Wollongong Olympic vs Port Kembla

PCYC

Kick-off: Saturday, 2:30pm.

Referee: Chris Munn

Wollongong Olympic host Port Kembla in this weekend’s Illawarra Mercury Premier League feature match.

After a slow start to the season, Port Kembla find themselves in 5th place as they battle with several teams for a place in this season’s finals.

Before they can think about finals, however, the defending champions must take on a Wollongong Olympic outfit that handed out a 5-0 battering when the two sides met earlier this season.

“We just see it as another opportunity for three points,” said Port Kembla head coach Stuart Beedie.

“Our players will have the result from earlier there as will the coaching staff and we’ll be helped by it.

“I’d like to see, not necessarily revenge, but certainly a reaction in terms of performance on Saturday.”

Port were unlucky to come away with a draw against Woonona last week after conceding a last minute equaliser, but prior to that had put together three straight wins.

The streak helped them push their way back into the top five after sinking as low as 10th earlier in the season.

“I think the second half has certainly been better than the first half and I’m quite encouraged with the way things are going,” said Beedie.

“This is where everyone wants to be [in the top five] and we’re in with a chance but we’re a long way from securing a spot in the finals yet.”

This weekend could potentially see the return of Port Kembla’s Matthew Werakso who has been nursing a calf injury for the past four weeks.

Aside from Werakso, Port have no major injury concerns as the squad nears full strength as they reach the business end of the season.

Wollongong Olympic secured an important 2-0 win over Cringila Lions last Saturday in what was their first win in ten games.

Interestingly the club’s last win, before the result against Cringila, was the 5-0 demolition of Port Kembla; a result the team will be hoping they can repeat.

With five games remaining, Olympic are still in with an outside chance at the finals as they sit eighth on 19 points but the side will first need to lift themselves over an in form Port Kembla.

They can take confidence from the result earlier this season, and if the team can repeat the effort then they will take a positive step towards a strong finish to the year.

 

Julian Keith 

FSC Reporter