Round 16 Preview – League Two Men’s
The second half of the 2025 Football NSW League Two Men’s season starts with a bang with everything to play for as every side clashes with their opponent from the opening round of the season once again.
The Match of the Round this week focuses on the battle near the bottom when last-placed Sydney University SFC hunt their first win of the season against the side just ahead of them in Central Coast United FC.
Saturday, 24th May 2025
Match of the Round: Sydney University SFC vs Central Coast United FC, 5pm at Sydney University Football Ground
Previous meeting: Central Coast United FC 2-1 Sydney University SFC
The first match of the second half of the second half of the season sees last-placed Sydney University SFC look to grab their first win of the year against Central Coast United FC.
In the opening round of the season, Central Coast came from behind to grab a third-straight 2-1 win over University; they will hope to continue that streak while the students will hope to break it.
15th-placed University scored two late goals but were unable to complete the comeback in their 3-2 away loss to Inner West Hawks FC last week but will be hopeful of creating just as many chances when they host the Pirates.
Having scored multiple goals in a match for the first time since Round Six, University will be hopeful of starting with that attacking belief against Central Coast.
Expect University to come out for the second half of the season prepared to take on the Pirates in their best chance to earn their first win of the season.
14th-placed Central Coast United, meanwhile, will be refreshed after their bye last week and will hope to complete a league double for a second-straight year over the students.
Having kept their first clean sheet of the season in their most recent match, the Pirates will hope to build confidence and momentum off that as they look for a positive second half to the competition.
Expect Central Coast to start strongly as they look to gain confidence from their last-start result to put on a good performance against University.
With both University and Central Coast hoping to pick up a big win to start the second half of the year, both sides will be fired up to contest this match with intent.
Gladesville Ryde Magic vs Nepean FC, 5pm at Christie Park
Previous meeting: Nepean FC 3-1 Gladesville Ryde Magic
With Gladesville Ryde Magic unbeaten in four matches and Nepean FC winless in four matches, both sides will be eager to grab the three points when they meet in this clash.
In the opening round of the season, Nepean picked up a 3-1 home win over Gladesville to go three-straight head-to-head matches unbeaten against the Magic, a record they will hope to continue and Gladesville will hope to end.
9th-placed Gladesville Ryde Magic continued their resurgence with a third win from their past four matches after their 2-1 away win over Camden Tigers FC last week and will hope to make a push for the top half of the ladder in the second half of the season.
Having played with ten men for 82 minutes against Nepean in the reverse fixture, the Magic will hope to give a better account of themselves in this match as they look to continue on their good form.
A win for the Magic could take them to as high as 5th on the ladder to start the second half of the year, while a loss could see them drop to 10th.
12th-placed Nepean FC, meanwhile, suffered a big 4-1 loss at home to Dunbar Rovers FC last week and will hope to bounce back to start the second half of the season well.
Matthew Crossley scored a double for Nepean in the reverse fixture and leads the club for goals this season with seven; he and the rest of the squad will hope to go a fourth-straight match unbeaten against the Magic.
A win for Nepean could see them rise into 10th on the ladder, while a loss would see them remain in 12th.
With the Magic flying and Nepean looking to bounce back, both sides will hope to get off to a strong start to the second half of the season.
Fraser Park FC vs Camden Tigers FC, 7pm at Valentine Sports Park
Previous meeting: Camden Tigers FC 5-1 Fraser Park FC
A clash between two teams out of form sees Fraser Park FC and Camden Tigers FC look to get their respective seasons back on track in Round 16.
In their Round One match-up, Camden ran out 5-1 winners at home to continue the trend given the home side has won each of the past three head-to-head matches between these sides.
10th-placed Fraser Park FC went a fifth-straight match without a win after their 6-0 loss away to South Coast Flame FC in last week’s Match of the Round but will hope to regroup to put together a strong home performance.
Fraser Park have conceded the most goals of any team in the league with 39 conceded but have a relatively good offensive record, with 26 goals from 14 matches; only six other teams have scored more than them this season.
Expect a big response from Fraser Park off the back of their biggest loss of the season as they look to complete the league double over Camden.
13th-placed Camden Tigers, meanwhile, went six matches without a win after their 2-1 loss at home to Gladesville Ryde Magic last week but will hope to put their chances away against Fraser Park.
Having not won away to Fraser Park in the past two seasons, Camden will hope to end that trend even if it is at Fraser Park’s temporary home ground.
A win for Camden could see them take a big step towards gaining ground on the teams above them, while a loss could see them drop to 14th.
With Fraser Park and Camden both out to end winless runs, both sides will hope to do so to start the second half of the season on the right foot.
Bankstown United FC vs Hawkesbury City FC, 7pm at Padstow Park
Previous meeting: Hawkesbury City FC 2-2 Bankstown United FC
Two sides separated by three positions but just one point on the ladder meet in a big clash when Bankstown United FC and Hawkesbury City FC clash.
In the opening round of the season, both sides came from behind and grabbed a point each in a 2-2 draw; that moved Bankstown to five-straight head-to-head matches unbeaten against the Hawks.
5th-placed Bankstown United won a second match from their past three after their 3-1 home win over Prospect United SC and will hope to start the second half of the season strongly.
They have not lost to Hawkesbury in any of their past five meetings after they came from behind in the opening round and will hope to extend that record to six, with their top scorer Marie Gauthier hoping to lead the way and score for a ninth match from his past ten.
A win for Bankstown could see them rise to as high as 3rd with a match in hand, while a loss could see them drop to as low as 9th in a testament to the tight league ladder.
8th-placed Hawkesbury City, meanwhile, came from behind to grab a 1-1 draw at home to Nepean FC in their last match and will hope to get back to form having only won one of their past four matches.
Having had their Round 15 match away to Parramatta FC washed out last week, the Hawks will hope to be well rested and ready to take on Nepean to start the second half of the season.
A win for Hawkesbury could see them rise to as high as 4th with a match in hand, while a loss could see them drop one spot to 9th.
With both teams having a match in hand and hoping to grab a big win in what is usually a high-scoring match, neither side will give up as they chase the win.
Dunbar Rovers FC vs Hurstville Zagreb FC, 7pm at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre
Previous meeting: Hurstville Zagreb FC 2-0 Dunbar Rovers FC
With Dunbar Rovers FC in form and Hurstville Zagreb FC hoping to open up a big lead at the top of the ladder, both sides will hope to provide fireworks in this match.
In the opening round, Hurstville set a marker for how their season has gone so far with a 2-0 home win over Dunbar; they will hope to complete a big league double while Dunbar will hope to earn the three points in a tightly packed ladder.
6th-placed Dunbar Rovers went a seventh-straight match without defeat, winning three of those, after their big 4-1 away win over Nepean FC last week and will hope to continue to continue to be the league’s in-form side.
They will be without Jason Trajkovski after his red card last week but their new equal-top scorer for the year in Guilherme Mazurkievicz Pansonato, as well as Paul Gautier, will hope to lead the line well for the hosts.
Expect a strong performance from Dunbar in a match where the points are crucial, as a win could take them up to 3rd and a loss could bring them down to 9th.
League leaders Hurstville Zagreb FC, meanwhile, picked up a big 4-2 away win over Granville Rage last week following their bye the week before and will hope to extend their lead at the top of the ladder from six points this week.
Michael Neill scored his tenth goal of the season last week while Hesan Soufi netted his seventh and both players will hope to continue to fire to lead Hurstville to more success.
A win for the league leaders would see them extend their margin at the top to nine points, while a loss would see it remain at six.
With Dunbar the most in-form team in the competition and Hurstville leading the pack from the top, both sides will hope to pick up a big win against the other in this big clash.
Inner West Hawks FC vs Parramatta FC, 7pm at Arlington Oval
Previous meeting: Parramatta FC 1-0 Inner West Hawks FC
Two teams who have had differing seasons so far sees the battle of the birds reignite when Inner West Hawks FC hosts Parramatta FC.
In the opening round, Parramatta recorded a tight 1-0 win over Inner West in the first Match of the Round of the year; they will hope to go an eighth-straight head-to-head match unbeaten against the Hawks, a streak Inner West will hope to end.
11th-placed Inner West Hawks held off Sydney University SFC for a big 3-2 home win last week and will hope to record a big win to start the second half of the season.
Peter Yannopoulos’ double last week brought him to nine for the season as the Hawks’ leading goal scorer; he has scored in six of the nine matches he has started this season and will hope to inspire the Hawks’ attack once again.
A win for the Hawks could see them move up one spot into 10th on the ladder, while a loss could see them drop down to 12th.
4th-placed Parramatta FC, meanwhile, had their home match against Hawkesbury City FC last week washed out but will hope to use the extra week of rest to continue their strong form head-to-head against Inner West.
Sitting four points still behind second but with only one win from their past six matches, the Eagles will hope to fire up to bring home the three points.
Expect Parramatta to start this match with intent as they look to make up ground on the top two to start the second half of the season.
With plenty to play for in the second half of the season, both Inner West and Parramatta will hope to start it on the right foot when they clash.
Granville Rage vs South Coast Flame FC, 7pm at Rydalmere Park
Previous meeting: South Coast Flame FC 7-0 Granville Rage
Two teams who are four places but only three points apart on the ladder clash when Granville Rage and South Coast Flame FC meet to end Round 16.
In the opening round, the Flame recorded the biggest win in their history after a 7-0 home win over the Rage; they will hope to fire up and claim another big win, while Granville will be out for revenge at home.
7th-placed Granville Rage lost 4-2 at home to the league-leading Hurstville Zagreb FC last week but will be hopeful of turning their form around against the Flame.
Timothy Borg-Williams’ double last week brought him to 10 for the season; he will hope to continue to lead the Rage attack well as they look to emanate their big home win over the Flame in 2024.
A win for the Rage could take them above the Flame into 3rd, while a loss could see them drop to as low as 9th in a packed ladder.
3rd-placed South Coast Flame, meanwhile, picked up their second-biggest win of the season in last week’s Match of the Round after their 6-0 home success over Fraser Park FC and will hope to use that as a springboard for the second half of the year.
Jyden Harb continued his push for the golden boot with a goal last week, while the rest of the Flame attack and squad also contributed last week; they will hope to use their pace up front to cause problems once again when they travel to Rydalmere Park.
A win for the Flame could see them rise into 2nd, while a loss could see them drop to as low as 7th, with every point crucial.
With the Rage hoping to have a consistent second half of the season in their push for the top spots and the Flame hoping to pick up another statement win near the top, both sides will hope to start fast in this match.
2nd-placed Prospect United SC have a bye in Round 16.
By Football NSW League Two Men’s Reporter, Dylan Costa
