Round 7 Preview – League Two Men’s
Many teams will be hoping to build off big wins last week, while others will hope to find their form when Round Seven of the 2025 Football NSW League Two Men’s season kicks off.
The Match of the Round this week sees a battle of the coasts, with Central Coast United FC looking to end a five-match losing streak when they host South Coast Flame FC.
Saturday, 22nd March 2025
Match of the Round: Central Coast United FC vs South Coast Flame FC, 3pm at Pluim Park
Last season: South Coast Flame FC 2-2 Central Coast United FC, Central Coast United FC 0-1 South Coast Flame FC
A battle of the coasts headlines the Round Seven action with Central Coast United FC and South Coast Flame FC looking to grab a big win against their coastal rivals.
Last season, the Flame went unbeaten head-to-head over the Pirates, picking up a home draw before securing a dramatic stoppage time winner in the reverse fixture – those matches should be a sign of what is to come in this clash.
Central Coast lost a fifth-straight match last week, 1-0 away to Dunbar Rovers FC, and they will hope to reverse their fortunes against the Flame to build some momentum ahead of four-straight away trips coming up.
The Pirates created their fair share of chances last week but were not able to convert; they will hope to be more clinical in front of goal as they look to rise up the ladder.
Expect another passionate performance from the Pirates, one which they will hope will bring them their first win of the season and their first win in three over the Flame.
South Coast, meanwhile, came from 3-0 and 4-1 down to snatch at 4-4 draw at home to Hawkesbury City FC last week and will hope to bring that same fight to this match against the Pirates.
Jyden Harb grabbed his sixth goal in six matches to start the season and with his teammates also firing around him to lead the league in goal scoring this season with 18 goals, will hope to add to that to bring the Flame more success.
The Flame will hope to put in a strong away performance against a Central Coast side they had success over in 2024 as they look to continue their charge in the early stages of the season.
A battle of the coasts should bring with it plenty of fight as the Pirates search for victory and the Flame look to fire up at Pluim Park.
Friday, 21st March 2025
Hawkesbury City FC vs Dunbar Rovers FC, 8pm at David Bertenshaw Field
These two teams did not meet last season.
An intriguing match to kick off Round Seven sees Hawkesbury City FC and Dunbar Rovers FC meet with both sides coming off a positive few weeks.
Having not met last season, both sides will be keen to take each other on in this clash where two very contrasting styles of play will be evident.
Hawkesbury surrendered a three-goal lead twice to draw 4-4 away to South Coast Flame FC last week but did move to be unbeaten in three matches, which they will hope to extend to four against Dunbar.
Vincent Dermilio has been the main man in attack for the Hawks so far this season with five goals in six matches, though with the Hawks having scored 13 goals already in 2025, he is not alone with goals in the team with others contributing greatly.
Expect Hawkesbury to once again utilise their attacking power as they look to go a fourth match unbeaten and continue their strong run this season.
Dunbar, meanwhile, won a second-straight match by a 1-0 margin after their win at home to Central Coast United FC last week and they will hope to continue that momentum as they hunt a third-straight win.
In each of Dunbar’s wins so far this season, they have won by a one-goal margin, while they have only scored in matches they have won; Dunbar will hope to continue their tight defence and manage the match well to see off the Hawks.
Dunbar will hope to continue to play with confidence across the park as they look to pick up the three points in a tough away trip.
With both Hawkesbury and Dunbar riding off good results in recent weeks, both sides will be confident of victory in this clash.
Hurstville Zagreb FC vs Fraser Park FC, 8pm at Penshurst Park
Last season: Hurstville Zagreb FC 0-2 Fraser Park FC, Fraser Park FC 5-1 Hurstville Zagreb FC
Hurstville Zagreb FC will hope to win a third-straight match when they host a Fraser Park FC side coming off a bye last week.
Fraser Park picked up the league double following a 2-0 away win and a 5-1 home win over Hurstville last season to go three matches unbeaten in the head-to-head; they will hope to extend that to four while Hurstville will hope to reverse their fortunes against them.
Hurstville came from behind to record a 2-1 away win over Prospect United SC last week and will be confident after winning from different positions in matches in recent weeks.
Nikola Todoroski will be hoping to score for a third-straight match, while Michael Neill will also look to be a difference-maker for his side once again, with a host of attacking threat present among a hard-working midfield and defence.
Expect Hurstville to step up once again as they chase a third-straight win, which is something they managed to do twice last season.
Fraser Park, meanwhile, will hope to return from their bye last week refreshed and ready to go after their 2-0 loss in the match before it to Prospect United SC.
The visitors will hope to tighten up at the back as they hunt their first clean sheet of the season, while they will also hope to get back to their scoring ways after being held scoreless for the first time this season.
Expect a refreshed Fraser Park look to wait for their moments against Hurstville, who they will hope to go a fourth-straight head-to-head match undefeated against.
It will be a matter of form vs history when Hurstville and Fraser Park meet, where the winner will take confidence moving well into the season.
Saturday, 22nd March 2025
Gladesville Ryde Magic vs Inner West Hawks FC, 5pm at Christie Park
Last season: Gladesville Ryde Magic 2-3 Inner West Hawks FC, Inner West Hawks FC 5-1 Gladesville Ryde Magic
Gladesville Ryde Magic and Inner West Hawks FC meet in contrasting form in Round Seven but both sides will be raring to grab the three points at Christie Park.
The Hawks won both matches against the Magic last season, and will hope to go a fourth-straight head-to-head match unbeaten against the Magic, while Gladesville will hope to reverse that.
Gladesville lost back-to-back matches after their 3-2 away defeat to Bankstown United FC in last week’s Match of the Round with ten men but will gain confidence from how they not only held on at times, but took the lead after going down a man.
They will be without Matthew Jacobs after his red card but will hope to fill in his spot well in defence as they look to get back to winning ways.
Genki Kohyama has scored in back-to-back matches against the Hawks and will hope to be one of the main threats for the Magic to extend that streak as the hosts look to avoid another defeat.
Inner West, meanwhile, won back-to-back matches for the first time this season after their 3-0 home win over Granville Rage last week and will hope to make that three when they travel to face the Magic.
The Hawks have a new head coach in Steve Tzanakes who took charge in the win over the Rage and he will hope to continue that momentum in his second match in charge.
With confidence returning in front of goal, expect the Hawks to put in a solid effort across the park as they hunt a third-straight win.
Two teams who have had a reversal in fortunes in recent weeks will hope to grab the three points in this match, where goals are always guaranteed.
Bankstown United FC vs Sydney University SFC, 7pm at Padstow Park
Last season: Bankstown United FC 3-0 Sydney University SFC, Sydney University SFC 0-2 Bankstown United FC
Bankstown United FC will hope to continue their fight when they host a side they have had recent success over in Sydney University SFC.
Bankstown won both matches against University in 2024, completing a perfect league double, and will hope to go a fourth-straight head-to-head match unbeaten against the students, who will hope to break that streak.
Bankstown came from behind to defeat a ten-man Gladesville Ryde Magic in last week’s Match of the Round and will hope to continue to challenge themselves against a side they historically have had many tight battles against.
With a squad full of attacking threat, including Mitchell Cross, Anthony Proia and Marie Gauthier, plus a tall defence which has kept them in good stead at both ends of the field, Bankstown will hope to use their physical presence to their advantage against Gladesville.
Expect the hosts to put together another strong performance at home as they look to win back-to-back matches for the second time this season.
Sydney University, meanwhile, grabbed their first point of the season after their 2-2 draw at home to Camden Tigers FC last week and will hope to use that as motivation to grab their first win of the year.
Charles Hely-Hammond has scored in back-to-back matches and will hope to hit the scoresheet again but the whole squad will be fired up from the week before to get their first win of the year.
Expect University to face a different challenge in Bankstown, where they may hold less possession away from home, as they look to defeat them for the first time in four attempts.
With both Bankstown and Sydney University coming off strong results from the week before, both teams will hope to continue that momentum into this match to come out as a winner.
Granville Rage vs Nepean FC, 7pm at Rydalmere Park
These two teams did not meet last season.
Another western Sydney derby sees Granville Rage look to take down their rivals from across the west in Nepean FC, both sides looking to bounce back from losses.
These two sides last met in the 2023 season, where Nepean completed the league double thanks to a 3-1 home win and 4-0 away win; they will look to continue that trend against Granville, who in turn will hope to break it.
Granville Rage lost their first match since the opening round of the season, 3-0 away to Inner West Hawks FC, and will hope to bounce back against their western Sydney rival in Nepean FC.
Timothy Borg-Williams was the last Granville player to score against Nepean back in the 2023 season; he and his attacking teammates will hope to put up a good effort against Nepean.
A win for Granville would get them right back on track in their bid to have a strong opening few months of the season but will know the challenge Nepean will pose in their way.
Nepean, meanwhile, lost a third-straight match and went four matches without a win after their 3-1 home loss to Parramatta FC in last week’s western Sydney derby but will hope to have better success in this one.
Leonard Abdo will hope to score for a third-straight head-to-head match against the Rage having netted on both occasions against them in the 2023 season.
Expect Nepean to want to start this match with the intent to score early to ease any nerves from the past few weeks as they look to get back to winning ways.
A derby always throws up surprise results and this one should be no different, with both teams desperate for the win against one another in what should be a fiery affair.
Camden Tigers FC vs Prospect United SC, 7pm at Ron Dine Memorial Reserve – Carbiz Stadium
Last season: Camden Tigers FC 1-2 Prospect United SC, Prospect United SC 3-1 Camden Tigers FC
The final match of Round Seven sees Camden Tigers FC looking to win their first match since the first round of the season against a Prospect side hoping to bounce back from defeat, themselves.
Last year, Prospect held on for victories in both head-to-head matches against Camden; they will look to extend that streak to three while the Tigers will look to fire up to put an end to it.
Camden scored an 89th minute equaliser to earn a point away at Sydney University last week and will hope to put chances away earlier to come away with the three points in this match.
Bailey Simpson scored in consecutive matches following his goal last week and will hope to hit the scoresheet once again.
Expect Camden to continue to put together strong performances where if they can find the first goal in this match and early, it will give them the confidence to see out a victory.
Prospect, meanwhile, lost 2-1 at home to Hurstville last week and will hope to put that match behind them as they look to grab their fourth win in seven matches this season.
Anthony Idehen scored four goals in two matches against Camden last season, while last week’s goal score Shaan Birring also netted against the Tigers in 2024; both players will hope to have their say on this matchup in 2025.
Expect a strong response from Prospect, who will hope to continue their strong start to the season with a win over a Camden side they have had recent success over.
With Camden always a tough side to face at home and Prospect strong this season, especially on the defensive end, both teams will look to play out a tough match in Camden South.
Parramatta FC have a bye in Round Seven, but play away to Waratah Seniors in the Australia Cup on Saturday, 22nd March.
By Football NSW League Two Men’s Reporter, Dylan Costa
