Round 7 Preview – League Two Men’s
With three teams still unbeaten heading into Round Seven of the 2024 Football NSW League Two Men’s season, battles of 1st vs 3rd and 2nd vs 4th headline the action this week.
The Match of the Round this week, however, sees a team hot on their heels in 5th place, Bankstown United FC, who host Gladesville Ryde Magic in a match which produced nine goals between the two matches last season.
Saturday, 23rd March 2024
Match of the Round: Bankstown United FC vs Gladesville Ryde Magic, 7pm at Padstow Park
Last season: Gladesville Ryde Magic 4-3 Bankstown United FC, Bankstown United FC 2-0 Gladesville Ryde Magic
A matchup which always provide a respectful rivalry between two sides who have a good relationship sees Bankstown United FC host Gladesville Ryde Magic.
These two sides had a win each last season in the head-to-head, where the Magic won the Stroke Recovery Cup thanks to a 4-3 win at home, while Bankstown picked up the three points in the reverse fixture.
Bankstown came from behind for their 4-1 victory at home to Camden Tigers FC last week and will hope to win a fourth-straight match when they face the Magic this week.
The hosts have had six goal scorers for their past ten goals in three matches, with the consistent Mitchell Cross picking up four goals from those three matches – expect him to be the main threat once again, but for others to pop up with chances.
Look for Bankstown to start quickly to grab an early goal in a match where emotion could play its part.
Gladesville Ryde Magic, meanwhile, were dealt the worse loss of any team in the league so far this season after their 9-0 loss away to Hurstville FC last week but will hope to dismiss that as a one-off and fight for points this week.
With those goals coming from a variety of different situations last week, the Magic will hope a good week of training to refocus ahead of this clash will help them respond strongly.
Look for the Magic to focus on defence early and try to hit Bankstown on the counter away from home as they look to be more stable than last week.
In a clash which always provides goals and entertainment, expect this one to be no different as an attacking Bankstown looking to keep pace with the early pack hosts a Magic side which is hoping to bounce back from a big loss.
Gladesville Ryde Magic did, however, progress in the Australia Cup midweek after a 6-1 home win over MRP FC, with a hat-trick to Joshua Foley, one goal to Chris Gaitatzis, one to Lucas Fontes and one to Christopher Andry.
Friday, 22nd March 2024
Hawkesbury City FC vs Prospect United SC, 8pm at David Bertenshaw Field
Last season: Hawkesbury City FC 0-1 Prospect United SC, Prospect United SC 1-2 Hawkesbury City FC
Two sides who have started the season with one win each will hope to make that two when Hawkesbury City FC and Prospect United SC face off.
Last season, both away sides picked up the victories with tight one-goal margins separating the two sides; expect this side to be just as tight as both teams look to work their way into the season.
Hawkesbury City FC fell 2-0 at home to Inner West Hawks in a tight contest in last week’s Match of the Round and will be hopeful of turning around their fortunes in Round Seven.
Harry Drew and Vincent D’Ermilio were the goal scorers for Hawkesbury in their 2-1 away win over Prospect last season and so will be hopeful of scoring once more to guide the Hawks to victory.
Hawkesbury will be prepared for the fast start Prospect may bring and will hope to break down the organised side early, where finding an early goal may help them settle in the match.
Prospect, meanwhile, lost a tight match at home to South Coast Flame FC 1-0 last week and will hope to find a bit more time on the ball following a tough run of fixtures against three of the top four teams.
They will be optimistic after they took the match to the red-hot Flame last week and will be confident of finding different ways to play for a victory against Hawkesbury.
Expect Prospect to restrict Hawkesbury early and use moments in transition to score away from home, where if the match becomes tight late, they will have a few other strategies to claim all three points.
With both sides hoping to learn from previous weeks and move up the ladder early in the season, expect both sides to be cautious early as they try to size up the best way to see through the match.
Granville Rage vs Parramatta FC, 8pm at Rydalmere Park
Last season: Parramatta FC 5-1 Granville Rage, Granville Rage 2-0 Parramatta FC
A Western Sydney derby in Round Seven sees Granville Rage host Parramatta FC in a match which should provide plenty of fire between the two sides.
Last season, both home teams were victorious; with home advantage playing its part in derbies, expect the Rage to be confident and for Parramatta to want to fire up in the match.
Granville Rage came from two goals down to draw 2-2 at home to Central Coast United FC last week and will hope to use that fighting spirit to pick up a third win from five matches.
Nikola Todoroski has picked up seven goals from his first five matches this season and has scored more than 50% of his team’s goals this season; expect him to be the man the Rage turn to in attack, especially with his strength and speed.
The Rage have scored in all but one of their matches so far this season; expect them to provide an attacking threat throughout the match as they look to take down their Western Sydney rival.
Parramatta, FC, meanwhile, are coming off a tough 7-1 home loss to the high-flying Newcastle Jets and will hope to respond quickly from that defeat.
The Eagles have not failed to score in a match so far this season but will hope to put in a big effort across the pitch with hard running to stop a Rage side with plenty of pace.
Look for Parramatta to right the wrongs of last week as they look respond strongly away from home, where they last picked up a win away to Camden Tigers FC.
In a Western Sydney derby, anything can happen, but expect both sides to give it their all to claim bragging rights and an important three points.
Saturday, 23rd March 2024
Central Coast United FC vs Sydney University SFC, 5pm at Pluim Park
These two teams did not meet last season.
Two sides who have had inconsistent starts to the year in Central Coast United FC and Sydney University SFC meet in a match which could change the fortunes of the two teams going forward.
With no recent head-to-head matches to base this clash on, both sides will be having a fresh look at each other and will hope to notice weaknesses early.
Central Coast picked up back-to-back wins to start the season but after they let a two-goal lead slip last week in their 2-2 draw away to Granville Rage, they have now gone three matches without victory.
After back-to-back matches without scoring, however, it was two familiar goal scorers in Ben Flakus, who scored his fifth goal of the season, and Zac Pezzutto, who picked up goal number three for the year, who broke that streak; look for them to be involved in the Pirates positive play again this week.
The Pirates will want to find the finishing touch to put this match away if they can get ahead and will be prepared to at home following back-to-back away matches.
Sydney University SFC, meanwhile, will be eager to go following their bye last week and will hope to have used that week off to work on a few areas of their game.
They will hope to learn how to control the tempo of the match when they have the ball so they can make opposition teams uncomfortable and will hope to have continued growth throughout the season in their play; this could be evident against the Pirates.
Look for the young side to continue to blood new talent, especially from their under-20s program, as they look to continue progressing as the season goes on.
With two teams who will want to make the most of the matches in the early part of the season, expect both sides to stick to their strengths early as the match evolves into a battle of tempo and speed.
Sydney University SFC are also in Australia Cup action in Round Three of the preliminaries as they travel to face League One Men’s side Rydalmere Lions FC, where they will hope to take down the team currently 9th in that league.
Inner West Hawks FC vs South Coast Flame FC, 7pm at Arlington Oval
Last season: South Coast Flame FC 2-2 Inner West Hawks FC, Inner West Hawks FC 1-1 South Coast Flame FC
Two teams who have had very strong starts to the season in Inner West Hawks FC and South Coast Flame FC meet in what should be a hotly contested match in Round Seven.
Last season, the two sides could not be separated with a draw coming from each match, respectively, and a similarly tight affair should be expected this time, too.
Inner West Hawks won a third match from their past four after they took down Hawkesbury City FC 2-0 away from home in the Match of the Round and will be confident of dealing the Flame their first loss of the season this week.
The league’s leading goal scorer this season in Takuma Hirano scored another two goals last week to bring his tally up to eleven and is showing no signs of slowing down; with pacey wingers outside the forward to set him up, he has proven to be clinical in front of goal with the chances the Hawks have created.
With the Hawks back at home for the first time in four matches, this will be a clash they would have marked down as one which will be important to get right early in the season and they will hope to further prove their credentials this season by taking down the Flame.
South Coast Flame FC, meanwhile, also moved to a sixth match without defeat after a 1-0 away win over Prospect United SC and will hope to take down the in-form Hawks this week.
Last week saw the unbeaten Flame record their third clean sheet from their first six matches, while the Flame found a seventh goal scorer for the season last week in Yianni Perkatis, with Michael Trajkovski still leading the Flame with seven goals.
Expect another strong defensive performance from the Flame away from home, with the likes of captain James Baldacchino and Jacob Poscoliero leading the side well to be set for any defensive situation they are in.
With the Hawks and the Flame both flying near the top of the ladder, with fifteen goals scored each, expect a moment or two to decide this match where the winner would take high confidence moving forward.
Camden Tigers FC vs Fraser Park FC, 7pm at Ron Dine Memorial Reserve
Last season: Fraser Park FC 3-1 Camden Tigers FC, Camden Tigers FC 2-0 Fraser Park FC
Two teams who are on rough losing streaks will hope to return to the winner’s circle this week as Camden Tigers FC and Fraser Park FC meet in Round Seven.
Both Fraser Park and Camden were successful at home against the other, respectively, last season and that could be used as a basis to see this match from this year.
Camden fell to a third-straight loss after a promising start to the season following their 4-1 away defeat to Bankstown United FC and will hope to turn around their fortunes at home, where they are yet to pick up any points this season.
The Tigers will hope to put together from free-flowing football as they look to keep their positive attacking play going; after being frustrated away to Bankstown last week, expect the Tigers to want to start brightly to bring some positive play to their game.
Having scored in every match they have played so far this season, Camden will hope to continue that streak as they look to break their losing streak.
Fraser Park, meanwhile, are on a four-match losing streak after their 3-0 loss away to Mounties Wanderers FC and will be hopeful of ending that against another side which is on a losing streak in Camden.
The visitors will hope to stay competitive in this match and will hope if they can do so, will be able to find the goals that will take them to victory; last week’s match was their first this season where they have failed to score, and they will hope to rectify that this week.
With a competitive spirit, expect Fraser Park to launch many attacks forward when the opportunity arises as they look to return to the winner’s list.
With two teams out of form and hoping to take an important three points early in the season, expect plenty of attacking play from two attacking sides as they hunt success.
Camden Tigers FC also progressed to the next round of the Australia Cup midweek after a double from Francesco Giannetto led them to a 2-1 away win to Gerringong Breakers FC in Round Three of the preliminaries, while Fraser Park FC also progressed following a 7-1 win over Workers FC, with two goals from Shu Torihara, and a goal each from Matthew Lecce, Alexander Nicolosi, Christian Dos Santos, Tommaso Pandolfo and Francis Mcalpine.
Sunday, 24th March 2024
Newcastle Jets vs Mounties Wanderers FC, 4pm at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility
These two teams did not meet last season.
Round Seven concludes with a clash between two unbeaten teams this season as the 3rd-placed Newcastle Jets host ladder-leaders Mounties Wanderers FC.
These two teams did not meet last season but based on form so far this season, this matchup should provide plenty of good battles across the pitch.
Mounties won a fourth-straight match and have won five of their opening six after their 3-0 home win over Fraser Park FC last week.
Yuki Kanai continued to be the main threat in attack for the unbeaten Mounties as he picked up his ninth goal of the season last week; with pace up front, the hosts will hope to use that to their advantage against a young Jets backline.
Kuot Maliet was the creator for Mounties last week and so will be a threat to watch down the right wing; expect Mounties to continue to play attacking football where they will identify the weaknesses of the Jets early and take advantage of them.
The Newcastle Jets, meanwhile, picked up their biggest win of the season so far after their 7-1 away success over Parramatta FC last week and will hope to pick up their biggest win of the season, matchup-wise, when they travel to face Mounties this week.
Xavier Bertoncello leads the unbeaten Jets with six goals this season, with the scoring load shared with Justin Vidic, who has five; expect a fast Jets attack to want to run at Mounties the entire match as they look to keep their streak of scoring at least two goals in every match this season going.
With standards and expectations high in training, the team will be well disciplined and prepared to face Mounties in a match where they feel the conditions will suit them and a match which could shape the next few matches for both sides.
A clash between two of the highest attacking teams this season with twenty-five and twenty-one goals, respectively, Mounties and Newcastle will hope to take their biggest scalp of the season so far when they meet.
Hurstville FC have a bye this round, while they were knocked out of the Australia Cup after a Round Three preliminary round loss away to Wollongong Olympic FC, despite taking the lead through Daniel Maras.
By Football New South Wales League Two Men’s Reporter, Dylan Costa (@_dylancosta)
