Illawarra Premier League Round 19 Preview

After last weekend’s thrilling cup finals, this weekend sees a set of ties that could have a decisive impact on the end-of-season placings in the Premier League. Six of the League’s top seven sides face-off against each other on Saturday. There are two catch-up games scheduled for Sunday in addition to the regular Round 19 matches.

Match of the Round

Bulli FC v Dapto Dandaloo Fury @ Balls Paddock, Saturday 8 August kick-off 2.30pm

This is the tie that could decide the Premier League title for 2015.

If Bulli can repeat their extraordinary 5-1 win in the reverse fixture earlier this season, they will go back to the top of the league ladder, and we’ll be set for an exciting run-in to the season’s end.

If Fury reverse the score this weekend, that will surely give them an unbeatable lead in the ladder. A draw would leave Dapto Dandaloo in the driving seat, but with still no room for slip-ups in the final three rounds.

After a surprise defeat at South Coast United two weeks ago, Bulli bounced back with a 5-0 drubbing of the Blueys in Round 18. Five Bulli players got their names on the scoresheet last weekend, but Ben McDonald remains the side’s (and the League’s) leading scorer with 24 goals to his name.

Robbie Shields’ performance could be the key to the result of this game, though. After a superb match against Tarrawanna Blueys and finding the net against Bellambi last Saturday, he failed to hit the target in the Bert Bampton Cup Final.

How well the two defences cope with the League’s best strike forces will determine the outcome in this one.

 

Saturday 8 August

Albion Park White Eagles v Wollongong United @ Terry Reserve – kick-off 2.30pm

Buoyed by their victory over the Fury in last Sunday’s Bert Bampton Cup Final, United will be looking to extend their run of three wins on the bounce in the Premier League. This fixture is a tough ask, though, away to one of the league’s most unpredictable teams.

The White Eagles had their own day in the limelight a few weeks ago when defeating the Fury 5-3 away, but have lost twice since then, first to Port Kembla and then in Round 18 to Wollongong Olympic.

Those two defeats leave the White Eagles vulnerable to the chasing pack, especially after losing 3-0 last time out, bringing their goal difference back to near the level of their main rivals for play-off positions.

A win for United would keep them on the tails of the leading two and add pressure on the White Eagles as they attempt to retain their top five spot. A win for Albion Park would leave both teams in a solid position for making the finals.

Port Kembla v Wollongong Olympic @ Wetherall Park kick-off 2.30pm

This tie could well be decisive for both teams’ efforts to make the end-of-season finals.

At the start of play, neither side holds a Top Five spot, but they are both level on points with fifth place Tarrawanna and both have a game in hand.

Port Kembla are undefeated in six matches, but will see draws against Bellambi, Shell Cove and Cringila Lions – last time out – as dropped points.

Olympic put themselves right back in the mix for the play-off spots with last weekend’s convincing 3-0 win over Albion Park White Eagles. But away from home against play-off rivals, Olympic have not done well since their April victory at Tarrawanna.

Defeat for either side would make qualification for the finals difficult. A draw would not suit them either.

Shell Cove v Tarrawanna Blueys @ Barrack Heights, kick-off 2.30pm

Shell Cove look likely to avoid the wooden spoon with last weekend’s victory at South Coast United. Today’s big question is whether they will be able to contain Blueys top scorer Wandi Jajaw, who scored a hat-trick in the reverse fixture in May.

The Blueys need the points after losing the last two Rounds to ladder leaders Dapto Dandaloo and Bulli. They’re still in the play-off spot of fifth, but are level on points with the two below them, having played one game more. A win for the Blueys is vital if they are to keep their finals berth.

Bellambi v Cringila Lions @ Elizabeth Park – kick-off 2.30pm

A dismal run of four successive defeats – and no victory since April – has left Bellambi languishing at the foot of the ladder, now nine points adrift after results last weekend.

There may be some hope for the Rosellas to get something out of this game with another team that is struggling to win games this season, but it is surely too late to save them from twelfth place at the end of the season.

It’s hard to see where Bellambi goals are going to come from, especially since they lost Sangyu Park to Wollongong United in mid-season (and it was Park who scored the Bellambi goal in the reverse fixture when the game finished 1-1).

Cringila picked up a useful point at Port Kembla last time out, though they too haven’t won since back-to-back victories in mid-June. Stefan Dimoski scored in the reverse fixture and as the Lions’ top scorer, he’ll be the target man in this one.

 

Sunday 9 August

South Coast United v Woonona @ Ian McLellan Park – kick-off 2.30pm

This is South Coast United’s sixth home game on the bounce. Results have been an extraordinary mix, with a 3-0 win over Premier League title challengers Bulli and victory over Wollongong Olympic, but then a home defeat to Shell Cove stopping United’s climb up the table.

Although they have lost the last two matches, Woonona’s form has improved a lot since their disastrous start to the season. When they beat South Coast United in mid-May, that was Woonona’s first win of the season. Repeat that victory this weekend and Woonona will leapfrog their opponents into a respectable eighth spot in the ladder.

Round 16 catch-ups

Wollongong Olympic v Shell Cove @ PCYC – kick-off 2.30pm

Olympic need a win to maintain their push for the play-offs. Last week’s convincing victory over Albion Park White Eagles was their fourth home win in a row and that run also includes wins over Wollongong United and Tarrawanna, so they’ll be favourites to take the three points in this catch-up match from Round 16.

Shell Cove cannot be discounted, though. They’ll be in good spirits having won away at South Coast United last time out, a victory that virtually assures their Premier League status for next season.

Tom Markovski (Shell Cove) and Nichlas Schon (Olympic) were the scorers in the reverse fixture 1-1 draw earlier this season. They’re the two teams’ top scorers, so we’ll see which of them hits the target this time around.

Bellambi v Albion Park White Eagles @ Elizabeth Park – kick-off 2.30pm

Bellambi’s second home game in as many days sees them take on one of the toughest teams in the Premier League. It’s hard to see the bottom side get anything out of this game, especially with the White Eagles needing the points to ward off the challenge from teams just below them. But the Premier League has had its fair share of shock results this season, so you can’t be sure.

White Eagles top scorer Chris Smith got a hat-trick in the reverse fixture in May, and he’s a good bet to increase on that tally against the Premier League’s leakiest defence.

If Bellambi win on Saturday against Cringila, though, there may be enough spirit in this side to mount a good fight against Albion Park.

 

- Report by Simon Duffin -