Round 29 Preview – League Two Men’s
With the Premiership wrapped up and three teams still vying for the all-important 2nd place this season in the penultimate round, the 2024 Football NSW League Two Men’s season will go down to the wire through Round 29.
The Match of the Round this week focuses on the Newcastle Jets, who will lift the league title in their final home match of the season and will look to go within one match of an unbeaten season when they host Fraser Park FC.
Saturday, 17th August 2024
Match of the Round: Newcastle Jets vs Fraser Park FC, 5pm at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility
Previous Meeting: Newcastle Jets 1-1 Fraser Park FC
With an unbelievable full unbeaten season just two matches away, the Newcastle Jets will have the opportunity to lift the league trophy at home for becoming the 2024 Premiers when they host 11th-placed Fraser Park FC.
The visitors are one of only five teams to stop the Jets from claiming victory this season after their 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture and will hope to join Camden as the only other side to not lose to the Jets this season when they clash.
The Jets continued towards an unprecedented unbeaten season after they came from behind to grab a 5-2 home win over Gladesville Ryde Magic last week and will hope to fire up in their final home match of the season.
Newcastle have noted their intent to go out there and win their final few matches of the season, and not just look to go undefeated – that mindset should be on show early with good attacking play on what should be a sunny Saturday afternoon in Newcastle.
The Jets beat Fraser Park 6-2 at home last season and will hope their strong attacking combination play, which has led to 84 goals scored in 2024, will lead them to more success against Fraser Park at home.
Fraser Park, meanwhile, moved to a sixth-straight match without a win after their 4-1 away loss to Central Coast United FC last week and would love to be known as the side to end the Jets’ undefeated season.
The visitors will welcome back the return of Francis Mcalpine following his red card in Round 27 and will hope to use their squad to hold off the Jets’ charge.
A win for Fraser Park would keep them in 11th, while a loss could see them drop to 13th – they would love to have their say on the Jets’ historic season, regardless.
With the Jets on the verge of creating even more history and Fraser Park being a team which could cause them a bit of trouble in their way, this Match of the Round promises to deliver plenty of action when these two teams meet.
Friday, 16th August 2024
Bankstown United FC vs Parramatta FC, 8pm at Padstow Park
Previous Meeting: Parramatta FC 2-2 Bankstown United FC
Another intriguing battle sees 2nd-placed Bankstown United FC look to continue their charge to a 2nd-placed promotion-playoff position when they host the in-form 7th-placed Parramatta FC in the penultimate round of the season.
Bankstown took the initial lead then came from behind to grab a 2-2 draw away from home in the Match of the Round in the reverse fixture and with both teams looking to continue on their own personal goals, this match could provide just as much excitement.
The equation for Bankstown became a bit more complicated after their 5-4 away loss to Granville Rage last week and the outcome of the midweek Mounties Wanderers FC vs Inner West Hawks FC fixture will determine where they sit ahead of their match against Parramatta.
Despite Mitchell Cross bagging 32 goals for the season at the top of the standings, their defensive woes of late continued, with their loss last week the third time in four weeks they have conceded at least three goals – they will hope to sharpen up on that end as a basis for victory against a strong Parramatta attack this week.
Regardless of other results, Bankstown know nothing but a win at this stage of the season will do in their quest for 2nd, with both Mounties and Inner West hot on their heels.
Parramatta, meanwhile, are in red-hot form following four-straight wins and would love to make that five when they travel to face Bankstown.
The Eagles will hope to win their first match in four attempts against Bankstown, although they have kept Bankstown to a draw in two of those previous three encounters, as they look to have their say on the promotion race.
A win for the Eagles would strengthen their grip on 7th on the ladder, which is the best-possible position they can end on this season, while a loss could see them drop to 8th ahead of the final match week.
With Bankstown on a promotion charge and Parramatta in red-hot form, this match promises to deliver plenty of firepower up front, with two attacking teams hoping to make the most of the situations they are in.
Saturday, 17th August 2024
Central Coast United FC vs Hurstville FC, 5pm at Pluim Park
Previous Meeting: Hurstville FC 0-2 Central Coast United FC
5th-placed Central Coast United FC will look to continue their strong run of form to end the season, chasing a sixth-straight win, when they host a 9th-placed Hurstville FC side looking to end a three-match winless streak.
The Pirates ran out 2-0 winners on the road in the reverse fixture and will hope to complete the league double as they chase down the potential of a 3rd-placed finish this season, while Hurstville will look to end their hot streak.
Central Coast United continued their hot scoring form with a 4-1 home win over Fraser Park FC last week and the mood is high among the Pirates’ camp ahead of the final two match weeks.
They have scored 23 goals combined in their past five matches and have only conceded three goals in that time, with their eyes set on being a threat to the competition for next season.
Expect Central Coast to utilise their combination plays up front to cause problems for the Hurstville defence as they chase a sixth-straight win, which could set them up at a charge for the top three in the final match week next week.
Hurstville, meanwhile, lost back-to-back matches for the first time since Round 21 last week and will hope to avoid a third-straight loss when they travel up the coast to play the Pirates.
With a squad battling through injuries, they will hope to have a positive last few weeks to the season and will hope to lift themselves to prove themselves against the Pirates.
A win for Hurstville could move them back into the top half of the table in 7th, while a loss could see them drop to 10th – they will hope to show up hungry for the three points against the Pirates.
With Central Coast sailing smoothly and Hurstville hoping to be a formidable force in their way, both teams will hope to show up hungry for the win in this match.
Sydney University SFC vs Mounties Wanderers FC, 5pm at Sydney University Football Ground
Previous Meeting: Mounties Wanderers FC 4-0 Sydney University SFC
A crucial clash for the promotion play-off spot of 2nd sees 14th-placed Sydney University SFC host a Mounties Wanderers FC side who will be fighting to take 2nd place by the end of the season.
Mounties ran out 4-0 winners the last time these sides met with goals to Anthony Vastag, Yuki Kanai, Kuot Maliet and Andre Schroeder – with even more firepower added since, Mounties will hope to make a statement ahead of their final match of the season.
Sydney University confirmed a 14th-placed finish, avoiding a last-place finish, after their 1-0 home win over Prospect United SC last week and would love to win back-to-back matches for the first time this season to end their home season on a high.
The University attack combined well for their win last week and will hope to find a clinical edge in front of goal early to put Mounties under pressure in this match.
With plenty of optimism for University following their win last week, they will hope to step up to the occasion as they look to have their say on the promotion playoff race.
Mounties, meanwhile, will hope to take advantage of their match in hand over 2nd-placed Bankstown United FC with a win away over the students.
The visitors sit on 52 points, two behind Bankstown having played one match less, and will hope to use their firepower in attack to claim another victory.
Expect the likes of Nikola Todoroski and Yuki Kanai to make their mark in this match as Mounties hunt a chance to return to the League One Men’s competition for 2025.
Mounties will hope to be in prime position for 2nd place ahead of the final round next week if they can get a win against a University side hoping to spoil their charge – expect both sides to come out with intent early to hit the scoresheet first.
Gladesville Ryde Magic vs Prospect United SC, 5pm at Christie Park
Previous Meeting: Prospect United SC 4-1 Gladesville Ryde Magic
Last-placed Gladesville Ryde Magic will hope to end their nine-match losing streak when they host 13th-placed Prospect United SC, who will hope to end their own seven-match winless streak.
Prospect came from behind to grab a 4-1 home win over the Magic in the reverse fixture and will hope to take charge of this match as they look to end the season as high up the ladder as they can.
The Magic took the lead against all odds against the Newcastle Jets last week before they fell to a 5-2 loss away and will hope to finish off their season on a positive note in their final match this week.
Looking for one last positive to end their season ahead of their bye next week, the Magic will put all of their energy into this match to set the tone ahead of the end of their season.
Expect the Magic to play without fear as they look to have a final say on the outcome of another team’s season this weekend and find some positive ahead of next season.
Prospect, meanwhile, fell to a tight 1-0 loss away to Sydney University SFC last week and will hope to pick up a win in their final away match of the season.
They will potentially be without Blake Steward and Tallon Zahra after they left the field injured last week, while they will hope to continue to attack going forward with last week’s debutant goalkeeper Jude Azar manning the goal at the other end.
Expect Prospect to fire up against adversity as they look for a win which could see them rise to as high as 11th.
With both sides looking to fire up, the Arctic Circle can expect some heat with the two young teams hoping to pick up the three points.
Hawkesbury City FC vs South Coast Flame FC, 5:30pm at David Bertenshaw Field
Previous Meeting: South Coast Flame FC 0-0 Hawkesbury City FC
A matchup which has provided close encounters in the past few seasons sees 12th-placed Hawkesbury City FC host 6th-placed South Coast Flame FC.
The two sides could not be separated in a goalless draw in the reverse fixture and both sides will hope to get back to winning ways when they meet this weekend.
Hawkesbury are on a four-match winless streak but will hope to do as they did to the Flame last season and defeat them at home in 2024.
With some time to rest between matches and having played in a tight match which they stayed in last week, they will hope to turn around their fortunes and attack with intent against a strong Flame defence.
A win for Hawkesbury could see them rise one spot to 11th on the ladder, while a loss could see them drop one place to 13th.
South Coast Flame, meanwhile, were mathematically knocked out of contention for a 2nd-placed finish last week after their 2-1 away loss to Camden Tigers FC and will hope to respond against Hawkesbury.
Michael Trajkovski still has the chance to finish the season 2nd in the Golden Boot race – he is on 23 goals, two behind Mounties’ Yuki Kanai for the runners up position, and he will hope to lead his side to victory this week.
Positions are still up for grabs for the Flame – a win for them and other results going their way could set them up to fight for a 4th-placed finish next week.
With both sides looking to get towards the end of the season on a high note, both Hawkesbury and the Flame’s attacking powers will be on full display.
Inner West Hawks FC vs Camden Tigers FC, 7pm at Arlington Oval
Previous Meeting: Camden Tigers FC 0-2 Inner West Hawks FC
Inner West Hawks FC will hope to make a charge towards the 2nd-placed playoff position when they host 10th-placed Camden Tigers FC in a crucial clash.
The Hawks picked up a 2-0 away win in the reverse fixture and will hope to win back-to-back head-to-head matches against the Tigers to boost their promotion hopes ahead of the final match week.
Inner West Hawks will hope to go into the match in a position to take on a shot at 2nd in the final match week and will hope they can get the job done against the Tigers.
After a tough loss to the Newcastle Jets before their bye last week, the Hawks face some tough opponents in their final few matches but will hope to rise to the challenge.
A win for the Hawks, as well as victory in their match still in hand, would put them in a position to have a shot at 2nd place in the final match week – expect the Hawks to come our firing against the Tigers.
Camden, meanwhile, are on a three-match winning streak, which is their best run of the season so far and will hope to continue that in a bid to also put a dent in the Hawks’ promotion hopes.
The Tigers will hope to keep the match tight against a Hawks side which has scored first in their past twelve matches – if they can hold them out early, they will hope to gain confidence of breaking the Hawks down at the other end.
A win for Camden could see them cement a top 10 finish, with more spots potentially up for grabs in the final match week – expect Camden to come out with a positive attitude as they look to make the most of their final away match of the season.
With the Hawks on the hunt for promotion and the Tigers chasing down a fourth-straight win, both sides will hope to be full of confidence in this encounter.
8th-placed Granville Rage have a bye in Round 29.
By Football New South Wales League Two Men’s Reporter, Dylan Costa (@_dylancosta)
