Round 26 Preview – League Two Men’s
With the title confirmed for Hurstville Zagreb FC, celebrations begin for them while another handful of teams continue the battle for 2nd in Round 26 of the 2025 Football NSW League Two Men’s season.
The Match of the Round this week focuses on one of those top two hopefuls in Bankstown United FC, who will hope to continue their strong run of form when they host the Premiers, Hurstville Zagreb FC.
Saturday, 2nd August 2025
Match of the Round: Bankstown United FC vs Hurstville Zagreb FC, 7pm at Padstow Park
Previous meeting: Hurstville Zagreb FC 3-0 Bankstown United FC
A team hopeful of a shot at promotion this season meets the team already confirmed to be promoted for 2026 when Bankstown United FC hosts Hurstville Zagreb FC.
In the reverse fixture, Bankstown suffered a 3-0 away loss to Hurstville; they will hope to avoid losing the league double, while Hurstville would love to continue their celebrations with a win.
4th-placed Bankstown United FC continued their late-season charge for 2nd with a sixth-straight win following their 4-1 away success over Central Coast United FC last week and will hope to take down the Premiers on their way to potentially climbing into 2nd.
Mitchell Cross was back at his goalscoring best in Round 25 with a hat-trick bringing him to 10 goals this season; he and the rest of the Bankstown attack will hope to fire against the strongest defence in the competition.
A win for Bankstown could see them rise into the all-important spot of 2nd on the ladder, while a loss could see them drop one spot to 5th and potentially fall six points behind in the race for 2nd.
The newly crowned Premiers, Hurstville Zagreb FC, meanwhile, will hope to continue their celebrations with a win following their title-clinching win over Hawkesbury last week.
In each of their past three matches, Hurstville have come from behind to earn two wins and a draw; they will hope to continue to show that champion fight as they look to further extend their league-winning lead atop the ladder.
A win or draw for Hurstville would see them go thirteen matches unbeaten, while a loss would be their first since Round 12.
With Bankstown hoping to take down the Premiers on their way to ensuring they stay right in the fight for 2nd and Hurstville looking to not let up despite the league title being won, both sides will hope to be at their very best when they meet.
Central Coast United FC vs Nepean FC, 3pm at Pluim Park
Previous meeting: Nepean FC 3-1 Central Coast United FC
Central Coast United FC will hope to snap a four-match winless streak when they host a Nepean FC side also hoping to do the same.
In the reverse fixture, Nepean scored a 3-1 home win over Central Coast; they will hope to complete the league double, while Central Coast will look to get revenge at home.
14th-placed Central Coast United FC lost a third-straight match following their 4-1 home loss to Bankstown United FC last week but will hope to respond positively, playing a fifth match at home from their past six.
Central Coast will hope to have another fast start this week and control the match as they look to take down Nepean.
A win for Central Coast could see them return to 13th on the ladder, while a loss could see them drop to last place.
12th-placed Nepean FC, meanwhile, return from their Round 25 bye refreshed and ready to take on the Pirates as they chase the league double.
Having not scored in their past two matches, Nepean will hope to return to their good attacking form as they look to complete the league double.
A win for Nepean would see them rise to as high as 10th on the ladder, while a loss would see them remain in 12th.
With Central Coast and Nepean both hoping to end losing streaks, both sides will be hopeful of grabbing the three points from this clash.
Fraser Park FC vs Hawkesbury City FC, 5pm at Fraser Park
Previous meeting: Hawkesbury City FC 6-2 Fraser Park FC
An intriguing battle awaits when Fraser Park FC and Hawkesbury City FC meet in a clash which always provides plenty of action.
In the reverse fixture, Hawkesbury scored the most goals they have in a single match this season in a 6-2 home win; they will hope to go a fifth-straight head-to-head match unbeaten against Fraser Park when they meet, while Fraser Park will hope to end that streak.
9th-placed Fraser Park FC won their first match in five after their stoppage-time win away to Gladesville Ryde Magic last week and will hope to win back-to-back matches for the first time since Round 15.
Fraser Park will hope to get into the arm wrestle with Hawkesbury as they look to get their first win over Hawkesbury since Round 8, 2023.
A win for Fraser Park could see them rise to as high as 7th on the ladder, while a loss would see them remain in 9th.
6th-placed Hawkesbury City FC saw their hopes of a 2nd-placed finish this season take another mighty blow following their 2-1 loss to Hurstville Zagreb FC last week and will hope to consolidate their position on the ladder in the weeks ahead.
After showing plenty of fight in their tight loss to Hurstville, Hawkesbury will hope to bring that same intensity to Fraser Park as they look to snap a four-match winless run.
A win for Hawkesbury could see them rise one spot to 4th, while a loss would see them remain in 6th.
With both Fraser Park and Hawkesbury desperate for the win, both sides will look to fight hard to either continue or break dominance in this fixture, respectively.
Camden Tigers FC vs South Coast Flame FC, 5pm at Ron Dine Memorial Reserve – Carbiz Stadium
Previous meeting: South Coast Flame FC 6-1 Camden Tigers FC
A big clash with consequence for teams at either end of the ladder sees Camden Tigers FC hoping to cause an upset when they host the promotion-chasing South Coast Flame FC.
In the reverse fixture, the Flame were at their attacking best as they recorded a 6-1 home win; they will hope to complete the league double, while Camden will hope their strong home form against the Flame will have its say on this match.
Last-placed Camden Tigers FC surrendered the lead in a tight 2-1 loss away to Inner West Hawks FC last week but with positive signs for the squad, will hope to upset the Flame to shake up the battle for 2nd.
The Tigers have beaten the Flame the past two years they have hosted them in the league and so will be looking to make that a third-straight head-to-head home win over the Flame.
A win for the Tigers could see them rise into 14th place on the ladder, while a loss would see them stay in last for a sixth-straight week.
3rd-placed South Coast Flame FC, meanwhile, closed the gap back to just three points to 2nd-placed Prospect United SC following their comeback 4-3 home win over Parramatta FC last week and will hope to potentially overtake Prospect with a win this week.
The Flame have scored a league-high 68 goals so far in the 2025 season and will hope to continue to be at their attacking best against the Tigers, having scored 11 goals total from their past three matches.
A win for the Flame could see them rise into 2nd on the ladder, while a loss could see them fall to 4th and as many as six points behind 2nd.
With Camden hoping to cause an upset and South Coast hoping to make the most of their chances with limited rounds remaining, pride versus position will be on the line for the sides, respectively.
Sydney University SFC vs Granville Rage, 5pm at Sydney University Football Ground
Previous meeting: Granville Rage 3-1 Sydney University SFC
A big match between two teams who have had positive results lately sees Sydney University SFC looking to shake up the battle for 2nd when they host the promotion-hopeful Granville Rage.
In the reverse fixture, Round 11’s Match of the Round, Granville came from behind to take a 3-1 home win over University; they will hope to complete the league double, while University will hope to grab a win against the Rage, just as they did in the 2024 season.
13th-placed Sydney University SFC won a fourth match from their past five as their late-season form continued with a 2-1 comeback home win over Dunbar Rovers FC in Round 25.
University have scored in each other their past seven matches and will hope to continue to show their improvement across the park as they hunt down the sides above them, rather than looking behind, towards the end of the season.
A win for University would see them stay in 13th, while a loss could see them drop one spot to 14th.
5th-placed Granville Rage, meanwhile, held 2nd-placed Prospect United SC to a 1-1 draw at home in Round 25’s Match of the Round and will hope to take the matches one at a time as they look to stay in the mix with the sides hoping to finish 2nd.
Timothy Borg-Williams continued to lead the line for the Rage with his 14th goal of the season last week; having scored in four of his past five matches, and having scored against University in the reverse fixture, he will hope to lead the Rage to a win in this match.
A win for Granville could see them rise to as high as 4th on the ladder, while a loss could see them drop one spot to 6th.
With University in form and Granville hoping to stay in the hunt for 2nd, neither side will take this match lightly in a contest which should deliver goals.
Dunbar Rovers FC vs Inner West Hawks FC, 7pm at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre
Previous meeting: Inner West Hawks FC 1-3 Dunbar Rovers FC
A mid-table clash sees Dunbar Rovers FC looking to complete the league double when they host an Inner West Hawks FC side buoyed following back-to-back wins.
In the reverse fixture, Dunbar recorded a 3-1 away win over the Hawks; they will hope to complete the league double, while Inner West will look to get revenge away from home.
8th-placed Dunbar Rovers FC went five matches without a win after their 2-1 away loss to Sydney University SFC in Round 25 but will hope to continue to give minutes to younger players as they look to finish the season strongly.
Paul Gautier scored against the Hawks in the reverse fixture and having scored in back-to-back matches will hope to continue his form in this match.
A win for Dunbar could see them rise to 7th on the ladder, while a loss could see them drop to 9th.
10th-placed Inner West Hawks FC, meanwhile, won back-to-back matches for the first time since Round Six and will hope to win three-straight for the first time this season.
Hesan Soufi opened his Hawks account with a goal last week and will hope to add to his 10 goals for the season in this match, while the rest of the Hawks attack will hope to join in on the action.
A win for the Hawks would see them remain in 10th, while a loss could see them drop one spot to 11th.
With Dunbar and Inner West both looking to build for the next season, this match will give both sides an idea of where they are at in their respective journeys.
Prospect United SC vs Parramatta FC, 7pm at Blacktown Exercise Sports and Technology Hub
Previous meeting: Parramatta FC 1-2 Prospect United SC
Prospect United SC will hope to continue to lead the charge for 2nd this season when they host Parramatta FC in this western Sydney derby.
In the reverse fixture, Prospect came from behind to grab a 2-1 away win over Parramatta; they will hope to complete the league double, just as Parramatta did to them in the 2024 season, while the Eagles will hope to pick up a big away win over Prospect, just as they did in the 2024 season.
2nd-placed Prospect United SC battled from a goal behind to grab a 1-1 draw away to Granville Rage in last week’s Match of the Round and will hope to continue to fight for their spot in 2nd when the Eagles visit.
They are another side which has emphasised taking each match as it comes and not thinking too far ahead and they will hope to take that mentality into this match as they hunt down the all-important opening goal against Parramatta.
A win for Prospect would see them maintain their three-point lead to the sides below them on the ladder, while a loss could see them drop to as low as 4th in what is a tight battle for 2nd.
7th-placed Parramatta FC, meanwhile, led twice but in the end fell to a tough 4-3 away defeat to South Coast Flame FC, but will hope to use that pain to fuel their desire to take down a top side in Prospect.
Having scored seven goals combined from their past two matches, the Eagles have found their groove in attack and will hope that intent and energy in the final third will set them up well against the league’s second-best defensive side.
A win for Parramatta would see them remain in 7th, while a loss could see them drop to 8th.
With Prospect hoping to maintain their advantage in 2nd and Parramatta looking to be a big attacking threat to shake up the battle for promotion, this is a match which could also be decided by singular moments.
11th-placed Gladesville Ryde Magic have a bye in Round 26.
By Football NSW League Two Men’s Reporter, Dylan Costa
