Round 19 Preview – League Two Men’s
A Super Saturday of action in Round 19 of the Football New South Wales League Two Men’s season promises to deliver some exciting matchups with big permutations.
The Match of the Round this week sees Prospect United SC on a nine-match unbeaten streak as they host a Hurstville FC team which are winless in four.
Earlier, Nepean FC hope to keep the pressure on the top two as they host Fraser Park FC, Hawkesbury City FC host the Western Rage in a bottom-of-the-table clash, before Sydney University SFC hope to win their first match in seven as they host Gladesville Ryde Magic.
Later, Inner West Hawks FC look to go four matches unbeaten as the winless-in-seven South Coast Flame FC visit, Bankstown United FC hope to take down ladder-leaders UNSW FC, while Camden Tigers FC host the Newcastle Jets in a crucial clash for the visitors.
Parramatta FC have a bye this round.
Saturday, 10th June 2023
Match of the Round: Prospect United SC vs Hurstville FC, 7pm @ William Lawson Park
Previous Meeting: Hurstville FC 4-0 Prospect United SC
Prospect United SC moved to nine matches unbeaten as they held on to beat Parramatta FC 1-0 away last week, while Hurstville FC were unable to break the deadlock in their 0-0 draw at home.
These two sides are in contrasting league form and positions to when Hurstville picked up a strong 4-0 victory over Prospect in Round Four; this match could provide a form look from either match given the circumstances.
5th-placed Prospect pushed and were patient against Parramatta FC last week and will hope to go ten matches unbeaten this week, which would include seven wins if they can claim victory.
The hosts will hope to recover well to go again given their injuries; however, they will need troops back soon if they want to make a serious push for the top two.
However, they can feel buoyed by their results despite injuries and at home as the side in form will be confident of claiming three points, which could push them into 3rd-place.
8th-placed Hurstville FC’s fortunes have taken a turn since Round 15 and they will hope to win their first match in five against an opponent they have already beaten well this season.
Their scrappy encounter against Inner West Hawks FC last week led to some missed opportunities which they will hope to convert this time around.
A win could move them back into 6th; they will need to start picking up wins to stay in touch with the sides in the top half.
Prospect United SC want to continue their momentum and push up towards the top of table, while for Hurstville FC, they want to stay in touch with the top half; expect a match full of chances where the form guide may not tell the whole story.
Friday, 9th June 2023
Nepean FC vs Fraser Park FC, 8pm @ Wanderers Football Park
Previous Meeting: Fraser Park FC 0-4 Nepean FC
Nepean FC closed the gap to the 2nd-placed Newcastle Jets to three points after their 4-0 win away over Hawkesbury City FC last week, while Fraser Park FC ended their five-match winless streak with a 1-0 victory over South Coast Flame FC.
Nepean were victorious in a big away victory in the earlier Round Four clash, but the hosts will hope to rise to the occasion this week.
3rd-placed Nepean FC continued their charge up the table after their strong 4-0 win last week and will hope to continue their momentum as they look to chase a top-two finish.
With a ruthlessness up front last week, they ended a two-match streak with no goals scored and will hope to build on that confidence up front moving forward.
They will hope to put the pressure on early this week as they did last week to grab an early goal or two to put Fraser Park; a win for them and results going their way could open a five-point gap below and put them behind the Jets on goal difference.
7th-placed Fraser Park FC won their first match in six weeks in Round Eighteen and will hope to rebuild their lost ground on the teams above them.
Their top goal scorer this season, Samuel Shepherd, was on the scoresheet last week and will hope to be a focal point in attack for Fraser Park this week.
A win could move them up into 6th place and keep them in touch with the teams at the top; it is critical their momentum and confidence from last week is maintained.
There will be no shortage of action as these two teams look to keep their season’s going in different ways; expect a tough encounter with plenty of fight.
Hawkesbury City FC vs Western Rage, 8pm @ David Bertenshaw Field
Previous Meeting: Western Rage 1-3 Hawkesbury City FC
Hawkesbury City FC fell to a fourth-straight loss after their 4-0 home defeat to Nepean FC last week, while the Western Rage went four matches unbeaten after 93rd minute equaliser led them to a 3-3 draw at home to Gladesville Ryde Magic.
The Hawks got the better of the Rage away from home in Round Four, where Harry Drew picked up a double; a league double for the Hawks would put a gap between them and the last-placed Rage.
14th-placed Hawkesbury City FC were beaten 4-0 last week but showed signs of improvement in their periods of possession and chances in the match.
The positives they can take moving forward are the play time and improvement of their young players, which will help the club build into the future.
They will hope for a better shot conversion this week and more fight in the scramble defence and offence to punish the Rage in the hopes of victory.
The 15th-placed Western Rage moved to four matches unbeaten thanks to their late equaliser last week and will hope to continue to show that resilience away to the Hawks.
The Rage have been in last place on the ladder since the end of Round Six, but players are showing improvement every week and have shown their power up front, scoring three goals in a match for the first time this season last week.
With the goals flowing, the Rage will hope that continues whereas a first clean sheet in six weeks would bode well for their chances of a win.
The winner will move away from last place where the loser will be at the bottom; will the Hawks fly or will the Rage rise?
Saturday, 10th June 2023
Sydney University SFC vs Gladesville Ryde Magic, 5pm @ Sydney University Football Ground
Previous Meeting: Gladesville Ryde Magic 2-0 Sydney University SFC
Sydney University SFC will hope to return refreshed following their bye last week, while Gladesville Ryde Magic had a third draw from four matches as they surrendered a lead late to the Western Rage in a 3-3 away draw.
The Magic took their chances in a 2-0 win against a Uni side which held possession in their Round Four clash; the hosts will hope to limit the Magic and convert chances of their own this time.
The 13th-placed students will hope their return from the bye will bring a return in fortunes as they hunt their first victory in seven matches.
They will hope to welcome back a raft of injured players this week to bolster their squad, which was brought down to twelve fit players; four under-20s players made the bench against Camden.
University will hope player returns mean point returns as they look to move away from the bottom; a win could take them as high as 10th in a tightly packed bottom half of the table.
The 4th-placed Magic, meanwhile, were unable to hold on for an important win late in their draw away to the Western Rage last week and will hope to use that experience to better close out matches in the future.
Their young stars are shining with the likes of 17-year-old Stefan Baker, while they have two players in the top five goal scorers this season with Chris Gaitatzis on ten and Bailey Stevens, who picked up his ninth last week.
With fourteen goals from their last five matches, the away side will hope to produce more magic to go five matches unbeaten and potentially move into 3rd-place.
There is plenty at stake at both ends of the ladder in this matchup; expect a revitalised Uni side to give their all and for a firing Magic side to find more goals in their pursuit of the top two.
Inner West Hawks FC vs South Coast Flame FC, 7pm @ Arlington Oval
Previous Meeting: South Coast Flame FC 2-2 Inner West Hawks FC
Inner West Hawks FC went a third match unbeaten after their scoreless draw away to Hurstville FC last week, while South Coast Flame FC moved to seven matches without a win after their 1-0 loss away to Fraser Park FC last week.
Three late goals were tossed up when these two sides played in Round Four; the Hawks came from behind twice to earn a 2-2 draw and will hope to be solid at home in this encounter.
The 11th-placed Hawks held Hurstville to limited chances last week but were limited in attack themselves; they will hope to utilise their pace and patience in attack this week.
With a solid backline and playing at home, they will back themselves to a third-straight clean sheet against a Flame side which has only scored four goals from their last five matches.
Without Hesan Soufi last week, the Hawks struggled for a goal; look for them to be solid in defence to build into the match and create problems with pace up front.
Following defeat last week, the 6th-placed South Coast Flame FC will hope to return to their winning ways from earlier in the season, where they went on a five-match winning streak.
Despite their press and chances on goal, they were unable to convert; they will hope to gain confidence in hitting the back of the net again soon to stop their drop.
A win would be crucial and keep them in touch with the top five, whereas a loss could create a seven-point gap between them and 5th place.
The Hawks have nothing to lose and plenty to learn from their matches, while the Flame will hope to end their fall before it is too late; look for both sides to cause problems in attack in a match that promises fight.
Bankstown United FC vs UNSW FC, 7pm @ Padstow Park
Previous Meeting: UNSW FC 2-0 Bankstown United FC
Bankstown United FC claimed a big scalp in a 2-1 home win over the 2nd-placed Newcastle Jets last week, while UNSW FC created a four-point gap between themselves and the Jets following their 2-1 home win over Camden Tigers FC.
It was a feisty encounter when these two met in Round Four’s Match of the Round; there were as many goals as red cards as a 90th minute Jack Fulton goal sealed the 2-0 win for UNSW.
9th-placed Bankstown face first on the table the week after they faced second but will be ready to take on the challenge of the league leaders following their win last weekend over the Jets.
They were determined and held their shape well at the back, while their fight in midfield took the match to the Jets; they did not have much possession but utilised what they did very effectively.
With 3-4 defenders set to return in the coming weeks, look for Bankstown to have the confidence and belief to take down the competition’s top two in consecutive weeks as they chase towards the top half.
League-leaders UNSW FC moved to six matches unbeaten and won their third match in a row following their win over the Tigers last week; they will want to push on for another victory this weekend.
They are unbeaten away from home this season, which bodes well for them in maintaining or extending their lead at the top of the table over the Jets.
Kevin Lopes scored his 15th goal of the season last week; he has scored four more than any other player in the league and is set to be another nuisance for Bankstown at Padstow Park.
Bankstown enter this match with belief of causing another upset and continuing their push up the ladder, while UNSW will be ready to take all three points in their pursuit of promotion; this clash could toss up anything.
Camden Tigers FC vs Newcastle Jets, 7pm @ Ron Dine Memorial Reserve – Carbiz Stadium
Previous Meeting: Newcastle Jets 3-2 Camden Tigers FC
The Tigers showed fight, but lapses saw them fall to league-leaders UNSW FC last week, while the Newcastle Jets’ pressure did not pay off in their loss to Bankstown United FC last week, which was their first loss in five matches.
The 10-man Jets held off the Tigers late in their 3-2 Round Four home win and will hope to claim the league double to keep the pressure on UNSW FC at the top of the table.
12th-placed Camden Tigers FC are fighting and will be confident from their performances in recent weeks to take on more teams in the league.
However, if they are going to take down the Jets, they will need to be quicker in transition when they get the ball and take the chances they can get on the break.
There will be up-and-down periods in the match for the Tigers; if they can hold on, they can punish the Jets through the likes of Leandro Guzman, who moved to nine goals for the season following his goal last week.
The 2nd-placed Newcastle Jets will hope for a reply to their away loss to Bankstown United FC last week as they look to return to winning ways.
The Jets will look to dominate possession and overload the front line, sometimes playing with up to five players up front in a wide attack with a rotating midfield.
A loss could push the Jets seven points behind UNSW heading into Round Twenty, while it could leave them open for Nepean to catch up to them, points-wise.
With a Tigers side learning more every week against a Jets side hoping to continue their charge for automatic promotion and first place, expect there to be plenty of fight given until the final whistle.
By Football New South Wales League Two Men’s Writer, Dylan Costa @_dylancosta
