Round 8 Preview – League Two Men’s
A big weekend of fixtures awaits in Round Eight of the 2025 Football NSW League Two Men’s season, with a top two clash among the action, with plenty of sides looking to build good form.
That top two clash headlines this week’s fixtures, with top-of-the-table Hurstville Zagreb FC hosting 2nd-placed Parramatta FC, with both teams looking to extend their respective winning streaks in the competition.
Saturday, 29th March 2025
Match of the Round: Parramatta FC vs Hurstville Zagreb FC, 5pm at Melita Stadium
Last season: Hurstville Zagreb FC 3-1 Parramatta FC, Parramatta FC 2-0 Hurstville Zagreb FC
A top-of-the-table clash sees league-leading Hurstville Zagreb FC look to continue to stake their claim this season against a 2nd-placed Parramatta FC side looking to continue their strong league start.
Last season, the honours were even after the two head-to-head matches with one respective win each in the head-to-head; however, Hurstville have won three of the past four matches against Parramatta and will hope to make that four in five, while Parramatta will hope to level that record.
Parramatta come into this match off the back of their bye last week, meaning their squad will be refreshed and any small injuries could have been dealt with.
They are unbeaten at home this season and have only conceded one goal from their first three home matches, showing their threat they possession at Melita Stadium.
Expect Parramatta to continue their strong approaches to matches, with a solid defence the base for them, as they look to take back their spot at the top of the ladder early in the season.
Hurstville, meanwhile, won a third-straight match after their 2-1 home win over Fraser Park FC last week and will hope to prove their credentials as a top team against Parramatta.
After picking up the three points last week in a tough match at home to Fraser Park, Hurstville will hope the grit they showed in that win will translate into more positive performances, with the result crucial against Parramatta.
Jesse Gagro scored against Parramatta last season and will hope to do so again in this fixture, while Hurstville as a team will look to continue their strong defensive record in 2025 to pick up a fourth-straight win.
A 1st vs 2nd clash is always welcome at any point in the season but with the competition looking open in 2025, both sides will put everything they can into this match to pick up the win.
Friday, 28th March 2025
Hawkesbury City FC vs Gladesville Ryde Magic, 8pm at David Bertenshaw Field
Last season: Hawkesbury City FC 3-2 Gladesville Ryde Magic, Gladesville Ryde Magic 1-3 Hawkesbury City FC
Hawkesbury City FC will look to continue their strong run of form when they host a Gladesville Ryde Magic side looking to build off a big last-start win.
Last year, the Hawks won both matches head-to-head over the Magic, extending their unbeaten streak over Gladesville to four matches; they will hope to extend that while the Magic will be out to end that streak.
Hawkesbury extended their unbeaten streak to four matches after their 2-0 home win over Dunbar Rovers FC last week and will look to win a fourth match from their past five when the Magic visit.
Harry Drew and Vincent Dermilio both scored against the Magic last season with one and two goals each, respectively, and with both of those players of six goals each this season so far will hope to continue their strong scoring run.
With confidence high in the squad, expect Hawkesbury to approach this match with the same mentality they do at home as they look to win a third-straight home match.
Gladesville Ryde Magic, meanwhile, won their first match in four after they took down Inner West Hawks FC 2-0 at home and will look to build off that victory against the other Hawks this week.
Every match for the Magic this season has been tight, with no contest being decided by larger than a two-goal margin; they will hope that stat once again falls in their favour this week with their defence all-important.
Expect the Magic to put up a good fight away from home as they chase back-to-back wins for the second time this season.
With Hawkesbury and Gladesville both entering this match off big last-start wins, both teams will hope to build off that when they meet in this match.
Saturday, 29th March 2025
South Coast Flame FC vs Inner West Hawks FC, 5pm at Sir Ian McLennan Oval
Last season: Inner West Hawks FC 3-1 South Coast Flame FC, South Coast Flame FC 0-3 Inner West Hawks FC
A match-up which never fails to produce entertaining matches sees South Coast Flame FC looking to extend their unbeaten streak to five matches when they host an Inner West Hawks FC side looking to bounce back from a loss.
Last season, the Hawks did the league double over the Flame with home and away wins, while the season before both matches ended in scored draws; this match-up never fails to provide goals and as much can be expected this time around.
South Coast Flame came from behind to pick up a big 2-1 win away over their coast rivals in Central Coast United FC in last week’s Match of the Round and will hope to use that grit to continue their charge near the top of the league.
Jyden Harb leads the Flame for goals this season with seven already in seven matches, while a host of others around him has seen the Flame be the attacking team to beat this season, with a league-high 20 goals scored so far in just six matches.
Expect the Flame to put up a fight once again as they look to continue their attacking prowess and pick up crucial wins heading into the second quarter of the season.
Inner West Hawks, meanwhile, could not continue off the back of back-to-back wins, losing 2-0 away to Gladesville Ryde Magic last week, but will hope to bounce back in a fixture they have had recent success in.
The Hawks will hope to improve their finishing this week and having scored six goals against the Flame last season, will look to take confidence from that.
Expect the Hawks to once again set up strong defensively, which is where their strengths have been this season, and having not lost in any match they have scored in will hope to continue that trend.
With South Coast in strong form and Inner West having the head-to-head advantage, both sides will be motivated to take out the win in this match.
Prospect United SC vs Central Coast United FC, 7pm at Blacktown Exercise Sports and Technology Hub
Last season: Central Coast United FC 3-0 Prospect United SC, Prospect United SC 1-2 Central Coast United FC
Prospect United SC come into this match looking to build a strong run of form against a Central Coast United FC side looking to end a six-match losing streak.
Last season, Central Coast won both head-to-head matches against Prospect and will hope that bodes as a good omen for them to pick up the three points this week, while Prospect will hope to grab a big win, themselves.
Prospect bounced back from their loss to Hurstville Zagreb FC with a strong 4-1 away win over Camden Tigers FC last week and will hope to win a fourth match from their past five as they look to continue their strong start to the season.
With 14 goals so far this season spread across multiple players, Prospect have shown their goal threat across the pitch and will look to continue that trend against the Pirates.
Playing a home for a fifth week from their first seven matches, Prospect will hope to make the most of their home ground advantage when Central Coast visit.
Central Coast United, meanwhile, lost a sixth-straight match after their 2-1 home loss to South Coast Flame FC in last week’s Match of the Round but will hope to end that streak against a side they had success against last year in Prospect.
Mark Partridge, Jai Mcnamara and Alexander Arbelo all scored against Prospect last season, with the Pirates hoping to find their attacking edge having scored the fewest number of goals of any team this season with five scored in seven matches.
Central Coast will be desperate to end their losing streak and will hope to find their fight to take the lead, just as they did last week, but hold on to it to gain some confidence moving forward.
With Prospect looking to win a fourth match from their past five and Central Coast hoping to end their losing streak, both teams will be raring to get on the pitch in this clash.
Fraser Park FC vs Bankstown United FC, 7pm at Valentine Sports Park
Last season: Bankstown United FC 3-1 Fraser Park FC, Fraser Park FC 1-3 Bankstown United FC
Fraser Park FC will hope to end a run of back-to-back losses when they host Bankstown United FC, who are hoping to continue their strong start to the season.
Last season, Bankstown picked up consecutive 3-1 wins over Fraser Park and will hope to win a fourth head-to-head match in five, while Fraser Park will look to reverse their fortunes in this fixture.
Fraser Park play their first home match of the season at their temporary home of Valentine Sports Park, with Fraser Park under construction, and will hope their new surroundings will bring a positive performance with it after their 2-1 loss to Hurstville Zagreb FC last week.
Francis Mcalpine scored against Bankstown last season and will hope to do so again in 2025, while the hosts will also hope to get back to their scoring ways which saw them score a combined eight goals in two matches in Rounds Three and Four.
Expect Fraser Park to come into this match with a breath of fresh air, playing at home for the first time this season, albeit temporary, as they look to build some consistency.
Bankstown, meanwhile, won back-to-back matches for the second time this season after their 1-0 home win over Sydney University SFC and will hope to continue to be a tough team to face.
With 15 goals scored from a wide range of different players so far in 2025, Bankstown will hope to continue to be an attacking threat as they look to prove themselves as a top side this season.
Expect Bankstown to utilise their squad in this match as they look to win a fifth match from their first seven this season.
With Fraser Park playing their first home match of the season and Bankstown hoping to continue their strong form, both sides will be raring to take to the field to hunt down the win.
Nepean FC vs Sydney University SFC, 7pm at Cook Park
These two teams did not meet last season.
With Nepean FC and Sydney University SFC looking to end winless runs, both sides will be hoping this is their match to do so when they meet in Round Eight.
Nepean and University did not meet last season but when they did in the 2023 season, Nepean picked up back-to-back wins, 3-1 and 3-0 respectively.
Nepean lost a fourth-straight match and went five matches without a win after their 1-0 loss away to Granville Rage in the western Sydney derby last week and will hope to turn their fortunes around against University.
Having not scored in a match for the first time this season last week, Nepean will hope to make amends against a side they had success over two seasons ago.
Expect Nepean to scrap for everything in this match as they look for a confidence-building win against the students.
University, meanwhile, remained winless this season after a tight 1-0 loss away to Bankstown United FC last week but will hope to grab their first win of the season when they visit Nepean.
They have showed positive signs in recent weeks with their tight loss against a tough Bankstown side last week following their first point of the season away to Camden; if the students can find that extra edge against Nepean, they will be hopeful of picking up the three points.
Expect University to try and keep the match close and competitive, especially early, as they look to get off the mark in 2025.
With Nepean and University both looking to end respective winless runs, both sides will be looking to take advantage any way they can in this clash.
Dunbar Rovers FC vs Camden Tigers FC, 7pm at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre
These two teams did not meet last season.
The final match of Round Eight sees Dunbar Rovers FC looking to respond to their last-start loss when they host a Camden Tigers FC side winless in their past six matches.
Having no recent head-to-head history, both teams will hope to get off to a strong start against the other in this match-up.
Dunbar lost a tough match 2-0 away to Hawkesbury City FC last week but will hope to return to winning ways at home when they host Camden.
They have also not lost a match in which they have scored in this season, with all three of their losses in 2025 coming when they have failed to hit the scoresheet but have scored the least number of goals this season with four in six matches and will hope to rectify that.
With injuries hitting the squad, the hosts will hope to show grit and improve their finishing as they look to get going properly in 2025.
Camden, meanwhile, went a sixth-straight match without a win after their 4-1 home loss to Prospect United SC last week and will hope to end that streak against Dunbar.
The Tigers will hope to cut out individual mistakes which cost them last week, while they will hope to show the same fight which has seen them pick up consecutive away draws in the past month.
Expect Camden to once again show fight as they look to improve their finishing to pick up the three points in this away trip.
With both Dunbar and Camden looking to bounce back from losses, expect both sides to play with a strong game plan as they hunt down the three points.
Granville Rage have a bye in Round Eight.
By Football NSW League Two Men’s Reporter, Dylan Costa
