Round 19 Review – League Two Men’s

The battles across the league remained as big as ever, with many teams making moves in the top half of the ladder in Round 19 of the 2025 Football NSW League Two Men’s season.

The Match of the Round this week saw Granville Rage pick up a crucial win away over Gladesville Ryde Magic.

Saturday, 14^th June 2025

Match of the Round: Gladesville Ryde Magic 0-3 Granville Rage

Granville Rage broke a four-match winless run after they secured a big 3-0 away win over Gladesville Ryde Magic to get their season back on track.

The Rage took an early lead in the 4^th minute with one of their first attacks in the match when Mitchell Whalley delivered a cross low into the six-yard-box for Anthony Gallo, who just got to the ball ahead of the Magic defence and slotted the ball home to give Granville a 1-0 advantage.

The two teams traded shots from there, with both sides having big chances respectively saved by both goalkeepers, with both Samuel Bortolazzo for the Rage and Lucas Mazereeuw called into action for the Magic with a minute of each other.

Following that, Granville created more chances, with shots going wide from range, Timothy Trainor at the heart of the attack sending consecutive shots wide left and right in the 24^th and 35^th minutes, respectively.

Gladesville’s Ewan Perrott had a shot just deflected wide for a corner in the 40^th minute as the Magic looked for a way back into the contest, while the final action of the first half saw a Magic header go wide, Granville 1-0 up at half-time.

After the break, the Rage created the first chances, with shots going over the bar, while substitute Asmir Kadric got the ball off a good pass to feet just outside the box but fired his shot high and wide right in the 59^th minute.

Twelve minutes later, Granville doubled their lead when a ball delivered in high from the right found Jad Moussa in the box; he guided the ball from left to right with a chest control and fired the ball in at the near left post to give the Rage some breathing room at 2-0 up.

Gladesville hit the woodwork at the other end as a reply straight away, but the Rage did not give up on their pursuit of a third goal at the other end.

That third goal came in the 84^th minute when substitute Ante Tomic got the ball out wide left and fired a shot on goal, finding the back of the net to give the Rage a 3-0 away win over the Magic.

Speaking post-match, Granville head coach Daniel Bortolazzo was pleased with his side’s performance, especially their starts to get them on the front foot early.

“If we score early, we take control of the game, it keeps it positive for the boys, and we generally can find a way to keep the momentum going forward.”

Bortolazzo was happy his squad was able to return to the winner’s list, with key players coming back from injury and making their mark on the squad.

“It has been a tough month for us, a lot of injuries, players coming back, players coming in and out; all the boys have put in a solid effort, so very happy for the team.”

The loss for Gladesville saw them remain in 11^th place, while the win for Granville saw them rise from 7^th into 6^th.

Gladesville will hope to win their first match in five when they travel to face 8^th-placed Dunbar Rovers FC, while Granville will hope to gain more ground on the teams ahead when they play a catch-up match at home to 9^th-placed Bankstown United FC on Tuesday, 17^th June before they host 14^th-placed Camden Tigers FC in Round 20.

Gladesville Ryde Magic 0

Granville Rage 3 (Anthony Gallo 4’; Jad Moussa 71’; Ante Tomic 84’)

Parramatta FC 1-1 Central Coast United FC

Central Coast United FC came from behind late to earn a 1-1 draw away to Parramatta FC, with plenty of talking points in the match.

The hosts started the match strongly with intent to win the second ball and hold possession in the contest.

The Eagles opened the scoring with a screamer when Marco Sama beat four Central Coast players around the edge of the box and scored to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead.

Parramatta’s Yusuf Aydin had two good chances to add to that lead but was not able to find the clinical edge, while at the other end the back three of captain Travis Oughtred, Tarek Elrich and 17-year-old Riley Carmody-Smith held back the Pirates’ attack.

Navid Alizada was dangerous in attack for the Eagles, while for the Pirates Micheal Singh was a big threat in the first half; Parramatta took a 1-0 lead into half-time.

After the break, the match turned transitional with Parramatta unable to put their passes together and Central Coast hoped to capitalise.

With five regulation minutes left, Central Coast levelled the contest at 1-1 when a throw-in from the Pirates saw the ball passed from left to right to substitute Jay Goodwin; he took a shot, which took a deflection and wrong-footed Parramatta goalkeeper Benjamin Marchant before it rolled into the back of the net.

In the end, the late goal for the Pirates saw them share the points with the Eagles in a 1-1 draw.

The point for Parramatta saw them remain in 5^th, while for Central Coast it saw them rise up from 14^th to 13^th.

Parramatta will hope to win their first match in five when they travel to face 9^th-placed Bankstown United FC, while Central Coast will hope to continue to build when they travel to take on 12^th-placed Inner West Hawks FC.

Parramatta FC 1 (Marco Sama 7’)

Central Coast United FC 1 (Jay Goodwin 85’)

Hawkesbury City FC 4-0 Inner West Hawks FC

Hawkesbury City FC completed the perfect league double over Inner West Hawks FC, reversing their fortunes from the 2024 season, after a strong 4-0 home win.

The hosts started strong with chances to Declan Stewart and Vincent Dermilio which went wide, but Dermilio did open the scoring for Hawkesbury in the 24^th minute when he struck a volley from outside the box into the top corner for a 1-0 lead at half-time.

In the second half, Dermilio completed his double in the 58^th minute when he was slipped through on goal one-on-one thanks to a Harry Drew pass and scored his 15^th goal of the season to double Hawkesbury’s lead.

Harry Drew ensured the Hawkesbury win in the 83^rd minute when he got on the end of a low cross from Dermilio for his 13^th goal of the season and Hawkesbury’s third goal of the night.

The 4-0 Hawkesbury win was rounded out in the 88^th minute when 19-year-old Brayden Waters scored off the bench for the hosts for his first-ever first grade goal for the Hawks.

The win for Hawkesbury saw them go six matches unbeaten, with a win following a draw from the week before yet again as they moved up from 4^th into 3^rd, while the loss for Inner West saw them remain in 12^th.

Hawkesbury will hope to continue their strong run of form when they travel to face last-placed Sydney University SFC next week, while Inner West will hope to respond at home to 13^th-placed Central Coast United FC.

Hawkesbury City FC 4 (Vincent Dermilio 24’, 58’; Harry Drew 83’; Brayden Waters 88’)

Inner West Hawks FC 0

Prospect United SC 2-0 Dunbar Rovers FC

Prospect United SC completed the perfect league double over Dunbar Rovers FC in a 2-0 win which also helped in their fight for the top two this season.

The hosts had good chances in the first half when Andre Cavallaro shot wide from close range in the 20^th minute before Anthony Idehen had a shot go straight to Dunbar goalkeeper Max Parker after, with the match goalless at half-time.

After the break, Dunbar had a chance to take the lead but were stopped by last-ditch defending from Prospect, which lead to a crucial next attack for Prospect.

Prospect took the lead in the 67^th minute when Jamie Dib’s shot was saved into the path of Cavallaro, who slotted the ball home from six yards to give the hosts the advantage.

Prospect ensured the three points in the 89^th minute when Idehen dribbled the ball into the box and cut it back to substitute Jakob Petterson, who found the roof of the net with a first-time shot to give Prospect a 2-0 home win over Dunbar.

The win for Prospect was their first in four and kept them among the top sides as they dropped from 3^rd to 4^th on goals scored, while the loss for Dunbar meant they fell from 6^th to 8^th.

Prospect will hope to build off this win as they look to keep up with the top sides when they travel to face 7^th-placed Fraser Park FC next week, while Dunbar will hope to pick up a confidence-building win when they host 11^th-placed Gladesville Ryde Magic.

Prospect United SC 2 (Andre Cavallaro 67’; Jakob Petterson 89’)

Dunbar Rovers FC 0

Camden Tigers FC 1-3 Hurstville Zagreb FC

Hurstville Zagreb FC continued their charge atop the league ladder with a sixth-straight win after they defeated Camden Tigers FC 3-1 away, winning for the fourth time from their past five meetings.

The visitors had the perfect start in the 2^nd minute when Declan Sheldon’s ball across the face of goal found Michael Neill, who crossed the ball back into the box for Andre Guzman; he scored with a header to give Hurstville the early 1-0 lead.

Seven minutes later, Neill was fouled out wide just outside the box and from the resulting free kick, Guzman completed his double and grabbed his fourth goal of the season, scoring direct from the free kick for a 2-0 Hurstville lead.

Both sides had chances in the first half, with Hurstville’s Nikola Todoroski having a header saved by Camden goalkeeper Michael O’Rourke, while the hosts also had a shot from the far post, but Hurstville goalkeeper Michael Rutherford saved it, Hurstville 2-0 up at half-time.

In the second half, Hurstville looked to add to their lead early with more crosses into the box in the second half.

The visitors took a 3-0 lead in the 53^rd minute when substitute Matteo Guerra won the ball and played Guzman in; Guzman slipped Neill in behind, who scored Hurstville’s third goal of the night.

Three minutes later, Hurstville conceded their first goal in 329 minutes when a mistake in their defensive box saw Camden cut the ball back to substitute Avisai Vunisasaro, who finished well to give Camden a way back into the match at 3-1 down.

The Tigers had a good chance to add a second goal in the match after, but the Hurstville defence scrambled to block the shot.

The visitors saw out the rest of the match to secure a big 3-1 away win over Camden.

The win for Hurstville saw them maintain their 11-point lead at the top of the ladder as they looked to continue their quest for the league title and promotion, while the loss for Camden saw them go ten matches without a win as the young side stayed in 14^th.

Hurstville will hope to continue their charge when they host 10^th-placed Nepean FC next week, while Camden will hope to keep showing up and do their best when they travel to face 6^th-placed Granville Rage.

Camden Tigers FC 1 (Avisai Vunisasaro 56’)

Hurstville Zagreb FC 3 (Andre Guzman 2’, 9’; Michael Neill 53’)

Nepean FC 1-4 South Coast Flame FC

South Coast Flame FC picked up a crucial win in their battle for promotion after they came from behind against Nepean FC for a big 4-1 away win.

The Flame started strongly with chances to Adam Timpano-Voloder and Alexander Alston, but Nepean goalkeeper Luke Cotten saved both efforts, while Daniel Merola also had a chance for the visitors early.

In the 27^th minute, Jack Hoban almost celebrated his 300^th appearance for Nepean with a goal, but his shot from an acute angle was saved well by Flame goalkeeper Nenad Vekic at his near post.

From the resulting corner, Nepean took a 1-0 lead when Alexander Purves scrambled the ball over the line, the hosts stunning the side in 2^nd on the ladder in the 27^th minute.

The Flame struck back with the equaliser in the 35^th minute when Timpano-Voloder scored his 10^th goal of the season; he found the bottom corner from just inside the box to level the match at 1-1.

Just before the break, the Flame had a chance to take the lead through Kade Kinsella, but his shot was saved well by Cotten, the match level at 1-1 at half-time.

After the break, Kinsella struck the post with an effort as the Flame looked to take the lead.

That lead came in the 56^th minute when a Nepean clearance into one of their own players saw the ball fall to Kinsella, who slotted the ball home from inside the box to give South Coast a 2-1 lead.

Less than two minutes later, the Flame added a third goal when the league’s top scorer, Jyden Harb, scored for a tenth-straight match after he found space inside the box; he fired two attempts on goal, finding the back of the net the second time around for a 3-1 Flame lead.

In the 65^th minute, Nepean had a good chance to grab a goal back when Mathew Crossley’s cross to the far post was struck well by Kye Soares, but Vekic pulled off a save to deny him.

The Flame secured the three points in the 77^th minute when substitute William Provino sent Harb through on goal; the league’s top scorer of the season scored once again on the second attempt for his 21^st league goal of the year to give the Flame a 4-1 lead.

Nepean had chances late to Jett Mcfadden and Soares but were unable to grab another goal, while substitute Toby Witjes struck the crossbar from range to end the match.

Luke Williams also made his first-grade debut for Nepean in the match off the bench late, the 19-year-old having played in every age group for Nepean from under-9s to first grade.

In the end, the Flame held on for a 4-1 away win over Nepean to complete the league double over Nepean for the first time in their history.

The loss for Nepean saw them stay in 10^th, while the win for the Flame saw them stay in 2^nd, 11 points behind league-leading Hurstville Zagreb FC and three points ahead of the chasing pack.

Nepean will hope to respond from back-to-back losses and cause an upset when they travel to face league-leading Hurstville Zagreb FC in Round 20, while South Coast will hope to continue their promotion charge after their bye next week.

Nepean FC 1 (Alexander Purves 27’)

South Coast Flame FC 4 (Adam Timpano-Voloder 35’; Kade Kinsella 56’; Jyden Harb 58’, 77’)

Fraser Park FC 2-1 Sydney University SFC

Fraser Park FC recorded back-to-back wins and completed the league double over Sydney University SFC after they held on for a big 2-1 home win.

University started on the front foot with chances to Charles Hely-Hammond and Joseph Roddy within the first five minutes.

In the 8^th minute, Fraser Park took advantage of high University press; Jacob Sebayang played a ball over the top to Francis Mcalpine, who got into the box and scored into the corner of the goal to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.

University continued to press and were awarded a penalty in the 30^th minute after a foul in the box; however, the effort from the spot was struck over the goal.

The students continued to attack with a header at the far post hitting the crossbar three minutes later.

The visitors’ pressure paid off in the 39^th minute when Hely-Hammond capitalised on a Fraser Park defensive error and equalised for the students, Hely-Hammond scoring his third goal in two matches, with the match 1-1 at half-time.

Fraser Park started the second half strongly and were awarded a penalty in the 54^th minute when Christian Dos Santos was fouled inside the box by University goalkeeper Kota Arakawa; Stavros Palapanis stepped up and converted from the spot to give Fraser Park a 2-1 lead.

The match turned feisty from there with nine yellow cards handed out total in the contest, while Mcalpine was shown a red card in the 76^th minute for Fraser Park, reducing them to ten men.

In the end, Fraser Park held on for a big 2-1 home win over the students.

The win for Fraser Park saw them rise from 9^th into the top half of the ladder in 7^th, while the loss for the students saw them remain in last place.

Fraser Park will hope to win a third-straight match when they host 4^th-placed Prospect United SC, while Sydney University will hope to take down the visiting 3^rd-placed Hawkesbury City FC.

Fraser Park FC 2 (Francis Mcalpine 8’, 76’ red card; Stavros Palapanis 54’ pen)

Sydney University SFC 1 (Charles Hely-Hammond 39’)

Bankstown United FC had a bye in Round 19 and dropped from 8^th to 9^th, while they have a catch-up match away to 6^th-placed Granville Rage on Tuesday, 17^th June.

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