Round 20 Review – League Two Men’s
There were more movers and shakers on the 2026 Football NSW League Two Men’s ladder following the completion of Round 20, with the competition continuing to compress.
The Match of the Round this week saw a late goal change the complexion of the league ladder once against as Hawkesbury City FC and Fraser Park FC shared the spoils.
Match of the Round: Hawkesbury City FC 1-1 Fraser Park FC
A late goal from Fraser Park FC gave them a crucial point in their bid for promotion, also helping them stay ahead of Hawkesbury City FC on the ladder, in a tight 1-1 draw between the two sides.
Fraser Park had an early opportunity when Jacob Sebayang released Francis Mcalpine in behind, but the latter had his shot saved by the fingertips of Hawkesbury goalkeeper Jai Whitton.
The visitors had further chances in the first half to Colin Callil and George Grillakis but could not break the deadlock, while Hawkesbury had a chance on the counter, but Vincent Dermilio shot wide.
Fraser Park had early chances to Gregory Ehiozee and Fenn Hodgson-Yu in the second half, but a turnover saw Hawkesbury capitalise through Marc Zammit, whose cross found Dermilio, who in turn found the back of the net in the 50th minute for a 1-0 Hawkesbury lead.
The visitors pressed for an equaliser from there with Ehiozee and William Wright denied by Whitton at point-blank range.
Fraser Park continued to push and were awarded a penalty for handball in the 84th minute, Roger Djuma slotting the ball home from the spot to level the match late.
The visitors pushed for a winner with a late chance to Djuma, whose effort heading to the top corner was saved by Whitton, and Mcalpine heading just over the crossbar late; the match finished with both sides earning a point each in a 1-1 draw.
The point for Fraser Park saw them remain 3rd on 30 points, while Hawkesbury City FC remained in 7th on 27 points as the battle for promotion took another turn.
Hawkesbury City FC 1 (Vincent Dermilio 50’)
Fraser Park FC 1 (Roger Djuma 84’ pen)
Mounties Wanderers FC 6-0 Parramatta FC
Mounties Wanderers FC moved 19 points clear atop the ladder after overcoming their closest rivals on the ladder, Parramatta FC, 6-0, avenging their 6-0 loss to the Eagles in the reverse fixture, with a haul from one player to thank.
The hosts started the match in control and found the back of the net through the league’s top goal scorer this season, Patrick Antelmi, in just the 7th minute, before he added another in the 18th minute for a 2-0 lead.
Luke Raso added Mounties’ third five minutes later for a 3-0 lead, before Antelmi completed his second hat-trick of the season from the penalty spot in the 33rd minute.
Parramatta’s pain was compounded by a red card to Ali Abbas in the 42nd minute, while the goal scoring continued for Antelmi when Mounties were awarded another penalty in the 51st minute, Antelmi slotting the ball away to complete his haul in the match and score his 21st goal for the season.
Abraham Majok came off the bench rounded off Mounties’ scoring to exact revenge over Parramatta FC, Mounties running out 6-0 winners to move to 49 points, 19 points clear atop the ladder, keeping Parramatta in 2nd on 30 points.
Mounties Wanderers FC 6 (Patrick Antelmi 7’, 18’, 33’ pen, 51’ pen; Luke Raso 23’; Abraham Majok 71’)
Parramatta FC 0 (Ali Abbas 42’ red card)
Sydney University SFC 2-2 Inner West Hawks FC
Inner West Hawks FC came from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw away to Sydney University SFC in a match full of twists and turns.
University opened the scoring in the 15th minute when a long throw-in found Joseph Roddy, who found the top corner from distance for a 1-0 lead, before Isaac Folkes doubled that lead seven minutes later off a Hawks’ defensive mistake.
Peter Yannopoulos came off the bench to immediate effect in the second half, slotting away a penalty in the 53rd minute to get Inner West back into the match.
The Hawks pushed for an equaliser late and found it in the 81st minute when Bonmyeong Koo got on the end of a through ball and scored from inside the box to earn a point for the Hawks in a 1-1 draw.
The draw for University saw them drop from 10th to 11th on 24 points, while Inner West stayed in 13th on 22 points.
Sydney University SFC 2 (Joseph Roddy 15’; Isaac Folkes 22’)
Inner West Hawks FC 2 (Peter Yannopoulos 53’ pen; Bonmyeong Koo 81’)
Bankstown United FC 1-3 Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC
Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC snapped their three-match winless run in style with a big 3-1 away win over Bankstown United FC to put themselves in a good spot in the promotion race.
The visitors started strongly with a goal to Samuel Gallaway in the 14th minute before Daniel Bittar scored his 10th goal of the season in the 43rd minute to give Bonnyrigg a 2-0 lead at half-time, despite Bankstown hitting the crossbar and the post in the first half.
Mitchell Cross missed a penalty for Bankstown five minutes into the second half and Bonnyrigg capitalised on that, adding a third goal in the 61st minute through Asmir Kadric for a 3-0 lead.
Bankstown gave 19-year-old Nicholas Lygdas and 20-year-old Billy Sdrolias their first-grade debuts in the match and earned a late consolation goal in stoppage time through another youngster in 20-year-old Matthew Mitchell, who scored his first goal for Bankstown in his sixth appearance.
The 3-1 win for Bonnyrigg saw them rise from 6th to 5th on 29 points, one point behind 2nd-placed Parramatta FC, while the loss for Bankstown saw them remain 14th on 20 points.
Bankstown United FC 1 (Matthew Mitchell 90+3’)
Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC 3 (Samuel Gallaway 14’; Daniel Bittar 43’; Asmir Kadric 61’)
Central Coast United FC 3-1 Granville Rage
Central Coast United FC continued their best run of the season, winning a fourth-straight match after a 3-1 home win over Granville Rage.
The hosts had the early advantage in the 13th minute when a corner delivered in from Jekai Mead found the head of Harry McCalmont, who glanced the ball home to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.
Central Coast doubled their lead two minutes later when Kirby Wilding got on the end of a Cade Mapu ball at the back post, but Granville replied before half-time when a left-footed volley from the edge of the box by Yianni Perkatis took a deflection and found the back of the net.
Granville almost equalised late in the match, but the ball hit the crossbar; Central Coast made the most of their luck late and sealed the win in the sixth minute of stoppage time when Jay Swadling won the ball, worked it forward and found the back of the net from 40 yards to seal the 3-1 home win.
The win for Central Coast saw them rise from 11th to 8th on the ladder on 26 points, four points behind 2nd-placed Parramatta FC, while the loss for Granville saw them drop from 8th to 9th on 25 points.
Central Coast United FC 3 (Harry McCalmont 13’; Kirby Wilding 15’; Jay Swadling 90+6’)
Granville Rage 1 (Yianni Perkatis 39’)
Gladesville Ryde Magic 3-2 Nepean FC
Gladesville Ryde Magic survived a late scare to come away with a big 3-2 home win over Nepean FC, the win their fifth from their past six matches, condemning Nepean to back-to-back losses.
Gladesville had a 2-0 lead at half-time with goals coming from Ewan Perrott in the 35th minute and George Palapanis in the 43rd minute.
Perrott completed his double ten minutes into the second half when he found the back of the net once more, but Nepean struck back from the penalty spot in the 63rd minute through Jett McFadden.
Jack Hoban found the back of the net in the 80th minute to set up a tense finish, Nepean 3-2 down, but a young Gladesville backline which included starting debutant 19-year-old Jaydon Akouri saw out the rest of the match to earn a 3-2 win for the Magic.
The win for Gladesville saw them rise from 12th to 10th on 25 points, while the loss for Nepean saw them drop from 5th to 6th on 27 points, three points behind 2nd-placed Parramatta FC.
Gladesville Ryde Magic 3 (Ewan Perrott 35’, 55’; George Palapanis 43’)
Nepean FC 2 (Jett McFadden 63’ pen; Jack Hoban 80’)
Dunbar Rovers FC 1-1 Camden Tigers FC
Late drama between Dunbar Rovers FC and Camden Tigers FC saw the spoils shared in a 1-1 draw which further influences the battle for promotion this season.
In a first half where Dunbar held the ball, they created a few big chances but had a headed goal disallowed and had another goal ruled out for offside.
Dunbar started the second half strongly and a move straight from the training ground paid off in the 52nd minute when Zachary Marinos got on the end of strong build-up play and slotted the ball home for a 1-0 Dunbar lead.
Camden survived the late barrage of Dunbar chances, however, and found joy in the 86th minute when a rebounded header found Aidan Quigley, who slotted the ball home on the rebound to earn Camden just their eighth point of the season in a 1-1 draw.
The point for Dunbar saw them remain in 4th on 29 points, one point behind 2nd-placed Parramatta FC, while the point for Camden saw them shake up the promotion race and draw back-to-back matches.
Dunbar Rovers FC 1 (Zachary Marinos 52’)
Camden Tigers FC 1 (Aidan Quigley 86’)
South Coast Flame FC had a bye in Round 20 and dropped from 9th to 12th.
By Football NSW League Two Men’s Reporter, Dylan Costa
