Round 1 Preview – League Two Men’s

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A new year brings with it a new Football NSW League Two Men’s season and 2025 starts with a bang in Round One, with hopes high across the league.

The Match of the Round this week sees the battle of the birds reignite when Parramatta FC hosts Inner West Hawks FC, with both teams hoping to start their season on the front foot.

 

Saturday, 8th February 2025

Match of the Round: Parramatta FC vs Inner West Hawks FC, 7pm at Melita Stadium

Last season: Parramatta FC 3-3 Inner West Hawks FC, Inner West Hawks FC 1-1 Parramatta FC

A big Match of the Round to kick off 2025 sees Parramatta FC look to continue their run of good head-to-head form over Inner West Hawks FC, who will be out to end the Eagles domination in this fixture.

Following draws in both head-to-head matches in 2024, Parramatta are six matches unbeaten against the Hawks and will hope that recent history will help them in 2025, while the Hawks will hope to end that hoodoo.

Parramatta will hope to start the season on the front foot against the Hawks and extend their unbeaten streak against them to seven matches when they take to the field with a side full of youth and experience.

Marco Sama returns to captain the club once again, while the Eagles’ results at junior levels will leave them feeling buoyed ahead of their first match of the season.

Expect Parramatta to look to continue their high-scoring ways in 2025 against a team they have had success over for back-to-back seasons now.

Inner West Hawks, meanwhile, will know how tough of an away trip they have first-up in their quest to start the season strongly.

The Hawks will bring physicality to this match and will hope to trust their attacking, direct style of play to bring them success against the Eagles.

Expect the Hawks to want to show their intent with the ball early, while the likes of captain Chris Phillips will hope to bring the physicality and marshal his troops from centre-half against the Eagles.

With recent head-to-head history in favour of Parramatta and recent league form from 2024 in favour of Inner West, neither side will want to give up anything easily as they chase their first points in their first match of the year.

 

Friday, 7th February 2025

Hurstville Zagreb FC vs Dunbar Rovers FC, 8pm at Penshurst Park

These two teams did not meet last season.

An intriguing first match of the season sees Hurstville Zagreb FC look to put all their hard work in pre-season into practice against Dunbar Rovers FC, who will hope to showcase a new style of football for themselves in their first test in League Two Men’s football.

This is the first meeting between these two clubs in this competition, in particular, and so both will be raring to take on the challenge of a new opposition.

Hurstville have been aggressive in their approach in the off-season and after the acquisition of seven new players and will want to get points on the board early in the season to set the tone for their year.

The hosts will want to show their experience and professionalism in this match against a side which competed among League One Men’s opposition in 2024 and will be ambitious in this match – expect Hurstville to want to get the result no matter what.

With a want to win early in the season and no fear for the opposition, expect Hurstville to start strong in this match in the hopes they can put together a complete 90-minute performance to start the season.

Dunbar, meanwhile, will hope their work in the off-season pays off with a raft of changes at the club and will hope their playing philosophy will guide them through the opening rounds.

The visitors are prepared for a tricky match first-up and will respect their opposition, as well as stay cool in heated moments, to bring success in this match.

Expect Dunbar to try and combat Hurstville’s play-style in what should be a highly-competitive game of football to kick-start the season, where the winner will gain early confidence.

With two teams hoping to have a big 2025 kicking off the season, expect nothing less than early fireworks in this match.

 

Hawkesbury City FC vs Bankstown United FC, 8pm at David Bertenshaw Field

Previous season: Bankstown United FC 5-3 Hawkesbury City FC, Hawkesbury City FC 3-4 Bankstown United FC

A fixture which has brought 22 goals in the past four seasons at an average of 2.5 goals a game sees Hawkesbury City FC host Bankstown United FC, with hopes high for both teams in 2025.

Last season, Bankstown did the league double and went a fourth match unbeaten against Hawkesbury in high-scoring matches – they will hope to make that a fifth-straight match unbeaten, while the Hawks will hope to end that streak in a new season.

Hawkesbury have had a much-less disrupted pre-season in 2025, with David Bertenshaw Field in top shape ahead of the new season with no flooding events affecting the ground.

With a bit more experience in the squad in 2025, Hawkesbury will hope to build from the back and set up a strong defence first-up against Bankstown in hopes that will serve them well in what should be a tight match with less goals than previous years.

Expect Hawkesbury to show their squad stability early in the season with stable play on the pitch as they look to take down a Bankstown side which had lots of success in 2024.

Bankstown, meanwhile, will hope to also work into the season and start strongly – they will be hopeful recent results against Hawkesbury will give them an edge.

The visitors will be ready for the fight Hawkesbury will put up in this contest and will know they will need to work hard to keep the dangerous Hawkesbury attack at bay early.

Expect Bankstown to also settle a few nerves to start the season as they look to start strongly in a tough away match, where they will hope to frustrate the hosts.

Two teams with expectations of a strong season will hope to kick-start it with three points when Hawkesbury and Bankstown take the field, where early-season rust could play its part.

 

Saturday, 8th February 2025

Central Coast United FC vs Sydney University SFC, 3pm at Pluim Park

Previous season: Central Coast United FC 2-1 Sydney University SFC, Sydney University SFC 1-2 Central Coast United FC

Central Coast United FC will hope to have a strong start to 2025 in their bid for another big season when they host a Sydney University SFC side which will hope to continue to trust its pathways and show more improvement.

Last season, Central Coast United picked up 2-1 wins in both the home and away fixtures – they will hope to continue their strong form against University, while the visitors will hope to end that streak.

Central Coast United will hope to start the season with a bang when they take on the students, with forward Cade Mapu hoping to make a mark early in his eighth season with the club.

With a season in the division now under their belts, the Pirates will hope their experience against the other teams in the league will do them well heading into their first match.

Expect the Pirates to want to press high and control the tempo to take advantage of any pre-season rust from University as they look to pick up a win at home to start the year.

University, meanwhile, will hope their squad will start the season well given the experience the squad had in 2024, as well as a large retention of players.

In what is a tough away trip to start the season, University will hope to make the most of the opportunities they are presented, especially on the counter, as they look to pick up a big three points early.

University will want to find consistency early and with a tough away trip up first for them, will hope to get a result which will bring confidence to make that consistency come a bit easier.

With Central Coast United hoping to improve on their top-half finish last season and University hoping to be around there come season’s end, this match to start their respective seasons will offer not only a chance to gain fitness early in the season but also pick up some important points.

 

Camden Tigers FC vs Fraser Park FC, 5pm at Ron Dine Memorial Reserve – Carbiz Stadium

Previous season: Camden Tigers FC 4-0 Fraser Park FC, Fraser Park FC 5-0 Camden Tigers FC

A matchup which has proved to have a strong home advantage in recent seasons sees Camden Tigers FC look to start their season with a bang when they host Fraser Park FC, who will hope to reverse their head-to-head fortunes at Carbiz Stadium.

Last season, Camden picked up a big 4-0 win in Round 7, before Fraser Park reversed the result with a 5-0 home win in Round 22 – with home advantage proving to have a big say in recent seasons, that could be a trend for this match.

Camden will hope to have a happy start at home in 2025 in what is usually a tough play for visiting teams to play at, at Carbiz Stadium, and will look to start on the front foot against Fraser Park.

That could suit them well in this match, where they may enjoy their fair share of possession at home, against a Fraser Park side who will not mind absorbing any pressure that comes their way, while Camden will also pose a threat on the counter should the chance to do so arise.

If Camden can score early in this match and force changes from Fraser Park, they will go a long way to picking up the three points to start the season.

Fraser Park, meanwhile, will hope a refreshed squad with a new coach will bring them success in their first match of the season.

The visitors will look to utilise their width in this contest and will hope to catch Camden out if the Tigers do get on the counter.

Expect Fraser Park to set up to be a tough team to break down for the Tigers as they look to get a positive result in the first of many away matches for them to start the season.

With Camden and Fraser Park both moving players on and making changes to their playstyle, the unexpected can be expected in this match where tactical adjustments could make the difference.

 

South Coast Flame FC vs Granville Rage, 5pm at Sir Ian McLennan Oval

Previous season: Granville Rage 5-3 South Coast Flame FC, South Coast Flame FC 5-2 Granville Rage

Another match-up with high-scoring matches historically sees a new-look South Coast Flame FC side take on a Granville Rage side hoping to take more steps up in 2025.

Last season, both Granville and South Coast scored five goals in big respective home wins and with goal scorers in both teams, neither side will give up the chase in this match to start the year.

The Flame will look to start the season with a win when they take on the Rage and will have confidence to do so following an undefeated pre-season and many new players contributing to the squad.

However, the Flame will know how hard it will be to tackle the Rage early on – they have only won one of their past six meetings against Granville and will hope to buck that trend to start the season.

Expect the Flame to play very direct against the Rage, utilising the width of the pitch and the mobility in their squad to hurt Granville.

The Rage, meanwhile, will hope to take another step forward following their 9th-placed finish in 2024.

Granville will hope to make the most of a tough away trip first-up and will remain confident of scoring against a new-look Flame defence.

Expect the Rage to set up well defensively in this match as they look to start the season with three points away from home.

A high-scoring match could be in store once against between the Flame and the Rage, with two teams looking to prove themselves in 2025 facing off.

 

Nepean FC vs Gladesville Ryde Magic, 7pm at Cook Park (St Marys)

These two teams did not meet last season.

The final match-up of Matchweek 1 sees Nepean FC look to start a new season in a new league strongly against a young Gladesville Ryde Magic squad ready to compete.

These two teams did not meet last season but previous encounters have proved tight, with a 1-0 win to Nepean and a 2-2 draw, respectively, in the 2023 season.

Nepean will hope to start new in 2025 after their relegation last season and with a new coach and a refreshed squad, will look to start positively against Gladesville Ryde Magic.

A match full of high energy can be expected between these two sides but Nepean will hope to play through their opponent this week, while also trialling different players in different positions to start the year.

If Nepean can get on the front foot early, they will hope to score the first goal against the Magic and continue to learn what will work best for them in 2025.

The Magic, meanwhile, have had a positive pre-season and will hope to bring that momentum into their match against Nepean.

New Head Coach Chris Gaitatzis will hope to have his squad ready to go and will understand it will be a tough test against Nepean first.

Expect the Magic to also focus more on processes than the result of this match as they look to gel as a squad to start the season.

With two teams who are looking to build for longer-term success taking each other on in Round One, neither side will want to give up the fight in the hunt for the three points.

By Football NSW League Two Men’s Reporter, Dylan Costa