District League Preview – Round 8

Corrimal Rangers have opened up a four point gap at the top of the table ahead of rivals Warilla Wanderers with the next six teams all separated by just four points. Berkeley Sports have been the form team in recent weeks and Bellambi are still searching for their first points of the season.

MATCH OF THE ROUND

Fernhill v Helensburgh Thistle @ Towradgi Park – 3.00pm

Fernhill have been quietly going about their business picking up points regularly throughout the season. In fact, they have lost just once and that was a narrow loss to Warilla. In their last five games, they have conceded just three goals in what is proving to be a strong defence. Scott Muilwyk and Marc Sergi have been finding the net at the other end making the Foxes a genuine threat this year.

After winning their first four matches of the season, Helensburgh have picked up just one point from their next three games. This is simply not going to get the job done if they are going to maintain their challenge. The dry spell seems to coincide with top marksman and reigning golden boot Andrew Paine having scored just once in the last four matches. In seems that when Paine is firing, the rest of the team follow get inspired.

This one could go either way. It will be the team that takes their chances and is the more determined that will probably come out on top. A loss from either side and they may just find themselves battling for the minor placings. I think this one will end in a 1-1 draw which will not likely help either side.

In other District League matches this Saturday:

Berkeley Sports v Thirroul Thunder @ Berkeley Sports Ground – 3.00pm

As mentioned, Berkeley Sports are the form team of the competition at the moment. They have won their last three and will be looking to add Thirroul to that list. Berkeley scored three goals in ten minutes after going behind to stun Oak Flats last week. Striker Tony Paglialunga has been kept relatively quiet so far this year but Berkeley have found six other scorers to help fill the void.

Thirroul were held to a draw at home to a 9-man Kiama side and coach Garth Bowley might just be ruing just how his side didn’t manage to take the points. Thunder have crept up into third place and given they are yet to face Corrimal Rangers, they could narrow the gap to just two points. Luke Mittwollen has been in sensational form so far this year and his team will be hoping he can add to his tally of six goals again this week.

This is a lot harder to pick than it might have been three weeks ago however I think Thirroul will bounce back this week and nab a win in a close contest.

Bellambi v Wests Illawarra @ Elizabeth Park – 3.00pm

This is a fixture reversed to Bellambi after Unanderra Oval has still been deemed unsafe to play on.

Bellambi haven’t had much luck lately and they sit firmly planted at the foot of the table. They could find themselves even further behind if they can’t beat tenth place Wests Illawarra this week. It’s hard to see where Bellambi are going to get the goals from at the moment but they do need to stop their leaky defence where they average three goals against per game. They did lead at half time against Fernhill last week before being beaten by an 80^th minute winner.

Wests Illawarra on the other hand picked up their first win of the season after Sallabank and Tortorella scored mid-way through the first half in their 2-0 win over University last week. Wests have not shown the form that got them through to the preseason cup District League Final however they can take another step in the right direction again this week.

Bellambi seem to be getting close to a win but I think Wests will have too much fire power this week and will win by two. For Bellambi’s sake though, I hope I am wrong.

Balgownie Rangers v University FC @ Judy Masters Oval – 3.00pm

These two teams haven’t exactly lit up the competition with both coming off losses last week. Balgownie did give Warilla a bit of a fright last week though. They will need to bring that energy and commitment to this game as well. Balgownie haven’t really had anyone step up and lead the way with respect to goals however they have hit the net in their last three games.

University have a difficult weekend ahead with two matches in two days. They must not look further than Saturday at this stage as they will be desperately looking to kick start their season. Individual errors have proven costly for University over the last few weeks and sadly they have the equal worst defensive record.

This game will almost certainly have goals in it one feels. I think Balgownie at home might sneak the win; tipping 3-2.

Kiama Quarriers v Warilla Wanderers @ Kiama Leisure Centre – 3.00pm

Kiama were reduced to nine men last week and will without their young guns Jacob Lester and Keegan Beringer who have scored three goals each so far for the Quarriers. They have however shown some wonderful resolute defending and they will need to be at their best this week if they are to get anything out of this game. Kiama will then back up and face University on Sunday for a spot in the Bampton Cup Quarter Finals.

Warilla Wanderers are starting to power along after the hiccups in the early part of the season. Paul Gaffney and Colin Walker despite having just a goal between them have been instrumental in putting the Wanderers right on the heels of Corrimal. Nothing less than three points is a must if they are going to keep pace.

I would normally have fancied Kiama for a point here but given the side is going to be slightly depleted, I am going to give Warilla the edge here and suggest that they will win this one 1-0 in tight game.

Sunday 15 May

Corrimal Rangers v Oak Flats Falcons @ Memorial Park – 3.00pm

Just who is going to stop the Corrimal juggernaut at the moment? It’s Oak Flats’ turn this week to give it a crack.

Last week was the first time in seven weeks Corrimal failed to score at least three goals in a match and the two goals they scored to win the game both came late in the game. Even when they are not playing well, Corrimal seem to find a way to get the job done and this is surely good signs. One of the keys to Corrimal’s success so far has been their ability to score goals at will and sharp-shooters Mark Picciolini and Save Treneski combined have scored more goals than any other team.

The wheels seem to have come off the Falcons bus over the last month with just a single point attained from their last four matches. This has seen Oak Flats slip down to seventh place. The only bright spot during this spell has been the form of both Joshua De Gouveia and Christian Cappetta who coincidently both scored last week. The Falcons normally pride themselves on a solid defence and conceding three goals inside the last quarter hour last week will likely not sit well amongst the playing group as they would have felt that that was points dropped.

It’s hard to see Corrimal dropping points here however the Falcons surprised Warilla in the opening round of the season. I don’t think there will be any great surprises here although I see Corrimal labouring through a win; tipping 3-1.