Wollongong United vs Port Kembla

Crehan Park

Kick-off: Sunday, 1pm

Referee: Steve Bozic

Wollongong United take on Port Kembla in this year’s BloorRail Bert Bampton Cup Final at Crehan Park on Sunday.

The Illawarra’ Premier Cup Competition will see two teams from the top tier clashing for cup honours.

Wollongong United will be featuring in what is their second Cup final in three years after they took home the trophy in 2012 with a penalty shootout victory over Albion Park White Eagles.

United’s appearance in the final comes off the back of envious Illawarra Mercury Premier League form where they are ten games undefeated and third on the ladder.

“It’s always good to play in any final but to be in the Bert Bampton Cup final for the second time in three years is a fantastic result,” said head coach Oliver Vrtkovski.

“We’ve gone ten games undefeated up until this point and we’d really like to continue that run.

“We played a lot of games in the last six weeks and it’s our depth that’s pulled us through that and we’ll be relying on that again come the weekend.”

While Wollongong are the form team heading into the game, the final provides an opportunity for Port Kembla to kick-start their season.

Just one season removed from winning the Premier League, Stuart Beedie’s men find themselves seventh on the ladder with six wins from 15 games.

“Obviously the first part of the season hasn’t gone the way we were expecting, but I’m very happy to be part of the final and we’re looking forward to it,” said coach Beedie.

“I’m sure it will be a pretty tough game against Wollongong United who are probably the form team of the competition at the moment.”

Despite their League form, Port have put together an impressive cup run and Wollongong coach Vrtkovski is under no illusions of the danger they can bring to a game.

“They’ve got some fantastic players in Daniel Aliffi and Nuno Pires so they’re always going to be dangerous,” he said.

“Any Stuart Beedie team is going to be difficult to play so our boys really need to be up to the challenge.”

Wollongong scored an impressive 14 goals in their run to the final with defeats of Tarrawanna, South Coast United and Picton seeing them through.

Despite the potent attack, coach Beedie is wary of breaking down an organised United defence.

“They’re very dangerous on the attack, they’ve got the player of the year Robbie Shields up front and he can be a handful,” he said.

“I think their organisation is good, they don’t concede many goals and I think that’s always a start.

“If you’ve got someone like Robbie scoring freely at the other end they’re always going to be a tough team.”

Port Kembla’s run to the final included defeats over Oak Flats, Thirroul, Corrimal and Picton.

Both teams are carrying injuries into the game, with Port’s Matthew Werakso expected to miss the match while Wollongong have a list of players carrying knocks including John Martinoski, Nathan Jagelman, Brendan Reilly and Peter Peralta.

The match features two of the Illawarra’s more attacking teams and spectators can expect an open game according to coach Beedie.

“Both sides will be trying to win it; we won’t want to go to extra time or penalties that’s for sure,” said Beedie.

“I doubt it’ll be a cagey affair, we’re certainly going to go out and attack; we’re not thinking about sitting back and trying to catch teams on the break.

“We’ll be going all out to try and win it in normal time and the key for us is probably how our more experienced players perform for us on the day.”

­Coach Vrtkovski is expecting a tough game with the side showing the most decisiveness likely to be victorious on the day.

“It’s a Grand Final, and the team that turns up wanting it the most will always be lifting the trophy and we just have to show that desire to put the ball in the back of the net,” he said.

“I’m sure that Port Kembla will come in with that same desire and we’ll have to counter that by ensuring we’re mentally and physically prepared.”­

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