Round 1 Review – League Two Men’s
Round 1 of the 2026 Football NSW League Two Men’s season produced seven different winners, with no draws in sight and every away side bar one picking up the win, as every team looked to make their mark early in the season.
The Match of the Round this week saw late, late drama as Central Coast United FC came from behind to defeat Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC.
Saturday, February 7th, 2026
Match of the Round: Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC 1-2 Central Coast United FC
Central Coast United FC came from behind in dramatic circumstances late to snatch a 2-1 win over Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC, in Bonnyrigg’s first match in the League Two Men’s competition.
After a cagey opening period, Bonnyrigg started to assert their dominance in possession, with shots deflected and saved.
The White Eagles opened the scoring in the 42nd minute through Milan Subotic, who had used his pace to get in behind the Pirates’ defence, got on the end of a long ball and slotted the ball calmly into the back of the net to give the hosts a 1-0 lead at half-time.
Bonnyrigg continued to fire attack after attack after the break, with shots being saved and also going just over the goal.
The hosts thought they doubled their lead in the 85th minute when they found the back of the net following a strong run and finish in behind, but the goal was ruled out for handball in the build-up.
Dramatically, Central Coast’s late subs brought fresh energy, and they were rewarded and awarded a penalty in the 88th minute when Jekai Mead was fouled in the penalty area.
Matthew Hatch stepped up and slotted the ball down the left, sending Bonnyrigg goalkeeper Matthew Massarotto the wrong way, to level the match at 1-1 in the 89th minute.
The late drama continued just over one minute later when Nathan Drake attempted to cross the ball in from wide left outside the box – instead, the cross-turned-shot went on target and looped into the top-right corner of the goal.
That gave Central Coast their second goal and a 2-1 win to the delirium of the away side and the disappointment of the large home crowd.
Speaking post-match, Central Coast Head Coach Shannon Cole said he was proud of his side and wants to continue to instil that belief in his squad.
“I said to them before the game, regardless of what’s happening in the game, you have got to believe that you as a person and as a team have the quality and have the game plan to pull it together.”
Bonnyrigg will hope to respond when they travel to take on Mounties Wanderers FC in the local derby, while Central Coast will hope to build on this win when they host Camden Tigers FC.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 1 (Milan Subotic 42’)
Central Coast United FC 2 (Matthew Hatch 89’ pen; Nathan Drake 90+1’)
South Coast Flame FC 0-1 Nepean FC
Nepean FC scored a dramatic late winner to sink South Coast Flame FC in the two sides’ opening match of the season.
Both sides had their chances in the first half, Alexander Purves going closest for Nepean and Luke Hoefslott going closest for the Flame.
Both teams traded chances to start the second half, with the Flame coming close to the opening goal in the 75th minute when substitute Brayden Steel volleyed the ball from the edge of the box against the underside of the crossbar.
Nepean substitute Jack Hoban was dangerous late and found the late winner in the first minute of stoppage time when he got on the end of a deflected save off a Gabriel Gil shot; Hoban smashed the ball into the roof of the net from ten yards out to give Nepean a 1-0 away win.
South Coast will hope to respond when they travel to face Sydney University SFC in Round 2, while Nepean will hope to build on their win when they travel to take on Inner West Hawks FC.
South Coast Flame FC 0
Nepean FC 1 (Jack Hoban 90+1’)
Sydney University SFC 1-2 Gladesville Ryde Magic
Gladesville Ryde Magic held on to their lead late to secure a 2-1 away win over Sydney University SFC to open their account for the season.
A fast tempo in the match was the theme also for the opening goal of the contest; Gladesville goalkeeper Lucas Mazereeuw played a fast ball to Marcus Apostolakis on the left wing, who found space and cut the ball back to Christopher Ganiatsas, the latter finding the back of the net to give Gladesville a 1-0 lead at the break.
Gladesville doubled their lead in the 55th minute from a corner, Mat Ashcroft flicking on a header at the near post and into the back of the net to give the Magic a 2-0 lead.
University was awarded a penalty in the 76th minute when a ball into the box struck a Magic defenders’ hand; Jesse Hirschowitz stepped up and converted from the spot to reduce the deficit to 2-1 for the students.
There were no clear chances late as Gladesville came away from the University Ground as 2-1 winners.
Sydney University will look for a response when they host South Coast Flame FC in Round 2, while Gladesville will hope to build on their win when they host Hawkesbury City FC.
Sydney University SFC 1 (Jesse Hirschowitz 76’ pen)
Gladesville Ryde Magic 2 (Christopher Ganiatsas 37’; Matt Ashcroft 55’)
Bankstown United FC 3-0 Inner West Hawks FC
Bankstown United FC got their season off to a strong start under new Head Coach Michael Outerinho, recording a 3-0 home win over Inner West Hawks FC.
Bankstown opened the scoring in the 35th minute when Jey Hirschowitz found the back of the net, the goal giving Bankstown a 1-0 lead.
The hosts were reduced to ten men in first-half stoppage time, however, when Hirschowitz retaliated following a physical challenge and was shown a red card.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, Bankstown doubled their lead before the break just two minutes later when a good strike from Hassan Kamberovic found the back of the net to give Bankstown a 2-0 lead at half-time.
Bankstown added a third goal in the 66th minute when Mitchell Cross stepped up and converted a penalty after he was fouled in the box, the hosts holding off the Hawks to secure a 3-0 home win to start the season.
Bankstown will hope to build on that win when they travel to take on Fraser Park FC in Round 2, while Inner West will hope to respond at home to Nepean FC.
Camden Tigers FC 2-3 Fraser Park FC
Fraser Park FC recorded their first win away to Camden Tigers FC since 2021 and scored more goals in this match than their previous four away to the Tigers in this strong 3-2 away win.
Fraser Park opened the scoring in the 19th minute when new signing Mason Fernandez stepped up to take a free kick just outside the box; he sent the ball over the wall and into the back of the net to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
Camden responded in the 24th minute when David Dileo forced home the equaliser at the far post from a set piece to make the score 1-1.
Six minutes later, new Fraser Park signing Reuben Awaritefe moved well down the right and found the back of the net from close range to open his account for Fraser Park and give the visitors a 2-1 lead.
Awaritefe completed his double in the first minute of stoppage time when he received the ball down the left and found the far corner with a finish to give Fraser Park a 3-1 half-time lead.
Camden grabbed a goal back in the 73rd minute when Jason Perez took a shot on from 30 yards following a corner clearance, his shot sending the ball into the back of the net off the post to reduce the Camden deficit to 3-2.
In the end, Fraser Park held on for an exciting 3-2 away win over Camden.
Camden will hope to respond when they travel to face Central Coast United FC next week, while Fraser Park will hope to build on their win when they host Bankstown United FC.
Camden Tigers FC 2 (David Dileo 24’; Jason Perez 73’)
Fraser Park FC 3 (Mason Fernandez 19’; Reuben Awaritefe 30’, 45+1’)
Dunbar Rovers FC 1-3 Hawkesbury City FC
Hawkesbury City FC got off to a strong start for the 2026 season with a 3-1 away win over Dunbar Rovers FC.
The young Hawks side, fielding five players aged 20 or under, started strongly when they forced a turnover in the 13th minute, Aaron Peterson releasing Vincent Dermilio in behind, who slipped the ball into the back of the net to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead.
Dunbar responded in the 19th minute when good play down the left saw Samuel Tzanakes played the ball; he finished the move off from six yards out to level the contest at 1-1.
The Hawks responded in the 30th minute when Lincoln Gilmour found the back of the net directly off a free kick from 30 yards out to give Hawkesbury a 2-1 lead at half-time.
The visitors added to their lead in the 49th minute when Marc Zammit released Aaron Peterson in behind; he finished the move off to seal a 3-1 away win for Hawkesbury.
Dunbar will hope to respond when they host Parramatta FC in Round 2, while Hawkesbury will hope to build on their win when they travel to take on Gladesville Ryde Magic.
Dunbar Rovers FC 1 (Samuel Tzanakes 19’)
Hawkesbury City FC 3 (Vincent Dermilio 13’; Lincoln Gilmour 30’; Aaron Peterson 49’)
Sunday, February 8th, 2026
Granville Rage 1-4 Mounties Wanderers FC
Mounties Wanderers got off to a strong start in their return to the League Two Men’s competition with a 4-1 away win over Granville Rage.
Mounties had the perfect start to the match when Luke Raso found the back of the net in the 7th minute to give the visitors an early 1-0 lead.
Garang Awac doubled Mounties’ lead two minutes later to give them a 2-0 advantage and the perfect start to the season.
Josh Symons added a third goal for Mounties in the second minute of first-half stoppage time to give the visitors a 3-0 lead at half-time.
Granville pulled a goal back through Timothy Borg-Williams to reduce the deficit to 3-1 in the 68th minute.
One minute later, however, Luke Raso completed his double to give Mounties a 4-1 away win over Granville.
Granville will hope to respond when they return after their Round 2 bye, while Mounties will hope to build off this strong win when they host Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC in the local derby.
Granville Rage 1 (Timothy Borg-Williams 68’)
Mounties Wanderers FC 4 (Luke Raso 7’, 69’; Garang Awac 9’; Josh Symons 45+2’)
Parramatta FC had a bye in Round 1.
By Football NSW League Two Men’s Reporter, Dylan Costa
