Round 28 Preview – League Two Men’s

With the fight for second having the opportunity to be decided in Round 28 of the 2025 Football NSW League Two Men’s season, the teams in that battle will hope to take out victories in their respective matches as the season nears its end.

The Match of the Round this week focuses on the team in prime position for 2^nd when Prospect United SC looks to get the job done at home to Inner West Hawks FC.

Saturday, 16^th August 2025

Match of the Round: Prospect United SC vs Inner West Hawks FC, 7pm at Blacktown Exercise Sports and Technology Hub

Previous meeting: Inner West Hawks FC 0-1 Prospect United SC

Prospect United SC will have the opportunity to wrap up 2^nd spot this season when they host Inner West Hawks FC, pending the result of the Dunbar Rovers FC vs South Coast Flame FC match elsewhere.

Earlier in the season, Prospect ran out tight 1-0 winners in what was a fast-paced encounter; they will hope to complete the league double just as the Hawks did to them in the 2024 season, while the Hawks will hope to have their say on the promotion fight.

2^nd-placed Prospect United SC won a seventh match from their past nine and moved to within a maximum of five points from securing a 2^nd-placed finish in 2025 following their 4-1 away win over Gladesville Ryde Magic last week and will hope to wrap up 2^nd with a win in this match.

Praneet Singh was the match-winner for Prospect in the reverse fixture and will hope to add to his 13 goals for the season as Prospect’s leading scorer to lead them to victory once again.

A win for Prospect could see them claim the all-important 2^nd-placed finish for the promotion play-off, while a loss could see their advantage cut to just five points, with South Coast Flame FC below them having a match in hand.

10^th-placed Inner West Hawks FC, meanwhile, went four matches unbeaten after their late comeback draw at home to the Premiers, Hurstville Zagreb FC, last week and will hope to take that same fight to Prospect.

With the Hawks finding form near the end of the season, they will hope to continue that momentum as they look to take a big scalp to shake up the race for promotion.

A win for the Hawks could see them rise to as high as 8^th on the ladder, while a loss could see them drop to as low as 12^th.

With Prospect having the possibility to secure the 2^nd-placed finish this season with a win and the Hawks looking to continue their strong form to have their say on the race for 2^nd, both sides will hope to grab a big three points in this match.

Central Coast United FC vs Hurstville Zagreb FC, 3pm at Pluim Park

Previous meeting: Hurstville Zagreb FC 4-0 Central Coast United FC

Central Coast United FC will hope to snap their winless run and cause a big upset when they welcome the Premiers, Hurstville Zagreb FC, to Pluim Park.

Earlier in the season, Hurstville won a second-straight match to-nil over the Pirates with a 4-0 home win; they will hope to complete the league double, while Central Coast will hope to get revenge at home.

14^th-placed Central Coast United FC had their away match to Hawksbury City FC last week washed out but will hope to snap a three-match losing streak when they take on the Premiers.

With plenty of players looking to end the season on a high for the Pirates as they look to build for 2026, expect a spirited performance from the home side.

A win for the Pirates could see them rise to 13^th on the ladder, while a loss could see them drop to last place.

Before this match, however, the Pirates play a Round 26 catch-up home match to 11^th-placed Nepean FC on Wednesday, 13^th August at 8pm at Central Coast Regional Sporting and Recreation Complex.

Premiers Hurstville Zagreb FC, meanwhile, went fourteen matches unbeaten after their 1-1 draw away to Inner West Hawks FC last week and will hope to continue their title celebrations against the Pirates.

New signing Alessandro Lacalandra has hit the ground running with a goal in three consecutive matches and will hope to continue to impress for his new team.

A win for Hurstville would see them go half a season’s worth of matches without defeat, while a loss would see that streak come to an end.

With Central Coast hoping to avoid last-place this season and Hurstville looking to further extend their winning margin at the top, both sides will have plenty of fire to bring to this match.

Gladesville Ryde Magic vs Sydney University SFC, 5pm at Christie Park

Previous meeting: Sydney University SFC 1-1 Gladesville Ryde Magic

Gladesville Ryde Magic will hope to snap a four-match winless run when they host a Sydney University SFC side hoping to finish the season strongly.

In the reverse fixture, Round 13’s Match of the Round, Gladesville took the lead before University came back to earn a 1-1 draw; with matches between these two sides always proving to be tight, both sides will hope to take the advantage in the head-to-head.

12^th-placed Gladesville Ryde Magic suffered a 4-1 home loss to Prospect United SC last week but will hope to snap that streak and regain some positions on the ladder.

With their winless run at home extending to six matches, the Magic will hope to break that streak this week in what is their second-last home match for the season.

A win for the Magic could see them rise to as high as 10^th on the ladder, while a loss would see them remain in 12^th.

13^th-placed Sydney University SFC, meanwhile, battled hard but conceded a stoppage-time equaliser in their away match to South Coast Flame FC last week but will hope to bring their fight to the Arctic Circle this week.

With only two losses from their past seven matches, University will hope to continue their strong end to the season this week.

A win for the students would see them remain in 13^th but close the gap to the Magic to two points, while a loss would see them resigned to a 13^th-placed finish this season, at best.

With finishing places this season up for grabs between two sides just one spot apart on the ladder, both will hope to fight hard for the win to cement their spots.

Fraser Park FC vs Nepean FC, 5pm at Fraser Park

Previous meeting: Nepean FC 2-2 Fraser Park FC

Fraser Park FC and Nepean FC meet in a mid-table clash where the head-to-head record will be put to the test.

In the reverse fixture, both teams had the lead before Nepean scored a stoppage-time equaliser to rescue a 2-2 draw; Nepean will hope to build on their five-match head-to-head unbeaten run against Fraser Park, while the hosts will hope to break that streak.

9^th-placed Fraser Park FC suffered a 4-1 away loss to Parramatta FC last week but will hope to respond at home to a team they have had a rough head-to-head record against recently.

With last week’s defeat taking Fraser Park to 59 goals conceded this season, they hold the equal-worst defensive record in the competition; they will hope to put in a strong performance at the back to grab a win against Nepean.

A win for Fraser Park could see them rise into 8^th, while a loss could see them drop to 10^th.

11^th-placed Nepean FC, meanwhile, went four matches without a win but did manage to rescue a point in their 1-1 home draw to Bankstown United FC last week and will hope to build on that.

Having gotten on the scoresheet following back-to-back goalless weeks and holding a side which is chasing promotion to a draw, Nepean will hope to bring confidence from that match to Fraser Park.

A win for Nepean could see them rise one spot into 10^th on the ladder, while a loss could see them drop down to 12^th.

Before this match, however, Nepean play a Round 26 catch-up match away to Central Coast United FC on Wednesday, 13^th August at 8pm at Central Coast Regional Sporting and Recreation Complex.

With spots in the mid-table tight and up for grabs, both sides will want to work hard to grab the three points which could shape the final few rounds of their respective seasons.

Camden Tigers FC vs Parramatta FC, 7pm at Ron Dine Memorial Reserve – Carbiz Stadium

Previous meeting: Parramatta FC 6-2 Camden Tigers FC

Camden Tigers FC will hope to climb off the bottom of the ladder when they host a Parramatta FC side hoping to hold on to their spot in the top half of the ladder.

In the reverse fixture, Parramatta scored their biggest win of the season in a 6-2 home success over the Tigers; they will hope to complete the league double and go four head-to-head matches unbeaten against the Tigers, who will be out to end that drought.

Last-placed Camden Tigers FC return from their bye and will hope to return to the winners’ list in Round 28, having done so in Round 24 but not at home since Round 1.

Camden will hope to keep this match tight, with each of their past four matches either being decided by a goal or ending in a draw, as a means of success.

A win for the Tigers could see them rise out of last into 14^th on the ladder, while a loss would see them remain rooted to the bottom of the league.

7^th-placed Parramatta FC, meanwhile, returned to winning ways in style in their 4-1 home win over Fraser Park FC last week and will hope to continue to find the right combinations away to the Tigers.

With youthful players not only adding more minutes this season but also finding their positions and roles within the team, the Eagles will hope that will bode well for them in this match and into the future.

A win for Parramatta could see them rise into 6^th on the ladder, while a loss would see them remain in 7^th.

With Camden hoping to climb out of last place and Parramatta hoping to have a positive end to the season, both sides will hope to come away with the three points.

Dunbar Rovers FC vs South Coast Flame FC, 7pm at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre

Previous meeting: South Coast Flame FC 2-2 Dunbar Rovers FC

Dunbar Rovers FC will hope to snap their winless run and have their say on the race for promotion when they host a South Coast Flame FC side playing in a season-defining match.

In the previous meeting between these two clubs, the Flame came from behind twice to earn a 2-2 home draw; they will hope to take the three points this time around, while Dunbar will be out to diminish their flame.

8^th-placed Dunbar Rovers FC had their away match to Granville Rage washed out last week but will hope to return fresh and ready to take up the fight for a potential top-half finish this season.

Once again, the highlight for Dunbar in recent times has been their scoring prowess up front and they will hope to add to their goal tally against the Flame this week.

A win for Dunbar could see them close the gap to 7^th-placed Parramatta FC above them to just two points with a match in hand, while a loss could see them drop to as low as 10^th.

3^rd-placed South Coast Flame FC, meanwhile, play this match as an all-or-nothing affair following their 3-3 home draw to Sydney University SFC last week, knowing anything less than a win could see Prospect United SC ahead of them claim 2^nd spot on the ladder with two rounds to go.

With the competition’s top scorer in 2025, Jyden Harb, increasing his tally to 26 for the season with a goal last week, the Flame will hope their attacking prowess will serve them well in this match, having scored a league-high 71 goals as a team.

A win for the Flame could see them close the gap to Prospect ahead of them in 2^nd to just five points with a match in hand, while a loss could see them drop down to 4^th.

With Dunbar hunting a top-half finish and South Coast hoping to push Prospect for 2^nd for at least another week, both sides will be desperate for the three points in this match.

Bankstown United FC vs Granville Rage, 7pm at Padstow Park

Previous meeting: Granville Rage 1-1 Bankstown United FC

A big 4^th vs 5^th clash will rule one of the two teams out of mathematical contention for 2^nd this season when Bankstown United FC hosts Granville Rage.

Earlier in the season, Bankstown came from behind to grab a 1-1 away draw to the Rage; both sides will know nothing less than a draw will do this week in the pursuit of the teams above them.

4^th-placed Bankstown United FC went back-to-back matches without a win after their 1-1 away draw to Nepean last week and will know anything less than a win in this match will rule them out of contention for 2^nd this season.

Having not kept a clean sheet in their past four matches, Bankstown will hope to tighten up on the defensive end as they look to put pressure on the teams around them.

A win for Bankstown could see them rise into 3^rd and close the gap to 2^nd-placed Prospect United SC to as little as five points, while a loss would see them drop to 5^th and rule them out of contention.

5^th-placed Granville Rage, meanwhile, had their home match to Dunbar Rovers FC washed out last week but will hope to make the most of their match in hand.

The Rage will hope to build on their ten-man unbeaten streak and knock Bankstown out of promotion contention in the process.

A win for Granville could see them rise to as high as 3^rd on the ladder and potentially close the gap to 2^nd-placed Prospect United SC to six points with a match in hand, while a loss would see them all-but ruled out in the race for 2^nd.

With both sides in the hunt for 2^nd this season and a loss at this stage of the season all-but lethal for their chances, both sides will want to fight hard for the three points.

6^th-placed Hawkesbury City FC have a bye in Round 28.

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