Round 4 Preview – League Two Men’s
Round Four of the 2024 Football NSW League Two Men’s season will see every team back in action as they look to either continue or defy the early-season form guide.
The Match of the Round this week will see Camden Tigers FC look to continue their strong start to the season when they host a refreshed Parramatta FC.
Central Coast United FC have a bye in Round Four.
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.
Saturday, March 2nd 2024
Match of the Round: Camden Tigers FC vs Parramatta FC, 7pm @ Nott Oval
Last season: Parramatta FC 4-2 Camden Tigers FC, Camden Tigers FC 1-0 Parramatta FC
A clash which should provide plenty of fireworks sees Camden Tigers FC and Parramatta FC meet at a makeshift home for the Tigers at Nott Oval in Round Four.
Last season, the two sides finished with honours even after a win at their respective home grounds and a match with plenty of chances should be expected in this clash with two teams this season who have found goals early.
Camden were strong 4-0 victors in their mid-week match away to Hawkesbury City FC and, despite riding their luck defensively in the first half, saw out the match with a strong second half display.
They have scored seven goals from their first two matches this season, with four different goal scorers, including Bailey Simpson, who scored the winner against Parramatta in their Round 28 match last season.
Look for the Tigers to put in plenty of effort, especially in attack, as they look to put in another proud performance to keep their strong start to the season going.
Parramatta FC had a bye in Round Three and will hope to come out refreshed and ready to take down a form side in the competition early in the season.
Parramatta lost to a strong South Coast Flame side last time out and will hope to take it to another fierce opponent this week.
Look for the Eagles to have leadership in defence through the likes of Tarek Elrich, which they will hope to use as a base to set themselves up in the match, as they look to take the contest to the Tigers.
With two teams full of attacking intent clashing amid plenty of fixtures early in the season, concentration will be key to decide the victor of this clash.
Friday, March 1st 2024
South Coast Flame FC vs Sydney University SFC, 8pm @ Sir Ian McLennan Oval
Last season: South Coast Flame FC 1-3 Sydney University SFC, Sydney University SFC 4-2 South Coast Flame FC
An intriguing clash awaits when South Coast Flame FC host Sydney University SFC, where both sides will hope to end the other’s unbeaten start to the season.
When these two teams clashed last season, they were goal-filled affairs, with 10 goals total, Sydney University coming out on top on both occasions; expect this contest to be just as competitive as both sides look to continue good early-season form.
The Flame have started the season with three wins from three matches, with five different goal scorers picking up eight goals from those matches.
One player to watch will be Michael Trajkovski, who has scored three goals from the opening three rounds; he will hope to continue to improve his scoring record in his first season with the team.
The hosts will hope to continue firing with good pressure across the pitch and a willingness to hold the ball, with skilful players technically to break down the students.
Sydney University will hope their tough week of fixtures, with three matches in nine days, can start off well against a side they had plenty of success against last season.
They will hope their young striker, Stephen Marinos, can be the catalyst for success this week, while they have plenty of spirited players within the squad with a good mentality to build off every performance.
Look for Uni to use their positive results against the Flame last season as inspiration for the success they can gain from this clash as they look to continue to refine their playing roles, next up against a side which is hoping to win a fourth-straight match.
With the league’s most in-form team, results-wise, coming up against a young side which has shown plenty of attacking threat early, expect both sides to want to start strong, where the first goal could be crucial.
Saturday, March 2nd 2024
Fraser Park FC vs Granville Rage, 5pm @ Fraser Park
Last season: Granville Rage 2-2 Fraser Park FC, Fraser Park FC 2-1 Granville Rage
Both Fraser Park FC and Granville Rage will be refreshed having not played mid-week but will be mindful of a busy schedule with three matches in eight and nine days, respectively, when they meet in Round Four.
These two sides had a 2-2 stalemate in their first clash last season, while in their Round 30 match-up, Fraser Park ended the season with the three points; expect a similarly close encounter this time around as both sides look for an important win early in the season.
Fraser Park FC picked up the three points away to Hurstville in the Round Two Match of the Round and will look to use their defensive resolve once more to guide them to more success this week.
Fraser Park will be mindful of player’s fitness levels, with three matches coming up in eight days, but will be confident of relying on their astute defence to help them towards more success this week as it did last.
With Alexaander Nicolosi always a threat up front, and David Ustimenko off the mark for his new side, expect Fraser Park to pose more than a threat up front, while a strong defence will look to keep them in good stead, especially late if the match opens up.
Granville Rage have had positive play this season but not much to show for it with back-to-back losses to start the season.
They will look to be a physical side to face once again and will hope to curb their defensive frailties which has seen them concede 12 goals in two matches.
If the Rage can build on the positives from their performances, which includes their fighting spirit and their willingness to attack, they will hope to put in a powerful performance against Fraser Park.
Two sides who have had differing starts to the season will fight hard for a crucial win ahead of a busy period for the two clubs; expect both sides to adjust early as lessons continue to be learned in the initial stages.
Gladesville Ryde Magic vs Inner West Hawks FC, 5pm @ Christie Park
Last season: Inner West Hawks FC 1-2 Gladesville Ryde Magic, Gladesville Ryde Magic 2-2 Inner West Hawks FC
Gladesville Ryde Magic meet Inner West Hawks FC in a battle which should provide plenty for both sides to ponder.
The Hawks came from behind to draw with the Magic in their last encounter and a similarly tight affair can be expected this time with the two teams still looking to find their bearings amid player changes and role changes within their squads.
The Magic have had a tough, inconsistent start to the season, with losses against two sides who have started the season well in South Coast Flame FC and Mounties Wanderers FC, while they picked up a strong win against Granville Rage.
Having failed to score in two of their three matches so far this season, the Magic will want to rectify that to gain some confidence moving forward.
Look for the Magic to want to score early at home in this contest, as they did in their previous home match against the Rage, which may help them settle in the match better than simply holding out for a clean sheet early.
The Hawks, meanwhile, have scored at least two goals in each of their matches so far this season and continued to score last week in their 3-1 win over Prospect United SC; they will be hopeful of continuing their streak when they face the Magic.
New striker, Takuma Hirano, will be the one to watch this week; he has scored in each match for the Hawks this season, with four goals from three matches, and looks to be their main threat up front, drifting across the front line.
Look for the Hawks to have plenty of chances and alter their game plan as the match evolves to match or counter what their opponent is doing as their side looks to continue to learn.
With the Magic loving goals to settle nerves and the Hawks loving to score goals, in general, expect this contest to be filled with excitement from the first whistle to the last as the two sides look to display their skills.
Prospect United SC vs Newcastle Jets, 7pm @ Valentine Sports Park
Last season: Newcastle Jets 0-1 Prospect United SC, Prospect United SC 2-0 Newcastle Jets
An intriguing match-up awaits when Prospect United SC play against the Newcastle Jets in Round Four.
Last season, Prospect were the only team to do the league double over the Jets, with wins home and away without conceding a goal; they will hope that can continue when they face off this season.
Prospect played some good football mid-week but were undone by Inner West Hawks FC in a 3-1 loss and they will hope to bounce back quickly against a side they had plenty of success against last season.
With fast players able to make runs in behind, Prospect will hope to be dangerous with the ball played along the ground and in the air, while their players have a willingness to press high up the field to win the ball and force mistakes from their opponents.
Look for Prospect to fight hard as they look for their first win of the season, following back-to-back draws and then a loss mid-week.
The Newcastle Jets, meanwhile, have started the season strongly across the park, with 10 goals scored from just three matches and their first clean sheet of the season coming against Central Coast United FC mid-week.
Janni Rafty has started the season in strong form, with four goals from three matches, but the fluency, organisation and hard running of the Jets front line has seen them cause problems to every team they have faced so far this season.
Look for the Jets to continue tirelessly running for the full 90 minutes, where the likes of Xavier Bertoncello and Justin Vidic will also hope to add to their goal tallies for the season.
Prospect may be buoyed by their success against the Jets last season, while Newcastle may be wary of that; this clash could provide anything as history goes up against current form.
Bankstown United FC vs Hurstville FC, 7pm @ Padstow Park
Last season: Hurstville FC 1-4 Bankstown United FC, Bankstown United FC 3-0 Hurstville FC
Bankstown United FC and Hurstville FC will both hunt their first win of the season when they meet at Padstow Park.
Bankstown completed the league double over Hurstville last season and will hope to use that recent head-to-head advantage to pick up a big three points early in the season.
The hosts have a bit of luck in the sense that they do not have three matches within a week, given they have the bye in Round Five, and will hope to pick up a strong result against Hurstville before their mid-week Round Three match against Fraser Park FC.
Bankstown will hope to be better defensively than their last outing against Central Coast United FC and will hope to be good moving forward against a Hurstville side they know they will have to take the game to.
Expect Bankstown to do just that from the first whistle to the final whistle, with an emphasis on getting their attacking play gelling for better results.
Hurstville have lost their opening three matches of the season despite large periods of positive play in each match and will hope their fortunes turn sooner rather than later.
After a robust performance against the ladder-leading South Coast Flame FC last week with no points to show for it, Hurstville will be desperate to create plenty of chances, but more importantly put them away as they search for their first three points of the season.
Look for Hurstville to come out with intent, press well throughout the match and fire plenty of shots on goal, both from inside and outside the box.
A clash of two sides hoping to get their season going sooner rather than later should see a match where neither side is afraid to lose; expect there to be plenty of chances and a fluid approach to a match which could provide some surprises.
Hawkesbury City FC vs Mounties Wanderers FC, 7:30pm @ David Bertenshaw Field
These two teams did not meet last season.
Hawkesbury City FC will hope to take down the best attacking team in the league currently when they host Mounties Wanderers FC in Round Four.
These two sides did not meet last season but with Hawkesbury coming off back-to-back losses and Mounties flying near the top of the ladder, this clash has all the markings to provide a match with plenty of fight and character.
Hawkesbury lost 4-0 in a mid-week clash at home to Camden Tigers FC and will hope to turn their fortunes around quickly against Mounties.
The priority for the Hawks will be ensuring they do not concede early, so they can build into the match; the longer the match stays in their favour, play-wise, the better, but the Hawks will be wary of the Wanderers’ pace on the counter.
Look for Hawkesbury to hit Mounties with firepower from the likes of Harry Drew, Duncan Stewart, and Vincent D’Ermilio as they look to defend their home ground and pick up a big victory early in the season.
Mounties Wanderers FC have scored 15 goals in their opening three matches, five more than the next closest side, and will hope to continue firing when they travel to face Hawkesbury.
Yuki Kanai and Anthony Vastag have been electric for the Wanderers this season with five and three goals, respectively, from their opening three matches and their attacking threat has shown no sign of slowing down any time soon.
Look for Mounties to want to score early to put Hawkesbury on the back foot as they look to continue their perfect start to the season.
With plenty of attacking power between both sides, expect there to be plenty of chances in a match where neither side will want to let up at any moment.
By Football New South Wales League Two Men’s Reporter, Dylan Costa @_dylancosta
