Saturday 18th June

Bellambi (12th -1pt) v Helensburgh Thistle (9th - 13pts) @ Elizabeth Park

The Rosellas return home this weekend still searching for their first win of the season after going down 4-2 against Kiama albeit a spirited performance, last time out. Bellambi got off to the worst possible start against the Quarriers by conceding a goal in the 1st minute of play and with confidence probably at an all time low they can ill-afford to get off on the wrong foot when points are at a premium.

Speaking of confidence, Helensburgh arrive at Elizabeth Park in a wretched vein of form themselves having lost five games on the bounce and recently appointed Coach, Matthew Callahan will need to call upon his wealth of experience if he is to turn around the Thistles fortune after a reasonable start to the season.

Helensburgh have a decent side on paper and should be a lot higher up the table than their current position but there is plenty of time for them to have an impact on the top five at season's end.

A win is a must for both sides on Saturday for very different reasons but I expect Helensburgh to complete the double over Bellambi after a 3-1 win in Rd 2.

TIP: Helensburgh

 

University FC (11th - 10pts) v Oak Flats Falcons (7th -14pts) @ Kooloobong Oval

UOW come into this clash on the back of a three game streak that has yielded seven points including a terrific come from behind 3-1 victory up at the Burgh in Rd 12.

A hat-trick in 16 minutes (either side of half time) from striker Evan Fitzsimmons cancelled out a 10th minute goal and secured the 'Students' with a valuable three points in their push away from the bottom of the table and who knows an assault on the top five could be on the cards if this current trend continues.

The Falcons on the other hand have hit an icy spot having won only once in their last eight outings and they will have to play really well on Saturday to halt the slide. It is difficult to see this happening if you consider that they leaked seven goals (five before half time) in a local derby rout against Warilla Wanderers in Rd 12.

Uni lost a tight game 2-1 the last time the two teams met in Rd 2 and on current form you just couldn't bet against the home team reversing that scoreline and winning this one.

TIP: University FC

 

Warilla Wanderers (2nd -24pts) v Thirroul FC (4th - 18pts) @ King Mickey Park

The Wanderers return to King Mickey in cavalier form after an emphatic win against Oak Flats last weekend which yielded seven goals (five different goalscorers) and continued a hot streak of six wins from last seven games. During that period Barney King's men have proved that they know where the goals are having scored a very impressive 23 goals to boot as they consolidate second place on the ladder.

Thirroul had a good 3-1 win over Balgownie Rangers in Rd 12 with Luke Mitwollen coming off the bench to score a late winner and secure maximum points in a hard fought game that could have gone either way.
The Thunder will obviously have to nullify the potent Wanderers attack to have any chance of winning this one and no doubt Coach Garth Bowley will have a game plan in place to get something out of this difficult road trip.
Ironically, this is the only match in Rd 13 that features two last start winners but I suspect that the Hosts form in front of goals maybe too much for the visitors to handle with the outcome being that the Wanderers will complete the double over Thirroul after their 1-0 win at Gibson Park back in April.

Tip: Warilla Wanderers

 

 Balgownie Rangers (8th - 13pts) v Berkeley Sports (5th -17pts) @ Judy Masters Oval

A loss at home in this one could spell the end of Balgownie's hopes of a final five spot even with 10 games to go. The Rangers lost a tough encounter with Thirroul last week but were in the game for a long period against the Thunder. Prior to that game, Balgownie's form hadn't been too bad and given the fact that they had a resounding 5-0 victory over today's opponent in their previous meeting this season, the home side have every chance of coming out on top.

Berkeley are in somewhat of a purple patch of form at the moment, picking up 15 points from a possible 18 after a poor start to the season. A Tony Paglialunga first half goal gave them a narrow 1-0 win at home over Wests in Rd 12 and whilst they aren't winning by big margins, they are just doing enough to get the job done which is all that matters.

Coach Paul Mears may use the Rd 2 drubbing from the Magpies earlier in the season as an incentive but he knows that if his team can maintain their current run of form it may be good enough to claim maximum points once again.

TIP: Draw

 

Wests Illawarra (10th - 10pts) v Corrimal Rangers (1st - 31pts) @ Unanderra Oval
Wests form has been somewhat erratic in the 11 rounds played thus far. The side has lost it's last two games by one goal margins but prior to that had won three straight after a disappointing start to the season.

It has been very much a huge learning curve for Arthur Kinnas' young side and they are going to have to play out of their skin if they are going to get anything from this encounter against the League Leaders.

Corrimal travel to Unanderra Oval in superlative form with 10 wins and a draw from their 11 games played to-date. On top of that they are a strong force going forward having netted 39 goals in those 11 games. The Rangers are also difficult to break down with only six goals conceded so you can see what a difficult task, not only Wests, but all opponents that come up against the Competition favourites.

The Rd 2 fixture ended 8-1 to the Rangers so it maybe a case of damage limitation in this one for Wests Illawarra.

TIP: Corrimal Rangers

 

 

Fernhill (3rd -21pts) v Kiama Quarriers (6th -16pts) v  @ Ray Robinson Field 

Fernhill come into this game on the back of a hard fought 1-3 loss to Corrimal Rangers last Sunday in a game where they played the last half an hour with nine men after having their goalkeeper and a defender sent off at the same time.

The Foxes gave as good as they got in that game and with the score locked at 1-1 on the hour mark who knows what the score might have been if it remained 11 on 11.
The home side play some good football going forward and in striker, Kazu Nagaishi, they do have one of the best forwards in the District League.

Kiama have been creeping up the table 'softly, softly' after a mixed start to the season and if they can tighten up defensively then their push up the table can gather even more momentum as the season progresses. Keeping Nagaishi scoreless in this contest is a must which will help their cause no end.
The Quarriers do have an inform striker of their own in Keegan Beringer who has scored four goals in his last two outings and he could be the talisman that they desperately need in their pursuit of a top five finish.

Fernhill and Kiama played out an entertaining 2-2 draw in the corresponding fixture in the first round which points to another goal fest in this one.

Tip: Fernhill

 

By David Naylor

Photo: Pedro Garcia