fire and for Parramatta to show a reaction.
By Football New South Wales League Two Men’s Writer, Dylan Costa @_dylancosta
