Finally, the weather cleared and we were able to get in a full round of matches in for the first time this season.

With the fine weather, came a goal fest with the five of the six matches played producing 24 goals between them.

The weekend kicked off with the Anzac Day clash between Cringila Lions and Woonona at Crehan Park with the Sharkies continuing their terrific start to the 2014 season with a four goals to victory.

Woonona really had the points in the bag prior to half time, when they led three-nil at the break with a brace from Luke Mitwollen (8’ 34’) and Pat Morales(36’) getting on the score-sheet.

Cringila made a game of it when Alec Todoroski and Nick Kajmakoski scored within nine minutes of each just before the hour mark but that is as good as it got as substitute, Adam Di Pietro made sure of the points for the visitors with the fourth goal, 13 minutes from time.

On Saturday, the goals continued to flow and in a game that ebbed and flowed for the full 90 minutes, Wollongong Olympic edged out Albion Park WE at Terry Reserve in a five goal thriller.

The visitors got off to the perfect start, when Mark Picciolini, playing against his 2013 club, scored inside the first five minutes.

This was the only goal of the opening half with the game spring to life after the interval.

On as a second half substitute, Doug Woodiwiss brought the home team level in the 47^th minute with a well taken goal and just three minutes later, the White Eagles had their noses in front when Jonathan Ramos scored to turn the game on it’s head.

White Eagles began to assert their superiority but just as it looked like they would go on with it, they were reduced to ten men when Tony Dulevski received his marching orders for a second bookable offence.

This left the home side thirty minutes to hang on but despite their best efforts, Albion Park succumbed inside the final ten minutes with Picciolini scoring an 80^th minute equaliser before Kyle Hazebroek snatched  a dramatic last gasp winner as the clock ticked over 90 minutes.

The final outcome was probably a bit cruel on APWE as on the balance of play, they probably deserved to get something from the match.

After suffering a first round loss to Woonona, Bulli made it three wins on the trot when they beat Fernhill three goals to one at Balls Paddock.

In a fairly even first half, both sides traded goals, with Hayden Mowbray (33’) scoring for Bulli and Andy Keep (34’) responding for the visitors.

The second half was totally different with Bulli dominating much of the second 45 with the only surprise being it took so long to turn their superiority into goals.

Jarad Fish scored the decisive second goal with a very good assist from young Mowbray on 69 minutes before Guy Knight finished off a good team goal with a neat turn and strike on the stroke of full time.

There was another game of attacking football at Tarrawanna Oval where Dapto Dandaloo prevailed by the odd goal in five against Tarrawanna.

The home side had the better of the opening exchanges and it was no surprise when the Blueys took the lead on 19 minutes with a quality goal from Ilija Prenzoski. Unfortunately for Tarra, as happens so often in football, they didn’t hold their concentration and were punished immediately when Fabian Iacovelli equalised less than 60 seconds later.

Eight minutes before half time, The Fury hit the front in somewhat controversial circumstances.
New overseas signing, Bradley Welch, appeared to go down rather easily, in a one on one situation with Tarra Keeper, Christian Pretto with a penalty kick being awarded as the outcome. Noel Spencer made no mistake from the spot.

Six minutes into the second stanza, the Fury lead was doubled when Shaun McRae was ‘Johnny on the Spot’ as he scored from close range, after a great build up from his team.

To their credit, the Blueys continued to take the game to DDF and the lead was cut back when Vaughan Patterson scored from distance with a quarter of an hour left on the clock.

With their tails up, the Dapto Dandaloo goal became under a lot of pressure but despite Tarrawanna’s best efforts, they just couldn’t crack it for an equaliser and time ran out with the Fury running out winners in a tight encounter where once again, a draw may have been a fairer result.

At Macedonia Park, Wollongong United came from behind to beat newly promoted side, Bellambi by three goals to one.

Michael Baveas gave the visitors the lead as a third of the game ticked by but the lead was short lived as Stefan Donevski was deadly from the penalty spot seven minutes from the interval.

After playing so well in the opening half hour, the Rosellas would have been disappointed with their finish to the half which was compounded just prior to the half time whistle when Giovanni Leuzzi’s goal,  provided the home side with the initiative as the two teams went to the dressing rooms for a breather.

Bellambi held their own in the second period and both sides had opportunities to add to score board before Robbie Shields made sure of the points for United with an 86^th minute goal.

Unfortunately, the goals dried up overnight on Saturday, with the only Sunday game, South Coast United v Port Kembla failing to produce a goal in a rather uninspiring encounter at Ian McLennan Park.

Too be fair, there was not a great deal of goal opportunities for either side with neither goal-keeper being over extended throughout the 90 minutes. The best chance of the game to break the deadlock was presented to Port’s Matt Floro who broke through the United defence with 15 minutes left but Jason Bleakley in the South Coast goal was up to the task when faced with the one on one situation and pulled off a terrific save to make sure of the stalemate.

Picture courtesy of FOTOSPORTZ