Bellambi 2 – 1 Wollongong Olympic

It might have taken a while coming but going ever so close last week, Bellambi have cracked it for their first win back in the IPL after a number of years in the second tier.

Since their return to the top flight, the Rosella’s have played with bundles of enthusiasm and with a bit more luck going their way could have picked up more points to show for their efforts.

This game got off to a flying start with all three goals being scored in the opening ten minutes.
Zac Noel-Strange started the ball rolling for the home side when he scored after just three minutes but the goal celebrations hardly had time to settle down with Olympic back on level terms just 60 seconds later when Matt Richardson was unfortunately credited with an own goal.

Not to be denied, Chris Hobbs scored what proved to be the winner for the promoted side on ten minutes and despite some nervous moments during the remaining time, Bellambi were able to hang on for a mile-stone win which brought them a precious three points as they fight to avoid relegation.

The closest the Olympic came to getting something from the game came mid-way through the second half when the visitors were awarded a penalty. Unfortunately, Brent Farnsworth’s spot kick was well saved by the Rosella’s custodian, Alex Makin.

On the back of this sterling effort, Bellambi should take a lot of confidence into this week-end’s big clash with Fernhill, which is shaping up as a ‘six pointer’ at the foot of the IPL.

Albion Park WE 3 – 0 South Coast United 

Terry Reserve was the scene for a tough encounter between two highly committed teams with not a lot between the two combatants for much of the game.

The only score of an even first half was an own goal awarded against United’s David Miech with the end to end play continuing into the second half.
Ultimately, the match outcome was decided with 20 minutes to play when Paul Ryrie scored his side’s second goal which was disputed by United defenders for an offside call.
South Coast Goalkeeper, Jason Bleakley, overstepped the mark at this point and picked up two yellow cards in a matter of moments and left his side with ten men with his dismissal which meant no way back for the visitors.

With no back up keeper, defender Chris Valic was left to pick up the gloves with the match being settled in the 80^th minute when Josh Macdonald marked his return to the club with a well taken goal.
Macdonald, signed from Sydney FC during the week has taken up a short eight game stint with the White Eagles prior to his return to the A-League side.

Bulli 3 – 1 Cringila Lions

Despite taking a 4^th minute lead, league leaders, Bulli made hard work of this one before overcoming a resurgent Cringila outfit at Balls Paddock.

Bulli started the match well and their flowing football started right from the off, with the bright start rewarded early on when Ben McDonald latched onto a Guy Knight pass after a sweeping movement with a side foot volley from close range.

The home side controlled proceedings for much of the opening half but to their credit, the visitors defensive structure was quite sound and they worked really hard to restrict the score-line to just the one goal even though their goal came under siege at different times.
There was a shock for Bulli in the opening minutes of the second period when ‘Crini’ restored parity after just three minutes with Marko Miceski got on the end of a Christian Cevenini cross to score from inside the ‘six’.

This was the confidence boost that Cringila needed as Bulli were unable to impose themselves as much as they did in the opening 45 as the visitors gave as good as they got for the first 20 minutes of the second stanza.

However, the sting was taken out of the tail, when Bulli scored two goals in three minutes mid-way through the half to snare another valuable three points.
Matthew Naylor’s incisive, defence splitting pass found Cameron Littler whose neat lob from the edge of the penalty area was too much for the advancing Cringila Keeper, Gordon Despotovski.
Three minutes later, McDonald picked out Jared Fish with a terrific pass, which allowed Fish a 30 metre angled run in a one on one situation with Despotovski and the diminutive striker finished with aplomb.

Dapto Dandaloo 2 – 1 Fernhill

At Dandaloo Sports Ground on Sunday, Dapto Dandaloo were made to work overtime before overcoming a gallant Fernhill before collecting all three points to keep the pressure on Bulli at the top of the table.

Tobin Zoomers opened the scoring on 24 minutes to send a clear message to the Fury that this would be no easy game. The Fury were back on level terms eight minutes later when seasoned veteran, Noel Spencer was on hand to apply the finishing touches to a neat passage of play.

No more scoring before the break with the arm wrestle continuing well into the dying embers of the game.

The pivotal moment in the contest came six minutes from time when the Foxes’ Matthew Timpano was given his marching orders for a second yellow card offence.

With the one man advantage, the Fury pushed an extra man forward with the Visitor’s resistance finally being broken with just two minutes left on the clock and it was another of the senior players, Alvin Cecolli who scored the winner to break the hearts of the Fernhill faithful for whom every point is vital in a trying season for them.

Woonona 0 – 3 Wollongong United

Wollongong United’s fine form of late continued with a comprehensive win over Woonona at Ocean Park.
Brian Montanari, who missed much of the first half of the season through injury, scored the only goal of the opening stanza on 30 minutes.
2013 George Naylor Medallist, Robbie Shields who is once again in a rich vein of form this time around, scored his 12^th of the season with a neat header to virtually put the match out of reach for the home side on 69 minutes and the match was wrapped up when substitute, Adrian Nikolovski scored in time added on at the end of the game.

The three points for United allowed them to leap frog the Sharkies into 3^rd position on the table.

Port Kembla 1 – 0 Tarrawanna Blueys

The last time these two sides clashed at Wetherall Park, a spot in the 2013 IPL Grand Final against Bulli was at stake but this Round 12 clash provided quite a contrast as the two sides ran out in effort to keep their 2014 aspirations alive.
At the start of this season’s competition, both sides were expected to figure quite strongly in the race for the IPL Title with Port Kembla looking to go ‘back to back’.

This contest found the two sides sitting in 10^th and 9^th positions respectively so there was a lot to play for in this one.

The opening exchanges had a bit of feeling in them with a lot of challenges for the ball being hotly contested.  It was long before the game settled into an open style with both sides getting forward at every opportunity.

On the half hour mark, speedy front man, Matt Tesoreiro had a great chance to give Port the lead when he raced right through the heart of the Blueys defence but when faced with a one on one with Christian Pretto in the Tarra goal he could only push his effort wide of the mark.
However, four minutes later, Tesoreiro was at again when he ‘stole’ the ball from Tor Preece 35 metres from goal and his advance on goal in similar circumstances to his previous effort but this time, the striker was a little more accurate and found the back of the net with a cool finish which proved to be the only goal of the game.

Despite the set- back, Tarrawanna worked hard to get something from the game but overall Port Kembla probably just shaded the contest which saw them jump three places to 7^th spot and just two points outside the ‘five’.
It is not the end of the season for Tarra, even though they sit in tenth position on 13 points as Woonona are currently hanging to fifth position on 17 points.

Except for the top and bottom two, the table is quite congested through the middle and we can expect these positions to chop and change on a regular basis over the next ten rounds which mean there is still a long, long way to go before the key positions are determined.