Round 3 Preview – League Two Men’s
Round Three of the 2024 Football NSW League Two Men’s season will be a split round across two weeks filled with mid-week action as the teams’ fitness is tested early in the season.
The Match of the Round will see Inner West Hawks FC hunt their first win of the season as they host a side which has drawn their opening two matches in Prospect United SC.
Parramatta FC have a bye in Round Three.
Details of Bankstown United FC vs Fraser Park FC, and Granville Rage vs Sydney University SFC will be included in the Round Four review and the Round Five Preview.
Tuesday, 27th February 2024
Match of the Round: Inner West Hawks FC vs Prospect United SC, 7:45pm @ Valentine Sports Park
Last season: Inner West Hawks FC 2-4 Prospect United SC, Prospect United SC 1-1 Inner West Hawks FC
Inner West Hawks FC and Prospect United SC will both hope to get their first win of the season when they meet in Round Three.
Last season, Prospect picked up the three points in a lively Round 15 encounter, while the points were shared in Round 30 of last season; with plenty of changes in the two squads compared to last season, expect the fresh legs of both sides to run at each other for the full 90 minutes.
The Hawks led a 2-0 lead slip with two goals conceded in the final three minutes in their match away to Sydney University SFC last week and will hope the short turnaround will help them quickly forget that result to pick up three points.
New striker Takuma Hirano has scored three goals from the opening two matches of the season and will hope to be a threat once again for the Hawks, with the likes of Peter Yannopoulos also a threat going forward.
Look for the Hawks to want some stability across the park and continue to play with attacking intent as they hunt a win before they play three-straight away matches.
For the second week in a row, Prospect were a few minutes away from victory when they conceded in the 89th minute at home to the strong Mounties Wanderers FC last week and will be hopeful of taking a lead and holding it this week.
Playing away for the first time this season will prove a different challenge for Prospect, who will relish the opportunity to test their resolve once again.
Look for Prospect to consolidate early as they look to take the match to the Hawks in a match which should provide plenty of hard running and chances.
With two teams looking to get their first win of the season, expect two fired up sides to take the match to each other.
Mounties Wanderers FC vs Gladesville Ryde Magic, 7:30pm @ Cook Park (Mt Pritchard)
These two teams did not meet last season.
Mounties Wanderers and Gladesville Ryde Magic will both hope to pick up another early-season win when they clash mid-week.
With no recent clashes to base this matchup off, both sides will hope to use elements of surprise in their play to claim victory.
The Wanderers rescued a point in the 89th minute in a 3-3 draw away to Prospect United SC last week and will hope to use that fighting spirit to propel them towards another result to extend their unbeaten streak to three matches.
Yuki Kanai has scored four goals from the opening two match weeks and will be the main threat for Mounties in the frontline once again.
Mounties have scored 11 goals in two matches this season; with plenty of firepower up front and an attacking will to punish their opponents with every chance, look for Mounties to start on the front foot and keep the pressure on for as long as possible.
The Magic, meanwhile, found fighting spirit of their own in their 4-2 win over Granville Rage last week and will hope to continue that momentum in a tough away game.
Genki Kohyama has been involved in a lot of the Magic’s good play from their opening two matches and will hope to be a threat for the visitors once again.
Expect the Magic to want to control the midfield, limit the dangerous pace in the Mounties attack and play smart in their search of victory.
With a team in attacking intent in Mounties up against a young side in the Magic with no fear, expect there to be plenty of chances in this encounter.
Central Coast United FC vs Newcastle Jets, 8pm @ Pluim Park
These two teams did not meet last season.
Central Coast United host the Newcastle Jets in what is a local rivalry, of sorts, in this mid-week fixture.
The only recent history to base this clash off is to look at their form so far this season – both sides have shown their attacking prowess with seven and six goals, respectively, and will hope to continue that firepower in Round Three.
Central Coast United FC remain only one of two teams with a perfect record following the first two match weeks and will look to make that three-from-three when they host the Jets.
The main threat for the Pirates will be last week’s hat-trick hero, Ben Flakus, who has started the season with four goals in two matches, as well as Zac Pezzutto, who has a goal each in his first two appearances.
With a willingness to control the match with possession, expect the Pirates to look to wear down the young Jets side as they look to continue their perfect start to the season.
The Newcastle Jets will hope to use their 90+4’ equaliser to remain unbeaten last week as a catalyst to keep their unbeaten start to the season going.
They have conceded the opening goal in their first two matches this season and will hope to buck that trend in a match where possession may be difficult to come by.
Xavier Bertoncello and Alex Nunes both have two goals each to start the season – look for them to be the main points of attack for the Jets as they look to take down a local rival.
With plenty of speed and excitement across both teams, expect there to be plenty of lessons learned for these two sides as they look to take an important three points early in the season.
Hurstville FC vs South Coast Flame FC, 8pm @ Penshurst Park
Last season: Hurstville FC 0-2 South Coast Flame FC, South Coast Flame FC 3-1 Hurstville FC
Two teams who have had contrasting starts to the season, results-wise, will meet in this mid-week Round Three encounter.
The Flame completed the league double over Hurstville last season and will be confident of doing so again when they travel to face them this time.
Hurstville FC have had good play with no points to show for it in their opening two matches this season and will be hopeful of turning around their fortunes against one of the form sides of the competition.
With plenty of chances created so far this season, their attacking play has just missed the finish and the attacking side will hope to turn their weight of possession and chances into goals and wins moving forward.
Look for the likes of Jesse Gagro, Paul Gagro and Mouhamed Hamdache to turn their positive play into goals against a tough opponent this week.
The Flame, meanwhile, have been on fire to start the season, with two wins from two matches, six goals scored and only one conceded.
They have quality in attack across the pitch, shown from five different goal scorers for their six goals, and will look to hold possession while maintaining pressure on Hurstville this week.
Look for the Flame to control the midfield, have leadership in defence and utilise their attack prowess against an organised side in Hurstville.
With two teams who are fine-tuning their style of play to bring them the most success this season, the result of this match is anything but guaranteed as both sides look to take it to each other in what should be a clash of two similar styles.
Wednesday, February 28th 2024
Hawkesbury City FC vs Camden Tigers FC, 8pm @ David Bertenshaw Field
Last season: Camden Tigers FC 2-3 Hawkesbury City FC, Hawkesbury City FC 1-3 Camden Tigers FC
The final match in the first batch of fixtures of the split round sees Hawkesbury City FC host Camden Tigers FC in a clash which always provides a healthy rivalry.
Both sides picked up a win each last season against each other, with nine goals scored between the two matches – expect a similar story this time around as both teams hunt their first win of the season.
Hawkesbury had a bye last week and will hope to use their fresh legs against a Camden side which will be backing up from their trip to Newcastle just three days before the clash.
After a tough first round loss to Sydney University SFC, the Hawks will be hopeful of turning up in their first home match of the season.
Expect the likes of Harry Drew, Duncan Stewart, and Vincent D’Ermilio to provide the goal threat as Hawkesbury look to play fast football and pick up points early in the season.
The Tigers, meanwhile, travel once more and will hope to provide as much threat in this clash as they did against the Newcastle Jets, where they scored three goals but conceded in stoppage time to settle for a 3-3 draw.
Look for the Tigers to play with energy and press Hawkesbury as they look to play with positive intent to bring success with their young side.
With success in their most recent matchup against the Hawks at this venue, the Tigers will be hopeful of once again claiming all three points to kick-start their season.
Both sides will look to take the match to each other, which should bring with it a contest with plenty of chances; expect there to be plenty of healthy rivalry between two sides with a mutual respect for each other.
By Football NSW League Two Men’s Reporter, Dylan Costa @_dylancosta
