Round 3 Review – League Two Men’s
More teams found their footing in the 2026 Football NSW League Two Men’s season as the competition entered Round 3.
The Match of the Round this week saw Parramatta FC get off the mark for the season at home to Sydney University SFC.
Saturday, 21st February 2026
Match of the Round: Parramatta FC 2-1 Sydney University SFC
Parramatta FC grabbed their first win of the season at home to Sydney University SFC in a match where the heat played its part and where the visitors were reduced to ten men.
Parramatta had a fast start to the match in the 2nd minute, Matthew Ward putting a long throw-in into the path of Travis Oughtred; the captain tipping the ball on to Ali Chamsin, who smashed the ball home to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead.
Sunny Chang had to be replaced in the 17th minute for Parramatta after suffering a knee injury, but the Eagles looked to push on.
Parramatta doubled their lead in the 29th minute when Jordan Parfait found space inside the box and finished well to give the hosts a 2-0 advantage.
The hosts continued to create chances before half-time, with the ball hitting the post, Oughtred heading just over from a corner and a strong shot from Marco Sama saved by University goalkeeper Jasper Sarkies; the hosts took a 2-0 lead into the break.
University grabbed a goal back just after the break in the 48th minute when they switched play to the left to Isaac Folkes; he kept the ball in play, beat his defender and slotted the ball low to the far post to reduce the deficit to one goal for the visitors.
The match became scrappy thereafter with nerves from both sides, University reduced to ten men in the 75th minute when Luca Ruegg was sent off.
Parramatta goalkeeper Justin Biega pulled off a strong save late to preserve the hosts’ lead, as well as some scrambling defence from the backline.
In the end, Parramatta held on for their first win of the season, 2-1 at home to University, their sixth win from their past seven matches against them.
The win for Parramatta saw them get off the mark for the season following their opening round defeat, while for University They recorded a third-straight loss by a one-goal margin to start the season.
Parramatta will hope to build on this win when they take on Central Coast United FC in Round 4, while University will hope to end their losing streak when they travel to take on Granville Rage.
Parramatta FC 2 (Ali Chamsin 2’; Jordan Parfait 29’)
Sydney University SFC 1 (Isaac Folkes 48’; Luca Ruegg 75’ red card)
Friday, 20th February 2026
Nepean FC 2-1 Bankstown United FC
Nepean FC won a third match from three to start the season after they staged a late comeback to defeat Bankstown United FC, 2-1.
The first half was a physical battle, one which saw Bankstown take the lead in the 44th minute when an individual effort from Raoel Yakub saw him score to give Bankstown a 1-0 half-time lead.
Nepean earned a penalty in the 57th minute but had their attempt saved by Bankstown goalkeeper Zachary Richau.
Nepean managed to grab a goal back in the 77th minute when Toby Witjes scored to level the contest at 1-1.
The hosts pushed late and forced a mistake from the Bankstown defence, intercepting a pass saw substitute Jack Hoban receive the ball and find the back of the net in the 90th minute to give Nepean a 2-1 home win.
The win for Nepean saw them remain perfect for the season with three wins, while the loss for Bankstown saw them lose back-to-back matches.
Nepean will hope to continue their perfect start to the season when they travel to face Dunbar Rovers FC, while Bankstown will hope to respond when they host Camden Tigers FC.
Nepean FC 2 (Toby Witjes 77’; Jack Hoban 90’)
Bankstown United FC 1 (Raoel Yakub 44’)
Saturday, 21st February 2026
South Coast Flame FC 3-0 Dunbar Rovers FC
South Coast Flame FC recorded back-to-back victories after a strong first gave them a 3-0 home win over Dunbar Rovers FC.
The Flame were awarded a penalty eight minutes into the contest, which Matthew Mazevski slotted home to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.
Both teams created half-chances from there, with Dunbar’s Samuel Tzanakes putting a shot wide from ten yards out.
The Flame doubled their lead in the 36th minute when Mazevski crossed the ball to the far post to Jordan Roberts, who finished the move off to give South Coast a 2-0 lead.
That lead became 3-0 in the 41st minute when a Roberts set up Lawrence Claxton from a corner kick routine, Claxton hammering the ball home from close range for the Flame’s third goal.
Alessandro Romeo had a shot for Dunbar saved by Flame goalkeeper Nenad Vekic before the break, while after half-time the Flame had two big chances, one each for Adam Timpano-Voloder and Chisholm Brown, both unable to convert.
In the end, the Flame held on for a 3-0 home win, claiming back-to-back clean sheets, while Dunbar suffered their second loss from three matches.
South Coast will hope to build upon this win when they travel to take on Hawkesbury City FC in Round 4, while Dunbar will hope to bounce back at home to Nepean FC.
South Coast Flame FC 3 (Matthew Mazevski 8’ pen; Jordan Roberts 36’; Lawrence Claxton 41’)
Dunbar Rovers FC 0
Inner West Hawks FC 3-3 Granville Rage
Inner West Hawks FC and Granville Rage played out an entertaining 3-3 draw which had multiple less changes and plenty of drama.
Tallon Zahra gave the Hawks a 1-0 lead in the 22nd minute, before Granville responded in the 29th minute through Jad Moussa to level the match at 1-1.
The Rage took the lead in the 35th minute through Luke Okuda before Matthew Morris levelled the match for the Hawks one minute later to ensure the two sides went into half-time level at 2-2.
Tallon Zahra completed his double in the 54th minute to give the Hawks the lead for the second time in the match.
However, Granville fought back late and found another equaliser, this time through Anthony Zullo, to ensure the match finished in a 3-3 draw.
The draw saw both sides remain winless to start the season, the Hawks remaining undefeated against Granville in this competition.
Inner West will hope to grab their first win of the year when they travel to take on Gladesville Rude Magic in Round 4, while Granville Rage will hope to do the same when they host Sydney University SFC.
Inner West Hawks FC 3 (Tallon Zahra 22’, 54’; Matthew Morris 36’)
Granville Rage 3 (Jad Moussa 29’; Luke Okuda 35’; Anthony Zullo 75’)
Camden Tigers FC 2-4 Gladesville Ryde Magic
Gladesville Ryde Magic came from behind twice to grab a 4-2 away win over Camden Tigers FC in a match with plenty of talking points.
Camden took a 1-0 lead late in the first half in the 43rd minute when a through ball found Ramiro Soto, who slotted the ball home for the hosts.
Seven minutes after the break, Gladesville restored parity at 1-1 when Ryan French cut the ball back to Marcus Apostolakis, who found the back of the net.
In the 55th minute, Camden took the lead once again when Bailey Simpson headed the ball home off a cross for a 2-1 Tigers lead.
Gladesville were awarded a penalty in the 69th minute when Stavros Palapanis was fouled in the box reaching for a cross into the box; Palapanis converted the spot kick he had earned to level the match at 2-2.
Gladesville applied pressure late on the Camden defence, causing a misplaced pass in the 83rd minute which Stavros Palapanis intercepted; he went through on goal and scored to give Gladesville a 3-2 lead.
Skotadis got through on goal in the 90th minute before he was fouled inside the box; he converted the spot kick he earned to give the Magic a 4-2 away win over Camden.
The loss for Camden saw them go winless from their first three matches, while Gladesville won a second match out of three.
Camden will hope to respond when they travel to take on Bankstown United FC in Round 4, while Gladesville will hope to take down Inner West Hawks FC at home.
Camden Tigers FC 2 (Ramiro Soto 42’; Bailey Simpson 55’)
Gladesville Ryde Magic 4 (Marcus Apostolakis 52’; Stavros Palapanis 62’ pen; Harry Skotadis 83’, 90’ pen)
Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC 1-1 Fraser Park FC
Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC claimed their first point of the season in a 1-1 home draw to Fraser Park FC.
The hosts came out strong and looked to dominate the early stages of the match, striking first in the 25th minute when Daniel Bittar found Milan Subotic with a cross, the latter denied at first by a point-blank save from Fraser Park goalkeeper Daniel Vickers before he slotted the ball in on the rebound for a 1-0 lead.
Fraser Park responded in the 36th minute when Roger Djuma was fouled inside the penalty area; Djuma stepped up and made no mistake from the spot to level the match at 1-1 at half-time.
Bonnyrigg started the second half strongly, with Bittar looking to be a threat down the right.
Fraser Park finished the match strongly and had two big chances through Reuben Awaritefe and Christian Dos Santos stopped by Bonnyrigg goalkeeper Bayden Irwin D’Amico.
In the end, neither team was able to find the winner, 1-1 the final score.
The draw for Bonnyrigg saw them grab their first point of the season, while for Fraser Park it saw them remain undefeated for the season.
Bonnyrigg will continue to chase their first win when they return after their Round 4 bye, while Fraser Park will hope to remain undefeated when they travel to take on Mounties Wanderers FC.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC 1 (Milan Subotic 25’)
Fraser Park FC 1 (Roger Djuma 36’ pen)
Central Coast United FC vs Mounties Wanderers FC was abandoned at half-time due to a storm.
Hawkesbury City FC had a bye in Round 3.
By Football NSW League Two Men’s Reporter, Dylan Costa
