Round 29 Preview – League Two Men’s
UNSW FC are one win away from claiming the 2023 Football NSW League Two Men’s title – can they claim top spot and earn promotion with one week to spare in Round Twenty-Nine?
Their match away to last-placed Inner West Hawks FC is the Match of the Round this week, where the Hawks will look to play spoiler and claim pride as they look to escape the bottom of the ladder.
Saturday, 19th August 2023
Match of the Round: Inner West Hawks FC vs UNSW FC, 7pm at Arlington Oval
Previous Meeting: UNSW FC 1-0 Inner West Hawks FC
This is it – following the Newcastle Jets’ away loss to Prospect United SC last week, UNSW FC are just one win away from the league title and gaining promotion to the League One Men’s competition for 2024 as they travel to face Inner West Hawks FC.
UNSW FC sit on 56 points, five ahead of Nepean FC and six ahead of the Jets with two matches to play; they have led the league following 22 of the 28 rounds so far this season, which includes the past 21 rounds straight.
Inner West Hawks FC picked up a strong 5-0 home win over the Western Rage last week, while UNSW FC are on a four-match win streak and will be refreshed following their bye last week.
An 82nd-minute winner from Mitchell Mattison saw UNSW FC over the Hawks in their 1-0 Round Fourteen win; expect to see plenty more goals this time as both teams will look to go at each other for the whole ninety minutes.
League-leaders UNSW FC will have no shortage of motivation for this clash, but a draw could be enough to clinch the title if Nepean FC fail to beat Bankstown United FC away on Friday.
Kevin Lopes is on 23 goals for the season, two ahead of Bankstown’s Mitchell Cross, and he will hope to further extend his lead as he chases his own bit of history.
The league trophy will be waiting at Arlington Oval; the league is UNSW’s to lose from here and they will be hoping for one final clinical performance to celebrate the title.
Last-placed Inner West Hawks FC would love to play spoiler, either to UNSW’s celebrations or to extend the title battle for one more week and will be eager to go off the back of a strong victory last week.
They will be looking forward to the challenge, particularly ex-UNSW FC players Peter Phillips and Florim Binakaj, who will be eager to get stuck in against their old side and deny them the title, for one more week, at least.
With players back and a fully fit bench, they will have the players and the motivation to pick up an important win which would shape both ends of the ladder; a win could lift them as much as three places into 12th.
All eyes will be on two matches, in particular, this week; do not be fooled by the league table – will there be celebrations or disappointment for UNSW FC this week?
Friday, 18th August 2023
Bankstown United FC vs Nepean FC, 8pm at Padstow Park
Previous Meeting: Nepean FC 2-0 Bankstown United FC
This is the crunch match for Nepean FC – a win away to Bankstown United FC puts them in prime position for the promotion-playoff position of 2nd place ahead of the final match week and keeps their title hopes alive for at least one more day.
They will have 2nd wrapped up if they win and the Newcastle Jets lose at home to Fraser Park FC.
Bankstown United FC lost 1-0 away to Fraser Park FC last week, while Nepean FC were 1-0 victors over South Coast Flame FC in last week’s Match of the Round.
Nepean FC defeated Bankstown 2-0 last time out thanks to a late goal each from Leonard Abdo and Kamran Qayumi; expect goal threat from both teams as they look to end the season on a high.
7th-placed Bankstown United FC have lost three matches in a row and will hope to wrestle back momentum as they chase a top-half finish.
However, with nine players out injured and no fresh substitutes available for first grade, they are under no illusions as to how hard they will have to fight to gain a positive result this week.
In their last home match of the season, they will hope to make the match difficult for Nepean and would love to have their say on the promotion race; Mitchell Cross is also only two goals behind Kevin Lopes in the race for the top goal-scorer mantle.
2nd-placed Nepean FC are unbeaten in eleven matches and have only conceded four goals in that time; however, they will hope for a much-improved attacking performance this week away to Bankstown, who they know will lift for the occasion.
They will be wary of the fight coming from Bankstown and will be well prepared through their training this week to ensure they are fit and firing for Friday, but they will be without Harrison Fox and Raajdeep Singh following their red cards last week.
A victory will put them two points behind UNSW FC with one match to play if UNSW lose to Inner West Hawks FC, otherwise it puts them potentially one win away from a guaranteed 2nd-placed finish and a promotion-playoff against either Mounties Wanderers FC or Dunbar Rovers FC for a spot in the 2024 League One Men’s competition.
The end of the season brings with it more motivation than ever – will Nepean hold firm or will Bankstown cause the biggest shake-up of the season so far?
Hawkesbury City FC vs Sydney University SFC, 8pm at David Bertenshaw Field
Previous Meeting: Sydney University SFC 0-0 Hawkesbury City FC
An important battle in the mid-table awaits as Hawkesbury City FC look to continue their unbeaten league run at home to Sydney University SFC, who are hoping to avoid a last-placed finish.
Hawkesbury City FC drew 2-2 away to Gladesville Ryde Magic last week, while Sydney University SFC lost 2-1 at home to Hurstville FC.
The sides could not be separated the last time they met despite multiple good chances; Hawkesbury unable to capitalise against a ten-man Uni; look for there to be goals this time as the season draws to a near end.
9th-placed Hawkesbury City FC are eight matches unbeaten, which includes six wins, and will hope to keep their push up the ladder going in their final home match of the season.
They could yet finish in the top half of results go their way and will be hoping seven missing players does not curtail the end of their season, which is building well for the next.
Look for the likes of Harry Drew, Vincent D’ermillio and Gregory Kondek to have their say in this match as Hawkesbury chase a win which could take them one win away from 7th spot with one round to go.
12th-placed Sydney University SFC have shown promising signs lately but fell to a sixth-consecutive match without a win last week; they will be well-rested following a week of rest after three matches in a week and will be eager to take all three points this weekend.
They have had positive attacking play without the results to show for it recently and will hope to find that clinical edge in front of goal as they look to avoid potentially dropping to last-place.
They are hoping to build strongly for next season, where a few signings could do them wonders; they end the season with back-to-back away matches and will hope to take points away from Hawkesbury this week to start with.
Hawkesbury will hope to end the season on a high in the final two rounds while Uni could drop to last if they lose this week; expect a strong start from both sides where fatigue late could play its part.
Saturday, 19th August 2023
South Coast Flame FC vs Gladesville Ryde Magic, 3:30pm at Sir Ian McLennan Oval
Previous Meeting: Gladesville Ryde Magic 2-2 South Coast Flame FC
Another battle to stay in the top four beckons for Gladesville Ryde Magic as they make the trip down to Kembla Grange to face South Coast Flame FC.
South Coast Flame FC lost 1-0 away to Nepean FC in last week’s Match of the Round, while Gladesville Ryde Magic drew 2-2 at home to Hawkesbury City FC.
The Magic came from two goals down to secure a 2-2 draw in the Round Fourteen match which was initially abandoned due to a light failure in the final five minutes before the result was declared 2-2; there could be another bizarre moment in the second clash between these two sides.
11th-placed South Coast Flame FC fell away at Nepean FC in last week’s Match of the Round but have shown positive signs of gaining better results.
They have had a horror run of fixtures to end the season, facing 1st, 2nd and now 4th in consecutive weeks, but that will only help build their character as they look to build for next season.
If the Flame can hold solid at the back against an attacking Magic side, they could play the battle of attrition and hold out late, where a win could take them up into 9th.
4th-placed Gladesville Ryde Magic are clinging on to that spot following indifferent form lately; they have won only two of their past seven matches and picked up eight points from those.
Prospect United SC, Fraser Park FC and Bankstown United FC are hot on their heels as they sit two, two and five points behind, respectively; they will hope to bring the fight to the final match week with a victory this week.
Following a comeback from two goals down to draw 2-2 last week, the Magic have shown they will fight until the end for the points, which will be critical at this end of the season.
With all table positions yet to be determined, this clash promises to bring some attacking flair to the weekend.
Parramatta FC vs Hurstville FC, 5pm at Melita Stadium
Previous Meeting: Hurstville FC 3-0 Parramatta FC
Another clash which could have ramifications for who finishes the season in last awaits as Parramatta FC host Hurstville FC at Melita Stadium.
Parramatta FC lost 1-0 away to Camden Tigers FC last week, while Hurstville FC won 2-1 away to Sydney University SFC.
A goal from Jesse Gagro and a double from Julian Bittar saw Hurstville to a strong 3-0 win at home to the Hawks in Round Fourteen; they will hope to double the dose as they look to end the season positively.
14th-placed Parramatta FC sit just one point ahead of last-placed Inner West Hawks FC following their 1-0 loss away to Camden Tigers FC and sit in real danger of being the bottom side come season’s end.
With a team depleted and down following a third-straight loss, they are expecting a physical battle at home to Hurstville this week, where they will hope to stay in the battle of attrition.
Their motivation this week will be clear – win and potentially take the battle to avoid bottom spot to the last match week; a win could take them up as high as 12th.
10th-placed Hurstville FC won their first match in seven weeks following their 2-1 away win over Sydney University SFC last week and will hope that gives them the confidence to end the season strongly.
With eight players out injured and others filling in for non-favoured positions, Hurstville will hope their fight in the match this week will hold them in good stead.
A win could take them up into 9th, while a loss could drop them into 11th; look for another powerful performance by Hurstville, who will look to dominate across the pitch.
A clash like this will prove where these sides sit heading into the final match week and beyond into next season; look for Hurstville to come out strongly and expect a response from Parramatta.
Western Rage vs Prospect United SC, 7pm at Rydalmere Park
Previous Meeting: Prospect United SC 1-1 Western Rage
This clash has ramifications for the bottom of the league and for a top-four spot as the Western Rage host western Sydney neighbours, Prospect United SC.
The Western Rage lost 5-0 away to Inner West Hawks FC last week, while Prospect United SC won 2-0 away to the Newcastle Jets.
The two sides could not be separated in Round Fourteen’s Match of the Round and a fiery affair could be in store this time around.
The 13th-placed Western Rage will be eager to fight back after their 5-0 loss away to Inner West Hawks FC last week but will be without first-choice goalkeeper Samuel Bortolazzo after his red card last week.
They will hope to control the match early at home and chase an early goal, which would hold them in good stead to see out a result.
The Rage sit two points above last-place and will want to avoid that position come the end of the season next week; expect a response from the hosts who will look to utilise the ball well at home, with pace out wide and a defence hoping to readjust after last week.
5th-placed Prospect United SC recorded arguably their most important win of the season last week following their 2-0 away victory over the Newcastle Jets and will be hopeful of a return to the top four with a victory this week.
They will look to be focused for a different challenge in the Rage and will hope to play exciting football as they look to end their season on a high.
A loss could end their top-four hopes and potentially drop them to 7th place; expect Prospect to come out strong from the start as they chase victory.
Neither side will want to end the season on a low as they look to build for the next; expect to see a strong showing from both teams where a mistake or moment of magic could decide the outcome.
Sunday, 20th August 2023
Newcastle Jets vs Fraser Park FC, 5pm at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility
Previous Meeting: Fraser Park FC 1-1 Newcastle Jets
The Newcastle Jets need to win this week to keep the pressure on Nepean FC for the all-important second-place promotion play-off position and potentially keep their slim title hopes alive as they host Fraser Park FC.
The Newcastle Jets lost 2-0 at home to Prospect United SC last week, while Fraser Park FC won 1-0 at home to Bankstown United FC.
Two goals in the opening six minutes saw the spoils shared between these two teams in Round Fourteen; Fraser Park would love to pick up arguably their biggest result of the season as they head up north for this clash.
The 3rd-placed Newcastle Jets will know exactly what they need to do come their match on Sunday and will hope for a response following last week’s 2-0 defeat away to Prospect United SC.
They sit one point behind Nepean FC and six points behind league-leaders UNSW FC, who would need a monumental slip-up to give the Jets any chance of winning the title.
Look for the Jets to come out firing this week, where the likes of Ezra Palombini in attack will look to cause all sorts of problems for a resolute Fraser Park defence.
6th-placed Fraser Park FC will hope to catch the Jets at the right time and be defensively sound early on against Newcastle.
They have struggled for goals with just three in their past eight matches and struggled to also create last week; look for them to make that a focus as they look to pick up a crucial scalp this week.
A win could take them as high as 4th while a loss could drop them to 7th; expect nothing less than a fighting performance from Fraser Park on Sunday.
With promotion hopes on the line for the Jets, expect Newcastle to fire up and for Fraser Park to push back just as hard as they chase their own personal success in one of the most important matches of the season.
8th-placed Camden Tigers FC have their bye this week.
By Football New South Wales League Two Men’s Reporter, Dylan Costa @_dylancosta
