Round 19 Preview – League Two Men’s
With a runaway leader leading a pack of four teams separated by just three points from 2nd to 5th, the competition will continue to heat up in Round 19 of the 2025 Football NSW League Two Men’s season.
The Match of the Round this week focuses on two teams hoping to close the gap to those top teams and turn around their form when Gladesville Ryde Magic hosts Granville Rage.
Saturday, 14th June 2025
Match of the Round: Gladesville Ryde Magic vs Granville Rage, 5pm at Christie Park
Previous meeting: Granville Rage 0-0 Gladesville Ryde Magic
Two teams with big ambitions and hoping to end respective winless runs sees Gladesville Ryde Magic host Granville Rage at Christie Park.
Earlier in the season, the two sides played out a nil-all draw, a result which meant the Magic went five head-to-head matches unbeaten against the Rage; they will hope to extend that streak and Granville will hope to break it.
11th-placed Gladesville Ryde Magic fell in a tight 1-0 loss away to the league-leading Hurstville Zagreb FC last week and will hope to return to form back at home for the first time in three weeks.
They will hope to be direct and aggressive against the Rage, utilising their forwards to create space and create problems for the Granville defence.
A win for the Magic could see them rise to as high as 7th and overtake the Rage, while a loss could see them drop down to 12th.
7th-placed Granville Rage, meanwhile, went a fourth-straight match without a win after they conceded a stoppage time equaliser to 4th-placed Hawkesbury City FC last week and will hope to end that drought against the Magic.
Having tightened up their defence in recent weeks, the Rage will hope that can be the basis to launch from as they look for a big win to keep them in touch with the sides ahead of them.
A win for the Rage could see them move up one spot into 6th, while a loss could see them drop to as low as 11th.
With the spots in the mid-table packed and every side in that area hoping to catch up to the chasing pack, both the Magic and the Rage will fight hard to earn the three points.
Parramatta FC vs Central Coast United FC, 5pm at Melita Stadium
Previous meeting: Central Coast United FC 1-2 Parramatta FC
With both Parramatta FC and Central Coast United FC hoping to bounce back from last-start losses, this match to kick-off Round 19 should provide plenty of big talking points.
Earlier in the season, Parramatta came from behind to earn a 2-1 away win over Central Coast United; the Eagles will hope to complete the league double over the Pirates in what would be a reversal of the 2023 league results between these two sides.
5th-placed Parramatta FC saw their six-match unbeaten run end abruptly last week in a 3-1 away loss to last-placed Sydney University SFC and will hope to put in a strong performance against the side sitting second-last on the ladder this week.
The Eagles will hope that loss can be a wake-up call for them and they will need to do well to hold off the Pirates; expect them to show better ball retention, chance creation and pressure in this match.
A win for the Eagles could see them rise back up into 2nd, while a loss could see as many as three teams below them close to within three points of them.
14th-placed Central Coast United, meanwhile, lost their first match in four weeks but went five matches without a win after their 4-2 away loss to 9th-placed Fraser Park FC in last week’s Match of the Round.
Having scored two goals in a match for just the third time this season last week, Central Coast will hope to keep improving on the attacking end as they look to avoid another defeat.
A win for the Pirates could take them back up into 13th, while a loss could see them drop down to last place for the first time this season.
With crucial spots up for grabs at either end of the ladder, both the Eagles and Pirates will hope to walk away with a big three points from this match.
Hawkesbury City FC vs Inner West Hawks FC, 5pm at David Bertenshaw Field
Previous meeting: Inner West Hawks FC 0-3 Hawkesbury City FC
The Battle of the Hawks reignites when Hawkesbury City FC and Inner West Hawks FC clash, with positions up for grabs across the ladder.
Earlier in the season, Inner West picked up a big 3-0 away win over Hawkesbury; that was the third-straight head-to-head match where Inner West has kept a clean sheet in a win over Hawkesbury, a trend they will hope to continue, and Hawkesbury will hope to break.
4th-placed Hawkesbury City went five matches unbeaten after their stoppage time equaliser earned them a 1-1 draw away to 7th-placed Granville Rage last week.
The past three draws for the Hawks have been followed by a win the next week; they will hope to continue that trend as they look to continue to put pressure on the teams around them.
A win for Hawkesbury could see them rise to as high as 2nd, while a loss could see them drop down to 5th.
12th-placed Inner West Hawks, meanwhile, won a second match from their past three as their form continued to improve following their 1-0 home win over 10th-placed Nepean FC last week.
The Hawks defence stepped up in a big way last week, particularly goalkeeper Gene Marantos, as Inner West kept their first clean sheet since Round Six; they will hope to use that result as a base to build from.
A win for Inner West could see them rise to as high as 10th, while a loss would see them remain in 12th.
With both sides in good league form and recent head-to-head history on the visitors’ side, both Hawkesbury and Inner West will hope to come out on top in the Battle of the Hawks.
Prospect United SC vs Dunbar Rovers FC, 7pm at Blacktown Exercise Sports and Technology Hub
Previous meeting: Dunbar Rovers FC 0-4 Prospect United SC
Another big battle in the top half of the ladder sees Prospect United SC hoping to chase down the top two against a Dunbar Rovers FC side hoping to close the gap to become just one point between these two sides.
In the reverse fixture, Prospect ran out strong 4-0 winners away from home; they will hope to complete the league double, while Dunbar will hope this match shows the improvement they have made throughout the season.
3rd-placed Prospect United went a third-straight match without a win after their 1-1 draw away to 2nd-placed South Coast Flame FC last week but will hope to turn their fortunes around quickly to avoid falling back in the promotion race.
After a positive response in their previous match to their big loss the week prior, Prospect will hope to build on the strong parts of their performance from last week as they look to build into the second half of the season.
A win for Prospect could see them rise to 2nd on the ladder, while a loss could see them drop down to 5th.
6th-placed Dunbar Rovers, meanwhile, will hope to return in strong form following their bye last week and will also look to build following their big win over Fraser Park the week before.
That match against Fraser Park could set a marker for their season and given most sides above them on the ladder failed to win during their bye week will give them further motivation to take down Prospect in this match.
A win for Dunbar could see them close the gap to the three sides ahead of them to just one point, while a loss could see them drop down to as low as 9th.
With the ladder as tight as ever and every point crucial, both sides will hope to have a positive outcome in this match as they look to make a push in the second half of the season.
Camden Tigers FC vs Hurstville Zagreb FC, 7pm at Ron Dine Memorial Reserve – Carbiz Stadium
Previous meeting: Hurstville Zagreb FC 0-0 Camden Tigers FC
Camden Tigers FC will hope to pull off a big upset when they host Hurstville Zagreb FC, the Tigers hoping to get away from the bottom sides when they host the league leaders.
Earlier in the season, the Tigers became the first and only team to draw with Hurstville this season in Round Four’s Match of the Round; they will hope to emulate that performance and then some, while Hurstville will hope to win a fourth head-to-head match from their past five against the Tigers.
13th-placed Camden Tigers scored a stoppage time goal to earn a 2-2 draw away to 8th-placed Bankstown United FC last week and will hope to use that fight to take on Hurstville this week.
Despite being nine matches without a win, the Tigers have shown fight in recent times which should bring them confidence that streak could end at any time, and they will relish the opportunity to attempt to break that against the league leaders.
A win for Camden would boost their confidence and keep them in 13th, while a loss could see them drop down to 14th.
League-leading Hurstville Zagreb, meanwhile, picked up a third-straight clean sheet and a fifth-straight win after their 1-0 home success over 11th-placed Gladesville Ryde Magic last week and will hope to take another step towards a potential league title and promotion against Camden.
Nikola Todoroski continued to build into the season last week with another goal, his third in his past four matches; in defence, meanwhile, Hurstville have kept three-straight clean sheets, a feat they last achieved in Rounds Eight to Ten of the 2023 season.
Leading the league by 11 points, a win for Hurstville could see them take their lead out to 14 points out front, while a loss could see that reduced to eight points.
With Camden hoping to be a bogey side for Hurstville in 2025 and Hurstville hoping to continue their quest for the title at the top, an intriguing contest awaits.
Nepean FC vs South Coast Flame FC, 7pm at Cook Park (St Marys)
Previous meeting: South Coast Flame FC 3-1 Nepean FC
Another big clash with top two consequences sees Nepean FC looking to join the rest of the chasing pack when they host the high-flying South Coast Flame FC.
In the reverse fixture, South Coast came from behind to earn a 3-1 home win over Nepean; the Flame will hope to complete the league double over Nepean, who will hope to avoid that stat.
10th-placed Nepean FC fell in a tight 1-0 loss away to 12th-placed Inner West Hawks FC last week and will hope to gain confidence from the performance rather than the result as they chase a big win.
Nepean failed to score in a match for just the second time this season last week; expect them to fire up and continue to launch attempts at goal this week as they look to get back on the scoresheet and the winners’ sheet.
A victory for Nepean could see them rise to as high as 6th, while a loss could see them drop to as low as 12th in a tight ladder.
2nd-placed South Coast Flame, meanwhile, came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw at home to 3rd-placed Prospect United SC last week and will hope to take a step forward and break away from the chasing pack.
Jyden Harb’s goal last week was his 19th goal from 17 matches this season as he moved to be six goals ahead of anyone else in the Golden Boot race; he will hope to score for a 10th-straight match this week and be the difference in the match again.
A win for the Flame would see them remain in 2nd and potentially close the gap to the league-leading Hurstville Zagreb FC to eight points, while a loss could see them drop to as low as 5th.
With Nepean locked in a tight mid-ladder battle and South Coast hoping to grab a big three points in their hopes of a top-two finish come the end of the season, both teams will look to fire up in this one.
Fraser Park FC vs Sydney University SFC, 7:30pm at Valentine Sports Park
Previous meeting: Sydney University SFC 4-5 Fraser Park FC
Fraser Park FC and Sydney University SFC meet to close out Round 19, with both sides hoping to grab a big win against the other following a high-scoring Round Four clash between the two sides earlier in the season.
That match finished 5-4 in Fraser Park’s favour, a win they grabbed after going behind; Fraser Park will hope to complete the league double over University, while the students will hope to instead win against Fraser Park away for a second-straight year.
9th-placed Fraser Park came out 4-2 winners at home to 14th-placed Central Coast United FC in last week’s Match of the Round and will hope to find consistency with their results as they look to keep up with the chasing pack.
Francis Mcalpine’s double last week brought him to nine goals for the season as Fraser Park’s leading goal scorer; Fraser Park will hope their attack can continue to fire, having scored four goals each in their past two wins.
A win for Fraser Park could see them rise to as high as 6th on the ladder, while a loss could see them drop to as low as 11th.
Last-placed Sydney University, meanwhile, won their first match of the season last week in a big 3-1 home success over 5th-placed Parramatta FC land will hope to build on that result as they look to potentially move off the bottom of the ladder.
The students will feel it is a reward for their hard work and effort, while they have proved they are a difficult side to play against, especially in recent weeks.
A win for University could see them move into 14th on the ladder, while a loss would see them remain rooted to the bottom of the league.
With Fraser Park hoping to find consistency and University looking to build off their first win of the season, both sides will hope to prove themselves in this match.
8th-placed Bankstown United FC have a bye in Round 19.
By Football NSW League Two Men’s Reporter, Dylan Costa
