Round 13 Feature Match Preview

Oak Flats Falcons vs. Shell Cove FC

Keith Bond Oval

Kick-off: Saturday, 15:00.

Referee: Blake Herbert.

This week’s feature match sees Oak Flats hosting Shell Cove in a top of the table duel between two of the District League’s most consistent teams.

Shell Cove sit five points clear at the top of the league after stringing together an impressive six game win streak.

More impressive still is that four of those wins have come in a two week period as Shell Cove have been forced to play back to back games to make up for ones lost due to poor weather earlier in the season.

Playing so many games in such a short period has caused some selection issues for head coach Rob Mihailov who will have to take care in selecting his squad for this weekend’s game.

“Coming off the back of two double headers you’ve just got to look at who’s fit to perform,” said Mihailov.

“We’ve had injury concerns over the last three games but we’ve still managed to pull the wins together.

“We take each game as it comes on a week by week basis, I think you need to choose the players that are in form.”

Shell Cove have been clinical this season, belting a league high 31 goals on their way to first place.

Despite their excellent form, Mihailov knows that the Cove can’t be casual in their approach to any games this season.

“I don’t think you can take any teams lightly irrespective of where they are coming on the table,” he said.

“We’ve just come off a game against Coniston who gave us a more trouble than 3^rd placed Thirroul, so you’ve got to take each game as it comes and treat everyone as a serious contender.”

Oak Flats are also in the midst of a tidy run of form; taking 12 points from a possible 15 in their last five games.

A clearer schedule has left head coach Michael Garcia with less of a selection headache than his counterpart; leaving he and his staff to pick the strongest squad available.

“We’ve got one or two knocks but everyone is fit and ready to play,” said Garcia.

“We know they’re a good team with some experienced players so we’ll be keeping that in mind when we pick a squad that suits the occasion.”

The Falcons sturdy defence have only conceded 11 goals this season and makes for an interesting match-up against Shell Cove’s free scoring attack.

Garcia acknowledges the importance of the occasion and believes the game will be decided by the quality of football played on the day.

“We’re doing well but they’re doing better,” he said.

“We don’t want them going eight points ahead so it’s a very important game and I think it’s just going to come down to who has a better game and who plays the better football on the day.

“We’re not a physical side, we like to play our football and they like to play theirs so I think it will be an interesting and tactical game.”

Oak Flats will take confidence in their home record having won six of their seven games at Keith Bond Oval this season.

A win for the Falcons brings them within two points of first; opening up the race for potential promotion.

 

Around the League

Elsewhere on Saturday, 3^rd placed Picton take on Berkeley Sports at Berkeley Sports Ground while 4^th placed Corrimal host a struggling Wests Illawarra at Memorial Park.

5^th placed Thirroul take on Kemblawarra at Thomas Gibson Park as the Warilla Wanderers host UOW FC at King Mickey Park.

The Kiama Quarriers visit Balgownie Rangers at Judy Masters Oval and Helensburgh Thistle hosting the Coniston Lions at Rex Jackson Park wraps up the rest of round 13’s games.