Round 18 Review – League Two Men’s
Round 18 delivered a weekend full of fine margins, shock results, and movement across the FNSW League Two Men’s ladder.
The Match of the Round saw Central Coast United FC produce a major upset over league leaders Mounties Wanderers FC, while the race for second place tightened further across a dramatic round of action.
Match of the Round: Mounties Wanderers FC 1-2 Central Coast United FC
Central Coast United FC continued their strong form to stun league leaders Mounties Wanderers FC, handing them just their second defeat of the season in a 2-1 away victory.
Following a tight first half, Central Coast struck in the 32nd minute when Kirby Wilding found the back of the net. The 19-year-old made the most of his start, scoring his second goal in his past three matches to give the Pirates the advantage.
The second half saw a barrage of chances for Mounties, including a spell where they won four corners in the space of eight minutes, but despite sustained pressure they were unable to find an equaliser.
Central Coast survived that period and doubled their lead in the 76th minute through substitute Zac Pezzutto, who extended the Pirates’ advantage to 2-0.
Mounties continued to push, finishing with 23 shots on goal to Central Coast’s nine, and eventually found a consolation goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time through Liam Youlley.
However, it was not enough, as their 11-match unbeaten run came to an end. Central Coast, meanwhile, recorded a fourth win in their past five matches, sealing a 2-1 victory.
The result sees Mounties’ lead at the top reduced to 13 points, while Central Coast rise from 13th to 12th and close in on the mid-table pack.
Mounties will look to bounce back against Fraser Park FC next week, while Central Coast face Parramatta FC.
Mounties Wanderers FC 1 (Liam Youlley 90+4’)
Central Coast United FC 2 (Kirby Wilding 32’; Zac Pezzutto 76’)
Fraser Park FC 1-0 Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC
Fraser Park FC continued their push for second place with a hard-fought win over Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC.
Fraser Park created the best chance of the first half when Francis Mcalpine sent Christian Dos Santos through on goal, but he was denied by a strong save from Bayden Irwin-M’Amico, with neither side able to break the deadlock before half-time.
The hosts kept pressing after the break and took the lead in the 60th minute when Mcalpine headed home from close range.
Bonnyrigg had chances through Daniel Bittar but were unable to respond, with Fraser Park holding on for a 1-0 win. The result keeps Fraser Park in 3rd and sees Bonnyrigg drop from 4th to 5th.
Fraser Park FC 1 (Francis Mcalpine 60’)
Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC 0
Bankstown United FC 1-3 Nepean FC
Nepean FC continued their strong run with a third win in four matches, defeating 10-man Bankstown United FC 3-1 away from home.
The visitors opened the scoring in the 27th minute when Jamie McCarlie headed home.
Bankstown’s task became harder in the 33rd minute when Harry Stavris was shown a red card for a push in the box, with Jett McFadden converting the penalty to make it 2-0.
Bankstown pulled one back in the 65th minute through Mitchell Cross, but Nepean sealed the win in the 86th minute when Zachary Pace finished from distance off the inside of the post.
The result sees Nepean rise to 4th, while Bankstown drop to 14th.
Bankstown United FC 1 (Cross 65’; Stavris 33’ red card)
Nepean FC 3 (McCarlie 27’; McFadden 34’ pen; Pace 86’)
Sydney University SFC 0-3 Parramatta FC
Parramatta FC maintained second place and secured a fourth consecutive clean sheet with a strong 3-0 away win over Sydney University SFC.
Declan Reynor opened the scoring in the 10th minute, finishing from a Dean O’Donnell pass.
O’Donnell then doubled the lead from the penalty spot in the 20th minute after Marco Sama was fouled.
Sama added the third in the 48th minute with a header from a corner, continuing his strong scoring run.
Parramatta remain firmly in 2nd, while Sydney University drop two places to 10th.
Sydney University SFC 0
Parramatta FC 3 (Reynor 10’; O’Donnell 20’ pen; Sama 48’)
Gladesville Ryde Magic 4-1 Camden Tigers FC
Gladesville Ryde Magic claimed a strong 4-1 win over Camden Tigers FC, powered by a first-half hat-trick from Ryan French.
French opened the scoring in the 14th minute before adding two more in quick succession in the 33rd and 34th minutes to complete a rapid hat-trick.
Camden pulled one back through Leandro Carle in the 52nd minute, but Liam Gurner sealed the win in the 85th minute.
The result lifts Gladesville from 14th to 13th, while Camden remain bottom.
Gladesville Ryde Magic 4 (French 14’, 33’, 34’; Gurner 85’)
Camden Tigers FC 1 (Carle 52’)
Granville Rage 2-1 Inner West Hawks FC
Granville Rage recorded their first-ever League Two Men’s win over Inner West Hawks FC with a 2-1 home victory.
After a tight first half, Granville scored through Charles Eriku in the 62nd minute before Rhett Desilva added a second four minutes later.
Inner West pulled one back in stoppage time through Benjamin Jacobson, but Granville held on for the win.
The result lifts Granville to 8th, while Inner West drop to 11th.
Granville Rage 2 (Eriku 62’; Desilva 66’)
Inner West Hawks FC 1 (Jacobson 90+4’)
Dunbar Rovers FC 4-1 South Coast Flame FC
Dunbar Rovers FC produced one of their strongest performances of the season with a dominant 4-1 win over South Coast Flame FC.
Guilherme Mazurkievicz Pansonato opened the scoring in the 1st minute before adding a second in the 30th minute.
Jack Crotty made it 3-0 before half-time, while Lawrence Claxton pulled one back for the Flame early in the second half.
Pansonato completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot in the 63rd minute to seal the win.
Dunbar rise to 6th, while the Flame drop to 9th.
Dunbar Rovers FC 4 (Pansonato 1’, 30’, 63’ pen; Crotty 39’)
South Coast Flame FC 1 (Claxton 48’)
Hawkesbury City FC
Hawkesbury City FC had the bye in Round 18.
