DISTRICT LEAGUE – ROUND 2 PREVIEW

Saturday 2 April

BERKELEY SPORTS v BALGOWNIE RANGERS @ Berkeley Sports Ground – Kick off 3.00pm

Berkeley Sports will be buoyed by a credible point away to Wests Illawarra last week. They will be looking to veterans Greg Moon and Tony Paglialunga to lead the way in attack in a game that traditionally is low scoring and tight. Berkeley won the corresponding fixture 2-1 last year at a time they were flying high.

Balgownie on the other hand would be keen to put last week’s capitulation to Thirroul behind them as they look to open up their 2016 account. They have faced some tough opposition in the preseason cup and will be looking to their young front line this week to lead the way.

I expect this be a low scoring game and feel that this game has draw written all over it.

 

OAK FLATS FALCONS v UNIVERSITY FC @ Keith Bond Oval – Kick off 3.00pm

Many people were surprised at Oak Flats' win last week at Warilla although to be fair, Oak Flats have been flying a little under the radar. They started the preseason well and went undefeated through the group games (1 win and 2 draws). They conceded just two goals in that competition and it's been the defence that has stood out for me. There is some experience there with Gary Newell, Steven Jovanovski and the Murzevski brothers along with the reliable Ben Wunsch in goal. They are difficult to break down.

University were as a fragile as a leaf in autumn last week conceding 6 goals in teh second half. Coach Fotheringham will be hoping for a more consistent performance this week from his troops as they look to build on their preseason form. One game doesn't make the season however Oak Flats will be brimming with confidence and the students will no doubt be looking to get themselves on the board for 2016.

These two sides played out a 0-0 draw in the preseason cup and I think that another low scoring game is on the cards. I do however think that University will bounce back this week.

KIAMA QUARRIERS v FERNHILL @ Kiama Leisure Centre – Kick off 3.00pm

Kiama have had a good start to their season. After some promising results in the pre-season, they look to have continued that improvement with a solid 3-1 win at Bellambi last week. They started strongly last week leading 3-0 inside the first half hour. They face a more experienced team in Fernhill this week in what promises to be an interesting game.

Fernhill would be delighted by the fact that they competed strongly against favourites Corrimal last week. They were rewarded with a point from that game. Fernhill will need to show the same sort of metal against a Kiama side high in confidence.

This is a tough one to pick and although Fernhill will start as slight favourites, Kiama will be hard to beat at home. For this reason, I will sit on the fence and tip a draw.

 

HELENSBURGH THISTLE v BELLAMBI @ Rex Jackson Oval – Kick off 3.00pm

Helensburgh got off to a great start last week thumping University 6-2 away. Coach Brod Crighton would have been delighted with that result and will be looking to keep his players grounded for their first home game of the season against Bellambi.

Bellambi on the other hand are coming off a 3-1 home loss to a resurgent Kiama side. Bellambi will however take some heart in the fact they won the second half 1-0 last week. They cannot afford to give Helensburgh time and space in front of goal as they can rack up some goals as was the case last week when Crighton’s men put six past University in the second half.

It’s hard to see anything other than a Helensburgh win here.

 

THIRROUL THUNDER v WARILLA WANDERERS @ Gibson Park – Kick off 3.00pm

Thirroul totally outplayed Balgownie last week with youngster Luke Mittwollen getting amongst the goals for Thunder. They face a tougher challenge this week in Warilla Wanderers who are smarting from their opening loss to neighbours Oak Flats. Thirroul have a well-balanced side that is expected to do well again this year. They do however face a tough test this week.

Warilla are expected to feature in the finals and although it’s early days, this game is an important one for the club. Warilla have brought in the experienced Paul Gaffney to take charge of the middle of the park and will be looking to him to distribute to Colin Walker who knows how to find the goal.

Thirroul won both league games in 2015 with Warilla winning in the semi-finals. There is not much between these teams and I expect a close game although I think Warilla to take the points on Saturday.

 

MATCH OF THE ROUND

Sunday 3 April

CORRIMAL RANGERS v WESTS ILLAWARRA @ Memorial Park – Kick off 3.00pm

It appears that Corrimal have had the wood on Wests Illawarra over the last 12 months with Corrimal winning both of last season’s encounters in high scoring games. This is the third meeting of these two teams this year with honours split (one win a piece). Wests Illawarra best Corrimal 1-0 in the Fraternity Club Cup group phase however it was Corrimal who sought revenge when they took Wests Illawarra out 2-0 in the Pre-Season Final.

Corrimal did not have it all their own way in Round 1 with Fernhill good value for their draw last week. It was perhaps not the start that coach(s) Sekulovski and Dulevski would have hoped for however it certainly is a building block. Corrimal can expect special attention every week.

Wests Illawarra on the other hand have a young mobile side who in recent seasons have done well in preseason cup competitions however they have not managed the same consistency during the season. It was case in point last week with Wests relying on a late goal to substitute Daniel Djukic to rescue a point against Berkeley last week.

I expect to see Corrimal Rangers bounce back this week and get their season up and running however I think Wests will make it a tough game. With both Jordan Timpano (Wests) and Mitchell Blowes (Corrimal) in goal for both teams, I don’t think this will be a high scoring game. Corrimal by one.