Round 22 Preview – League Two Men’s
With three sides from second to fourth on equal points and a total of seven points separating the sides from second to eighth, Round 22 of the 2025 Football NSW League Two Men’s season promises to deliver more important action.
The Match of the Round this week focuses on two sides hopeful of gaining an advantage in the top half of the ladder when Dunbar Rovers FC hosts Hawkesbury City FC.
Saturday, 5th July 2025
Match of the Round: Dunbar Rovers FC vs Hawkesbury City FC, 7pm at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre
Previous meeting: Hawkesbury City FC 2-0 Dunbar Rovers FC
The tight battle in the top half of the ladder will continue when Dunbar Rovers FC look to return to winning ways against a top two chasing Hawkesbury City FC.
In the reverse fixture, two second-half goals for Hawkesbury gave them a 2-0 home win over Dunbar; they will hope to complete the league double, while Dunbar will hope to get revenge at home.
8th-placed Dunbar Rovers FC fell short of a comeback in their 3-2 away loss to Central Coast United FC last week and will hope to put in a spirited performance against the Hawks.
With youngsters scoring off the bench and their main men up front looking to get back into form, Dunbar will hope to show plenty of enthusiasm in this match.
A win for Dunbar could see them rise to as high as 6th, while a loss could see them drop to as low as 10th.
4th-placed Hawkesbury City FC, meanwhile, held off 2nd-placed South Coast Flame FC last week in a 4-2 home win to reshape the race for 2nd.
In the reverse fixture, Harry Drew scored a double and after scoring in two of his past three matches, will hope to continue for a firing Hawkesbury attack, along with Vincent Dermilio, who has six goals from his past six matches.
Level on points with South Coast and 3rd-placed Prospect United SC, a win for Hawkesbury could see them rise into 2nd on the ladder, while a loss could see them drop to 5th.
With Dunbar hoping to move back into the top half of the ladder and Hawkesbury looking to make the most of the losses from the teams above them from last round, both sides will be hopeful of picking up the win.
South Coast Flame FC vs Central Coast United FC, 5pm at Sir Ian McLennan Oval
Previous meeting: Central Coast United FC 1-2 South Coast Flame FC
The battle of the coasts reignites when South Coast Flame FC hosts Central Coast United FC, with both sides coming off contrasting results.
In the reverse fixture, in Round Seven’s Match of the Round, the Flame came from behind to grab a 2-1 win; they will hope to go a fourth-straight match unbeaten against the Pirates, while Central Coast will hope to shake up the race for promotion.
2nd-placed South Coast Flame FC suffered a 4-2 away loss to Hawkesbury City FC last week and will hope to respond this week in their hopes of solidifying their spot in 2nd on the ladder.
Jyden Harb will hope to score for a 12th-straight league match, while the Flame defence will hope to tighten up, having conceded four goals last week after only conceding two total from their five matches prior.
A win for the Flame would see them stay in 2nd, while a loss could see them drop to as low as 4th.
13th-placed Central Coast United, meanwhile, won back-to-back matches for the first time this season after their 3-2 home win over Dunbar last week and will hope to continue their form against the Flame.
The Pirates’ team has combined well to score team goals lately, while their press has led to them creating chances, too; they will hope to continue to build chemistry as they look to put out the Flame.
A win for the Pirates could see them move up one spot onto 12th on the ladder, while a loss would see them remain in 13th.
With South Coast chasing promotion and Central Coast building momentum, plenty of action can be expected in this battle of the coasts.
Sydney University SFC vs Bankstown United FC, 5pm at Sydney University Football Ground
Previous meeting: Bankstown United FC 1-0 Sydney University SFC
Both Sydney University SFC and Bankstown United FC will hope to build off big back-to-back wins when they meet in this crucial Round 22 matchup.
Earlier in the season, Bankstown won a fourth-straight head-to-head match against the students, keeping a third-straight clean sheet in a 1-0 win; they will hope to complete the league double once again, while University will hope to pick up a positive result, themselves.
14th-placed Sydney University SFC continued their resurgence and moved out of last place for the first time since Round Two after their 2-0 away win over Camden Tigers FC last week and will hope to continue that form against Bankstown.
The students have made some moves during the transfer window, with centre-half Elliott Breakspear coming in from Hakoah Sydney City East FC and full-back/winger Zach Khater, coming in following a year off, while they have parted ways with Hamza Sweedan, Zach Kalogerou and Steffan Vischer both going to Dulwich Hill FC and Peter Zervos leaving for work commitments.
A win for the students could see them go five points clear of last place, while a loss could see them fall back to that spot.
7th-placed Bankstown United, meanwhile, won back-to-back matches for the first time since Round Seven and went four matches without defeat after their late 2-1 away win over Gladesville Ryde Magic last week and will hope to continue that form as they look to chase down the leading sides.
They will be hopeful of making a late push for the top two this season, being only five points behind 2nd-placed South Coast Flame FC.
A win for Bankstown could see them rise to as high as 5th on the ladder, while a loss could see them drop to 8th.
With both Sydney University SFC and Bankstown United FC in form, both sides will be hopeful of continuing their respective upward trajectories when they meet in this match.
Inner West Hawks FC vs Gladesville Ryde Magic, 7pm at Arlington Oval
Previous meeting: Gladesville Ryde Magic 2-0 Inner West Hawks FC
A battle for position sees Inner West Hawks FC and Gladesville Ryde Magic face off, with both sides hoping to get back to winning ways.
Earlier in the season, Gladesville won their first head-to-head match in four against the Hawks with a 2-0 home win; they will hope to complete the league double, while the Hawks will hope to record a win at home.
12th-placed Inner West Hawks FC ended a run of back-to-back losses with a 0-0 draw away to Granville Rage last week and will hope to build off that clean sheet against the Magic.
Having found goals hard to come by this season, with a tally of 22 from 19 matches, the second-lowest in the competition, the Hawks will hope a return home will help them return to form.
A win for the Hawks would see them rise one spot into 11th, while a loss could see them drop one spot to 13th.
11th-placed Gladesville Ryde Magic, meanwhile, went six matches without a win after their 2-1 home loss to Bankstown United FC last week but will hope to turn around their form soon.
Having lost three of their past four matches by a one-goal margin, the Magic will hope to turn those tight matches into positive results going forward.
A win for the Magic would keep them in 11th place, while a loss would see them drop to 12th.
With both Inner West and Gladesville hoping to get back to winning ways, both sides will fight hard for the three points in this contest.
Prospect United SC vs Camden Tigers FC, 7pm at Blacktown Exercise Sports and Technology Hub
Previous meeting: Camden Tigers FC 1-4 Prospect United SC
A big clash for both ends of the ladder sees promotion-chasing Prospect United SC host the team looking to avoid a last-placed finish this season in Camden Tigers FC.
Earlier in the season, Prospect recorded a 4-1 away win over the Tigers; they will hope to win a fourth-straight head-to-head match against Camden, while the Tigers will hope to end that streak.
3rd-placed Prospect United SC fell to a tough 2-0 away defeat to the league-leading Hurstville Zagreb FC last week and will hope to return to winning ways when they host the Tigers.
Anthony Idehen will hope to build on his six goals from his past three head-to-head matches with the Tigers this week, while Prospect’s leading goal scorer for the season in Praneet Singh will hope to add to his 12 goals for the year.
A win for Prospect could see them rise into the all-important 2nd spot on the ladder, while a loss could see them drop to 4th.
Last-placed Camden Tigers FC, meanwhile, fell to the bottom of the league for the first time this season and will hope to cause an upset against Prospect.
With plenty of youth gaining experience for the Tigers, they hope that will serve them well for the rest of the season and into the future, while they will hope to cause an upset to get back off the bottom of the league.
A win for the Tigers could see them move back up into 14th, while a loss would see them remain at the bottom of the ladder for a second-straight week.
With Prospect chasing promotion and Camden hoping to end a run of 12 matches without a win, both sides will hope to show their attacking intent in this match.
Nepean FC vs Granville Rage, 7pm at Cook Park (St Marys)
Previous meeting: Granville Rage 1-0 Nepean FC
The western Sydney derby will reignite once again when Nepean FC hosts Granville Rage, with both sides hoping to grab all three points in what is an unpredictable derby.
Earlier in the season, Granville defeated Nepean for the first time in over three years after a 1-0 home win; they will hope to complete the league double, while Nepean will hope to get some revenge.
10th-placed Nepean FC snapped a three-match losing streak after their big 2-1 away win over Parramatta FC in another western Sydney derby last week and will hunt down back-to-back derby successes as they hunt down the sides in the top half.
Nepean will hope to win back-to-back matches, just as they did through Rounds 16 and 17, as they look to have a positive second half of the season.
A win for Nepean could see them rise to as high as 8th on the ladder, while a loss would keep them in 10th.
5th-placed Granville Rage, meanwhile, went six matches unbeaten after their 0-0 home draw to Inner West Hawks FC last week and will hope to continue their good form in their pursuit of the top two.
Granville have had some departures during the transfer window, with midfielder Nikita Andricopoulos leaving along with defender Dane Vrankovic, while they have brought in Michael Trajkovski and Yianni Perkatis, both players coming in from League One Men’s side Mounties Wanderers FC and both making their Rage debut against Inner West last week.
A win for Granville would see them remain in 5th, while a loss could see them drop to 6th.
With Nepean and Granville hoping to fire up for the western Sydney derby, any result could happen in this match which promises to deliver big moments.
Sunday, 6th July 2025
Fraser Park FC vs Hurstville Zagreb FC, 6:30pm at Valentine Sports Park
Previous meeting: Hurstville Zagreb FC 2-1 Fraser Park FC
The final match of the round sees Fraser Park FC looking to come out refreshed following their bye when they host the league-leading Hurstville Zagreb FC.
Earlier in the season, Hurstville held on for a 2-1 home win over Fraser Park; they will hope to complete the league double, just as Fraser Park did to them last season, while Fraser Park will hope to pick up a statement win at home.
9th-placed Fraser Park FC will hope to return from their bye round with a win against a Hurstville side they defeated twice last season in hopes of giving themselves a push for the latter part of the season.
Playing a sixth-straight match at their temporary home, Fraser Park will hope to return with a win following their bye, with a few changes to the squad expected with new signings imminent.
A win for Fraser Park could see them rise one spot into 8th on the ladder, while a loss could see them drop one place into 10th.
League-leading Hurstville Zagreb FC, meanwhile, won an eighth-straight match and kept a fifth clean sheet from their past seven after their 2-0 home win over Prospect United SC in last week’s Match of the Round and will hope to extend their 17-point lead at the top this week.
Hurstville made some moves during the transfer window, including bringing in 21-year-old defender Joshua Lazzaro from League One Men’s side Bonnyrigg White Eagles and Daniel Sramek from Gladesville Ryde Magic.
A win for Hurstville would see them move to within 11 points of the league title, at most, while a loss would see them drop points for the first time since Round 12.
With Fraser Park hoping to cause an upset following their bye and Hurstville looking to take another step towards the league title, both sides will be refreshed and ready for this contest.
6th-placed Parramatta FC have a bye in Round 22.
By Football NSW League Two Men’s Reporter, Dylan Costa
