Round 10 Preview

The weather may be unusually calm this autumn, allowing the first nine rounds of the Illawarra Mercury Premier League to be completed without interruptions or cancellations.

But things are far from settled on or off the field this season.

The shocks keep on coming, with bottom beating top in last week’s fixtures, a result that saw South Coast United finally lift themselves off the foot of the ladder. There was no change at the summit, though Kemblawarra Fury’s defeat leaves the chasing pack right on their heels now as we go into Round 10.

And of course in the last seven days since the previous IPL preview we have had the news of Wollongong United’s rule infringement and potential points deduction. That process is now going to appeal, so until the outcome is known, we will be counting points and goals tallies as if no infringement had taken place.

Match of the Round

Kemblawarra Fury v Wollongong United @ Albert Butler Memorial Park – kick-off 2.30pm, Sunday 29 May

The Fury’s charge towards another league title seemed relentless until they came unstuck last weekend and suffered their first league defeat of the season at the hands of then bottom club South Coast United.

They’ll be looking to bounce straight back from that loss, but Wollongong United have been a bit of a bogey side for the Fury, both this season and in their previous guise as Dapto Dandaloo last season. As well as losing the 2015 Grand Final, and the Frat Cup Final this year, the Fury lost the equivalent fixture in 2015, so they know United will be a tough nut to crack.

As things stand, United are creeping up on the Fury in the ladder, handily placed in third spot, in spite of up and down form all season. They managed to put off-pitch battles aside last weekend to edge out Woonona by a single goal.

The Fury’s Robbie Shields and Matthew McNab goal machine misfired against South Coast last week. So it will be interesting to see whether they find a way through Brendan Reilly and his fellow United defenders this weekend.

This tie could go either way, but I have a sneaking feeling the Fury might just nick it this time around – they’re certainly due a win against United, anyway. But they’ll have to do it without Sam Munro, who is suspended.

 

Fixtures on Saturday 28 May

Cringila Lions v Bulli FC @ Crehan Park - kick-off 2.30pm

Cringila’s see-saw season continued in Round 9, with a 6-1 thrashing at the hands of Port Kembla, just a week after the Lions saw off Wollongong United in a 4-3 thriller the previous week.

Those six goals conceded last week make Cringila’s defence now the leakiest in the league, alongside the improving South Coast United. It won’t help those with a nervous disposition at the club to recall that this fixture against Bulli in 2015 saw the Lions fall to their heaviest defeat of the year, losing 0-8 that time round.

Cringila are playing better football this season, though, so I can’t see a repeat of that scoreline in 2016.

Bulli are back in form, though, seeing off the Blueys last week, and Ben McDonald bagged himself a brace in that match after having a quiet few weeks in front of goal.

Cringila are capable of beating any team this season, but with the Fury in their sights now I fancy Bulli to take the three points in this one.

Woonona FC v Port Kembla FC @ Ocean Park – kick-off 2.30pm

Sandy Lowcock’s hat-trick last week has sent the Port Kembla youngster to the top of the IPL goal scorer’s list alongside Robbie Shields and Yusuke Ueda with eight goals to his name this season now.

His arrival in Port’s First Grade squad has transformed the mood around Wetherall Park and the team are scoring freely now after a virtual goal drought earlier in the season. It’s hard to believe Port are still only in tenth and could drop to eleventh if results go against them this weekend.

For Woonona, losing is becoming a nasty habit. The Sharks have taken just one point from the last eight IPL Rounds and now find themselves three points adrift at the foot of the ladder. It’s not a good time for them to face a re-invigorated Port side.

Home advantage might help the Sharks, but I think Port’s new found confidence will help them hold sway here. Away win by one or two goals.

Wollongong Olympic v Picton Rangers @ PCYC, Wollongong – kick-off 2.30pm

Picton Rangers may have slipped out of the top five in the IPL ladder, but they are an extremely difficult team to beat this year and have made a fantastic return to the Premier League, especially using a squad made up largely of players who were playing District League last season.

Their only defeats in recent weeks have been to the two front runners, and they took revenge on the only other side to beat them this season when they took out Tarrawanna Blueys last Sunday in the Bampton Cup.

Four wins from five have seen Olympic jump to fourth in the ladder. In Yusuke Ueda they have one of the IPL’s three joint top scorers in 2016, though Ja Kon Yu knocked in his third to win last weekend. Olympic will have to do without Isaac Lee this weekend as he is suspended after receiving a red card last week.

Two battling teams may well cancel each other out this weekend so I predict a draw in this one.

Other games on Sunday 29 May

Tarrawanna Blueys v Shell Cove @ Tarrawanna Oval – kick-off 2.30pm

Tarrawanna have lost the last two and haven’t had a win in the IPL for over a month. They’ll be looking to put those recent results behind them when they take on Shell Cove at Tarrawanna Oval on Sunday.

Shell Cove’s confidence has also taken a knock in recent weeks. Three consecutive defeats has taken the gloss off what had been a very positive start to the season.

Both sides have a good mix of new talent playing alongside trusty veterans at the club. Darren Stone, Rick Goodchild and Sam Isabella come to mind for the Blueys; Daniel Vellonio and Ljupco Naumovski for Shell Cove.

Which blend has the recipe to take this encounter? My hunch is that Tarrawanna have the talent to take the points here, and the score may be similar to last season’s 4-2 in this fixture.

South Coast United v Albion Park White Eagles @ Ian McLellan Park – kick-off 3.00pm

As a neutral, this is perhaps the top game to see this week as Greg Valic’s resurgent South Coast United take on Jeff Allport’s entertaining White Eagles.

South Coast United may still be in eleventh spot with only seven points from nine rounds, but two 3-1 wins in a row have given them new belief, and if they can outplay table-topping Kemblawarra Fury for 90 minutes, they can surely beat any team at this level.

Liam Unicomb scored yet again last weekend, making it six games in a row he has found the net, so the White Eagles will have to watch him closely.

Shohei Okuno continues to knock them in for the White Eagles. His IPL tally has now reached seven, but the White Eagles have goal scorers throughout their squad so the threat can come from anywhere.

This is the hardest game to predict this week so I am going to sit on the fence and call it a draw.

By Simon Duffin

Photo by Pedro Garcia