Round 20 Preview – League Two Men’s
A top-of-the-table clash with huge ramifications headlines Round Twenty of the Football New South Wales League Two Men’s season.
That matchup is this week’s Match of the Round – UNSW FC host the Newcastle Jets in a 1st vs 2nd clash at The Village Green, where the fight for automatic promotion could take a dramatic turn.
Earlier, Sydney University SFC host Inner West Hawks FC where the winner will go ahead in the ladder, while Hawkesbury City FC hope to climb off the bottom of the ladder at home to Bankstown United FC, before Fraser Park FC look to maintain top-half status at home to Parramatta FC.
Elsewhere, 4th faces 5th as Gladesville Ryde Magic host Prospect United SC in a critical clash, Hurstville hunt a first win in six matches as they host Camden Tigers FC, while a crucial Western Sydney derby sees the Western Rage look to keep their momentum against promotion-chasing Nepean FC.
South Coast Flame FC have a bye this round.
Saturday, 17th June 2023
Match of the Round: UNSW FC vs Newcastle Jets, 7pm @ The Village Green
Previous Meeting: Newcastle Jets 1-3 UNSW FC
Matches don’t get much bigger than a 1st vs 2nd clash; the race for automatic promotion and the title of League Two Men’s Champions will take a turn regardless of the result between UNSW FC and the Newcastle Jets.
UNSW FC currently sit four points ahead of the Newcastle Jets in 1st place, meaning the margin could potentially rise to seven points, or be reduced to just one point after this weekend.
Both sides fell to defeat last week; UNSW FC fell to a 1-0 defeat away to Bankstown United FC, while the Newcastle Jets lost 4-2 away to Camden Tigers FC.
UNSW know they can do better and will rise to the occasion in this important clash.
Without Kevin Lopes, they failed to create enough chances to convert and will hope to create more going forward with the might of their squad this week.
It was their first defeat in seven matches; Head Coach Gabe Knowles will hope to fire up his troops this week against the Jets, a side they have already beaten this season, to continue their charge for promotion to League One.
Meanwhile, the Newcastle Jets lost a second-straight match and their third in seven; they will hope to return to form in their pursuit of promotion.
The Jets will hope to utilise their midfield strength and play through the UNSW press to assert control early.
The club is fully focused on pushing for promotion and defeat here could leave them open to dropping out of the top two, where the likes of Nepean FC, Gladesville Ryde Magic and Prospect United SC are waiting.
A league double over the Jets would be exactly what UNSW would have dreamed of before the season started; that becoming a reality could shape the future of the two clubs.
Friday, 16th June 2023
Sydney University SFC vs Inner West Hawks FC, 7:45pm @ Sydney University Football Ground
Previous Meeting: Inner West Hawks FC 1-1 Sydney University SFC
Sydney University SFC earned a 3-3 draw, their second in three weeks, at home to Gladesville Ryde Magic last week, while Inner West Hawks FC had to settle for a 1-1 at home to South Coast Flame FC last week in a game of two halves.
Both sides missed chances late in a tense 1-1 draw in Round Five; with places up for grabs this week expect and equally tight affair.
13th-placed Sydney University SFC faced a similar story in their 3-3 draw last week and will hope to take control of the match early at home this week.
They have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last four matches; their last one was a 0-0 draw at home to Hawkesbury City FC.
However, following their strong performance against the team in 4th-place last week, win could move them up two spots to 11th on the ladder, which will motivate the players.
12th-placed Inner West Hawks FC were pushed until the end at home to South Coast Flame FC and will hope to close out a victory if they take the lead this week.
They are unbeaten in their last four matches, which does include three draws, but will be hopeful of turning up in a clash where the points are crucial.
Hesan Soufi currently sits on 10 goals for the season, which is equal-third in the race for the competition’s top goal scorer; with threat up front, expect the Hawks to fire this week.
In a bid to move into the second third of the season ahead and with a win, both sides will push for victory this week.
Hawkesbury City FC vs Bankstown United FC, 8pm @ David Bertenshaw Field
Previous Meeting: Bankstown United FC 2-1 Hawkesbury City FC
Hawkesbury City FC fell to last place for the first time this season following their 2-1 loss at home to the Western Rage, while Bankstown United FC defeated 1st-placed UNSW FC 1-0, a week after they beat the Newcastle Jets.
Bankstown took the three points the last time these two sides met in Round Five, where they held off a late Hawkesbury goal and pressure to take the three points.
They will hope to use that result from earlier this season to propel them to a league double.
15th-placed Hawkesbury City FC played for 71 minutes with ten men last week in their loss but did not look like a side which was a man down.
They continued to push throughout the match and created chances; they will hope to use that same fighting spirit to claim a victory which could lift them back off the bottom of the table.
With plenty of fight in the team, playing at home again this week, the players will give 100% once again and hope to find a bit of luck to secure a first victory in seven matches.
8th-placed Bankstown United FC are the current giant-killers after back-to-back wins over the Newcastle Jets and UNSW FC, respectively, but will hope to take down other teams heading forward.
Their strong defence and fight in midfield is part of what earned them victory last week and they will hope to apply those same principles to win the ball in midfield and score again.
A win could take them as high as 6th if other results also go their way; Bankstown are making a strong charge heading into the final third of the season.
Plenty of pride and power to prove potential will be on show in this clash; watch for the midfield battle to be key and for a bit of luck to play its part.
Saturday, 17th June 2023
Fraser Park FC vs Parramatta FC, 7pm @ Fraser Park
Previous Meeting: Parramatta FC 2-2 Fraser Park FC
Fraser Park FC held on to their clean sheet in a 0-0 draw away to Nepean FC last week, while Parramatta FC enjoyed the week off following three-straight defeats.
Both sides took the lead and came from behind in their entertaining 2-2 draw in Round Five’s Match of the Round, where the pace up front from both sides was evident.
Expect Fraser Park to hold the ball well this time out, while Parramatta look to capitalise on their week off.
7th-placed Fraser Park FC were resilient in defence but unable to create in attack in their scoreless draw last week and will be hoping for an improved performance this week.
The fact they kept a clean sheet against the side in 3rd should give them confidence, however; if they can hold the ball better in midfield, they could break down Bankstown in defence.
A win would take them into 6th-place and could build a lead over the bottom half of the table of five points; with back-to-back clean sheets but only one goal in three matches since their bye, look for attack to be their focus this week.
11th-placed Parramatta FC have lost four of their last five matches and will hope to get a result against a team they fought well against this season in Fraser Park.
With the week off in Round Nineteen, the Parramatta players should be refreshed and ready to tackle the final third of the season, where they will need to fight if they want to take the three points away from Fraser Park.
If they can find quality and composure in front of goal, they will have a chance of winning the match; if the attitude is there, they could hurt Fraser Park in attack and potentially move back into 10th.
These two sides will hope to play themselves back into form this week; expect a clash where a clinical nature in attack could decide the result.
Gladesville Ryde Magic vs Prospect United SC, 7pm @ Christie Park
Previous Meeting: Prospect United SC 2-5 Gladesville Ryde Magic
The Magic earned a second-consecutive 3-3 draw last week away to Sydney University SFC, while Prospect United SC went to ten matches unbeaten after their 2-2 draw at home to Hurstville FC last week.
The Magic put Prospect to the sword in their Round Five clash, where a double each from Kohki Hiyaoka and Chris Gaitatzis helped them to a 5-2 victory.
However, expect a different type of match this time around given the importance of the clash for both sides.
The 4th-placed Gladesville Ryde Magic are unbeaten in five matches, which includes four draws and the goals have risen dramatically for them, including their three last week.
They have scored 13 goals from their last four matches but have not been able to close out or win three of those matches.
With plenty of chances and goals coming in attack, look for defence to take more of a focus at home as they look to hold off Prospect’s charge and potentially move into 3rd.
5th-placed Prospect United SC are currently on the club’s best unbeaten streak in their history and will hope to prove their top-two chasing credentials against the side just above them on the ladder.
They pushed well in last week’s Match of the Round which could have gone either way and will hope to continue their fight for an eleventh match without defeat.
With plenty of youth coming through and a plan to attack the last third of the season, they will want to claim victory to put themselves in the best spot for a chance of promotion come season’s end.
4th vs 5th could prove to be very important for both sides heading forward, where one or the other’s unbeaten streak could end amid a push for the top two.
Hurstville FC vs Camden Tigers FC, 7pm @ Penshurst Park
Previous Meeting: Camden Tigers FC 5-4 Hurstville FC
Hurstville FC came from behind and could have snatched all three points late in their 2-2 draw away to Prospect United SC in last week’s Match of the Round, while Camden Tigers FC claimed their biggest scalp of the season with a 4-2 win at home over the Newcastle Jets.
The Tigers were victorious in a nine-goal thriller the last time these two sides met in Round Five, where the Tigers took the lead three times and also came from behind to earn a 5-4 home win over Hurstville.
With the Tigers powered in attack and Hurstville showing signs with a solid defence, expect a potentially tighter encounter this time.
9th-placed Hurstville FC took the lead and came from behind in their 2-2 draw against Prospect last week and will hope to showcase their improvement up front moving forward.
They will hope to utilise their pace up front and play with more freedom moving forward; against the Tigers would be a good test to continue to improve their offence.
Winless in five matches, a win could potentially take them as high as 6th on the ladder if other results go their way; they will hope to return to the higher parts of the table as they were previously, with shown improvement being made recently.
10th-placed Camden Tigers FC have had mixed results recently but will be buoyed with their win over the Newcastle Jets last week.
They have a straightforward game plan and have players who are listening to what the coach is saying, which will lead them to more positive results moving forward.
If they can hold their shape against a Hurstville team gaining confidence in attack, they will be hopeful of moving ahead of them in the table soon.
A win for Hurstville would help them a lot to move back into the top half, while a win for the Tigers could open up a five-point gap to Parramatta FC and move them within one point of Hurstville; plenty is up for grabs in this one.
Western Rage vs Nepean FC, 7pm @ Rydalmere Park
Previous Meeting: Nepean FC 3-1 Western Rage
The Western Rage moved off the bottom of the ladder for the first time since Round Five and went to five matches unbeaten after their 2-1 away win over Hawkesbury City FC last week, while Nepean FC failed to capitalise on chances in a 0-0 home draw to Fraser Park FC.
Nepean FC took home the three points when these two sides clashed in Round Five; expect this Western Sydney clash to throw up more goals this week.
The 14th-placed Western Rage are on the equal-second best unbeaten run among the sides currently on unbeaten runs in the league and will hope to take another step towards further improvement with victory this week.
Despite not being at their best last week, they still earned a victory and will hope to use the experience of winning like that for success over one of their neighbours.
With plenty of confidence and players enjoying their football, expect them to continue to be a tough team to crack in the league moving forward where a win this week could move them into 13th.
Nepean FC earned nine wins from their first fourteen matches but have only won one of their past four; they sit precariously in 3rd and will hope to pick up more victories soon to stave off the competition and push for the top two.
Following their scoreless draw last week, they will hope to take their chances when they come and put in an effort which could yield a positive result for them.
A win could move them into 2nd if results go their way given the Jets’ loss last week, while a loss could drop them to 4th; they will hope to push on as the final third of the season approaches.
With plenty at stake for both sides at both ends of the table, expect an encounter with plenty of chances and a result which will be near-impossible to predict.
By Football New South Wales League Two Men’s Writer, Dylan Costa @_dylancosta
