Round 22 Preview – League Two Mens
All seven matches on one day will see the action fly in Round Twenty-Two of the 2023 Football New South Wales League Two Men’s season.
The Match of the Round this week sees a rematch of one of the best finishes to a match earlier this season as Inner West Hawks FC host Camden Tigers FC.
Before that, South Coast Flame FC will hope to end their nine-match winless streak as they host the high-flying Bankstown United FC, before Sydney University SFC look to go six matches unbeaten, at home to Prospect United SC, while Hurstville FC could be the biggest movers as they host Hawkesbury City FC.
Meanwhile, 4th hosts 3rd as Gladesville Ryde Magic and Nepean FC look to push for promotion, Fraser Park FC will be out to spoil UNSW FC’s title charge, while a Western Sydney derby could prove crucial come season’s end as the last-placed Western Rage host 13th-placed Parramatta FC.
The 2nd-placed Newcastle Jets have a bye this week.
Saturday, 1st July 2023
Match of the Round: Inner West Hawks FC vs Camden Tigers FC, 7pm @ Arlington Oval
Previous Meeting: Camden Tigers FC 3-2 Inner West Hawks FC
Inner West Hawks FC will hope to go six-matches unbeaten after their 0-0 draw away to Sydney University SFC last week, while Camden Tigers FC are coming off their biggest win, scoreline-wise, this season after their dominant 5-1 display over the Western Rage.
When these two sides met in Round Seven’s Match of the Round, the Tigers came from 2-0 down and scored with the final kick of the match through Jack Harris to take out a 3-2 win in front of a large crowd in Camden.
If that match is anything to go off, this matchup will deliver another memorable moment as both sides look to chase a top-half finish.
12th-placed Inner West Hawks FC are on their best unbeaten run of the season – five matches without defeat with a clean sheet in three of them; they will hope for a victory to move further from the bottom and towards the top half.
The back three of Sidhya Malhotra, Matthew Paras and Christoper Phillips have been solid in defence and have led the resurgence of the Hawks, who will maintain the fight to charge towards the top seven.
With forwards who will press the Tigers all night, if they can find a missing goal-scoring knack they will hope to exact revenge for their defeat from earlier this season and potentially move into 11th, within one point of the Tigers.
10th-placed Camden Tigers FC are improving every week and will hope their recent results and performances will push them to another important victory this week, which could potentially reduce the gap to the two teams above them to one point.
The Tigers will want to improve their away form, where they have picked up only seven points from a possible 33, with two wins, one draw and eight losses; contrasted with 16 points at home with five wins, one draw and three losses.
If they can control the ball from the start and be smart in possession, they have the power to hurt teams, evidenced by their nine goals from their last three matches; look for them to do all they can to do the league double over the Hawks.
With a strong defence versus a strong attack, expect there to be plenty of chances at both ends as one of the matches of the season from earlier this year provides a part two.
South Coast Flame FC vs Bankstown United FC, 3:30pm @ Sir Ian McLennan Oval
Previous Meeting: Bankstown United FC 1-3 South Coast Flame FC
South Coast Flame FC moved to nine matches without a win as they fell 4-2 to Sydney University SFC last week, while Bankstown United FC continued their rise with a third win from four matches after their 3-0 win over Hurstville FC in last week’s Match of the Round.
The Flame were victors in their Round Seven clash; it was their first-ever win over Bankstown United and they will hope to use the push for a league double to lift them to a first win in ten matches this week.
The 8th-placed Flame have fallen from 2nd-place in Round 11, when they recorded their last win this season away to Hurstville FC and will hope to rescue some momentum as their season has slipped away.
Their struggles have included five losses and four draws, and they have failed to keep a clean sheet since that 2-0 away win over Hurstville.
A much-needed win would keep them just in touch and potentially move them back up into 6th place, but the Flame need to ignite sooner rather than later to avoid further collapse.
Conversely, 7th-placed Bankstown United FC leapfrogged the Flame following their 3-0 win over Hurstville last week and will hope to keep building positive momentum as they look to finish the season on a high.
In the top half of the ladder for the first time since Round Eight, Bankstown will hope to win as many matches as possible to end the season and their cool nature in matches will be a key factor.
With hat-trick hero Mitchell Cross now the league’s second-highest scorer this season, expect him to be a menace for the Flame defence.
The sides are separated by one point on the ladder; however, will the form guide prove true in this match for Bankstown or will the Flame rally to cause an upset and do the league double over the visitors?
Sydney University SFC vs Prospect United SC, 5pm @ Sydney University Football Ground
Previous Meeting: Prospect United SC 2-1 Sydney University SFC
Sydney University SFC’s eight-match winless streak ended following a 4-2 triumph at home to South Coast Flame FC, while Prospect United SC’s match at home against Fraser Park FC was rescheduled.
Prospect came from behind to claim all three points late at home to Uni in their Round Seven matchup and will hope to respond following a week off and with a host of new signings ready to push for promotion this season.
11th-placed Sydney University SFC will hope to build following their first victory since Round Eleven and will hope the new reinforcements added to their squad will help them push away from the bottom five.
University will hope the win will bring confidence to the squad, who have found their scoring touch lately with eleven goals from their past five matches; they will hope to utilise that strength against a strong defensive team in Prospect.
With new defenders Andrew Higgins and Oisin McGlone having made their debuts after their transfers to the club, expect their defence to continue to improve with some much-needed depth added to the squad.
5th-placed Prospect United SC had their match against Fraser Park FC abandoned last week and rescheduled to Tuesday, 4th July but will hope to utilise their new signings in Round Twenty-Two as they look to push for promotion.
Prospect have brought in two big signings this transfer window, with the experienced Pedj Bojic coming in, as well as a new striker in Marco Turpeinen; they both joined from Hawkesbury City FC, while Jacob Micallef left the club to play in Malta.
They will hope their last loss was a blip in their strong run this season and will be more determined than ever to gain the three points and push for promotion, starting with a trip to face off against the students.
With new signings bolstering both squads, expect there to be plenty of fresh legs ready to make a difference as Uni look to climb towards mid-table, while Prospect look to keep their promotion charge going.
Hurstville FC vs Hawkesbury City FC, 7pm @ Penshurst Park
Previous Meeting: Hawkesbury City FC 0-3 Hurstville FC
Hurstville FC’s four-match unbeaten run ended in a 3-0 loss away to Bankstown United FC in last week’s Match of the Round, while Hawkesbury City FC climbed back off the bottom of the ladder after their 2-1 victory away over Parramatta FC.
A Mouhamed Hamdache double helped Hurstville to a 3-0 away victory over the Hawks in Round Seven and the hosts will hope for a repeat of that result to move them back into the top half of the table.
9th-placed Hurstville FC will hope to respond to a disappointing performance in their 3-0 loss to Bankstown United FC in last week’s Match of the Round as they look to chase the top half of the table once again.
Nikita Andriopoulos and Nathan Merlino have departed the club, while the have signed Andre Guzman from Inner West Hawks FC and Alberto Gitierrez Gallardo as a Visa player, who Hurstville will hope can strengthen them moving forward.
Given they conceded three goals from set pieces last week, that will be the focus from them in defence, while in attack they will hope to have higher ball speed against the Hawks this week.
14th-placed Hawkesbury City FC picked up a crucial win against the side just ahead of them on the ladder in Parramatta FC last week and will hope to move another spot up the ladder with victory this week.
They have had some notable outgoings from the club during the transfer window so far, with Pedj Bojic and Marco Turpeinen having departed for Prospect United SC, while Kai McLoughlin returned to the United States for college.
Despite their squad thinning, they will hope to reverse their fortunes from earlier this season against Hurstville as they chase back-to-back victories and further reprieve from the depths of the ladder.
A win for Hurstville could move them up into 6th, while a win for Hawkesbury could push them away from last place; every win becomes more crucial as the season progresses.
Gladesville Ryde Magic vs Nepean FC, 7pm @ Christie Park
Previous Meeting: Nepean FC 1-0 Gladesville Ryde Magic
Gladesville Ryde Magic fell in a tough 3-0 loss away to the Newcastle Jets last week, while Nepean FC picked up a point against league-leaders UNSW FC in a 0-0 draw.
Nepean got the better of the Magic when the two sides met in Round Seven, where a Mitchell King goal led them to victory despite playing the final fifteen minutes with ten men; expect a similarly close encounter this time.
4th-placed Gladesville Ryde Magic lost 4-2 to the Newcastle Jets in a battle for promotion last week and will have to respond quickly if they want to keep up with those at the top come the end of the season.
With a third goalkeeper in two weeks having played for the club last week in Gian Rigoli, the Magic will hope to finalise their new signings this week as they push on this season; a win would move them level on 37 points with Nepean, two points behind the 2nd-placed Newcastle Jets.
If they can find a clinical edge this week that was missing last week, they will be a problem for Nepean at home with all the chances the young side can create and will hope to respond to defeat after they had gone six matches without a loss.
3rd-placed Nepean FC went to five matches unbeaten after their scoreless draw at home to league-leaders UNSW FC and will hope their new signings will help push them towards promotion this season.
Those signings include former Marconi Stallion and Macarthur Bulls’ player Lachlan Sepping, as well as former Stallion and Macarthur Rams’ player Kye Soares, while they hope at least one more move will be finalised before the closure of the transfer window.
Nepean are primed and ready to make a charge towards the top two, which will be their target as they prepare for a tough final nine rounds of the season; a win would move them into 2nd-place on 40 points and put a six-point gap between themselves and the rest of the sides outside the top three.
As far as matches go in the battle for the top two, 4th vs 3rd is as big as they get, and the winner of this matchup will take a large step towards the goal of a top-two finish.
Fraser Park FC vs UNSW FC, 7pm @ Fraser Park
Previous Meeting: UNSW FC 0-3 Fraser Park FC
Fraser Park FC will be refreshed and ready to take on the league leaders after their match against Prospect United SC was abandoned last week, while UNSW FC could not break down Nepean FC in a tough 0-0 draw.
Fraser Park got the better of the students in their Round Seven encounter, where a Samuel Shepherd double helped them to a 3-0 win in a rare loss for UNSW this season.
6th-placed Fraser Park FC will be hoping to win a third match from four as they keep their charge up the ladder going with a top two finish not off the table.
With an impromptu week off and plenty of motivation to complete a league double over the league leaders, there will be plenty of fresh minds ready to tackle the competition’s benchmark this week.
A win could move them up into 5th place, two points behind Gladesville Ryde Magic with a match in hand; expect them to come out firing early in this contest.
League-leaders UNSW FC went a third match without a win after their scoreless draw away to Nepean FC last week with players playing through illness and will hope to claim an important victory to build a gap at the top of the ladder.
They have brought in reinforcements to help them in their title and promotion charge with the signings of former Central Coast Mariners academy and Macarthur Bulls player Jack McLoughlin, as well as Emilio Vinci from Rockdale Ilinden.
With new players coming in and a desire to continue their charge at the top, expect UNSW FC to put a smart gameplan forward as they look to end their winless streak and put a five-point gap on the Newcastle Jets.
There is plenty on the line for both sides, where a defeat would be detrimental to both of their seasons; expect Fraser Park FC to fire up and UNSW FC to fire back.
Western Rage vs Parramatta FC, 7pm @ Rydalmere Park
Previous Meeting: Parramatta FC 5-1 Western Rage
The Western Rage fell back to the bottom of the league ladder following their 5-1 away loss to Camden Tigers FC, while Parramatta FC fell to a fifth-straight loss after they were beaten 2-1 at home by Hawkesbury City FC.
Parramatta put in a five-star performance when these two sides met in Round Seven and will hope to use memories of that match to spark them again this week in the Western Sydney Derby.
The last-placed Western Rage were dominated in their defeat against the Tigers and will hope to respond to that defeat with a strong performance this week.
With nine goals conceded in their past two matches, they will hope to return to the form that saw them go five-matches unbeaten not too long ago and against their fellow Western Sydney neighbours.
A win could move them off the bottom and would move them without a point of Parramatta, who they will hope to surpass on the table in the coming weeks if they can return to form sooner rather than later.
13th-placed Parramatta FC are in free-fall and will hope to claim what would be their most important win of the season this week against the Rage.
With motivation to stay away from the bottom of the ladder, that will serve as motivation for the side this week as they face a tough opponent in the Rage.
Youssef Badr moved to be the club’s leading goal scorer this season with nine goals after he added one more last week; look for him to lead the line once again as Parramatta chase victory.
As far as battles at the bottom go, they do not get much more crucial than this; the winner will take a big step away from the bottom of the league and have the momentum moving forward.
By Football New South Wales League Two Men’s Writer, Dylan Costa @_dylancosta
