Saturday 25th June

Oak Flats Falcons (9th -14pts) v Bellambi (12th -1pt) @ Keith Bond Oval

Oak Flats welcome Bellambi to Keith Bond this week with both sides deserate to halt a demoralising run of form that has lasted for far too long as far as both coaches (Marty Madden & Greg Smart) are concerned. With both sides at the 'wrong' end of the table, Round 14 would be a great time to start winning if either club is to salvage something from a disappointing season thus far.

The Falcons showed some signs of getting their form back in last week's narrow loss to UOW where they were beaten three goals to two however, the last thing that Madden needed, was for three of his senior players to lose the plot and any sense of discipline when they were each shown a Red Card after the final whistle of that match.

Bellambi's wretched season continued last time out when they were soundly beaten by Helensburgh Thistle by eight goals to one although they did have to play 70 odd minutes with ten players after Aaron Piercy was sent off for denying a goal scoring opportunity at a time when they were already a goal down.
Smart will be hoping that his side can get to half time without conceding and then perhaps the Rosellas can build from there.

Tip: Draw

 

Kiama Quarriers (8th -16pts) v Helensburgh Thistle (6th - 16pts) @ Kiama Leisure Centre

Kiama's recent good run was halted last week by 3rd placed Fernhill although they were far from disgraced in going down by two goals to nil. Conceding a goal inside the first minute didn't help their cause but they were in the game for a long period before 'copping' another late on.

There is still a long way to go in this season's competition and The Quarriers are still well in the final five hunt as are today's opponents Helensburgh Thistle so a win for either side could be vital in the final wash up.

The Burgh finally got back in the winner's list after a disastrous run of outs in last week's rout of Bellambi. Andrew Paine continues to be Helensburgh's 'go to man' and he scored four goals in a man of the match performance. Luke McCann helped himself to a hat-trick in the same fixture but it is Paine that Kiama are going to have to keep in check to nullify his impact on the game if the Home side are going to get maximum points from this one.

Helensburgh won a tight one by two goals to one earlier in the season up at the Burgh and with both sides sitting on 16 points there may not be a lot between the two sides this time around.

Tip: Helensburgh

 

Wests Illawarra (11th - 10pts) v Fernhill (3rd -24pts) @ Unanderra Oval

The Foxes bounced back to the winner's list last week with a good win against Kiama by two goals to nil on the back of a Ben Moerman double to consolidate third spot on the table. This was just the tonic required after their disappointment of losing to leaders Corrimal in Rd 12.

This Saturday they travel to Unanderra Oval, to tackle Wests Illawarra,who continue to spiral in the wrong direction, after being soundly beaten by Corrimal Rangers last weekend.

Wests need to string a couple of wins together soon if they are going to get back in the finals race or else a lowly finish in the table will be guaranteed after such a promising start to the year.

The Round Three meeting ended with Fernhill winning by the single goal in that game and on current form another win to Fernhill seems almost certain.

Tip: Fernhill

 

 

Warilla Wanderers (2nd -27pts) v Berkeley Sports (5th -17pts)@ King Mickey Park

Warilla continued their recent great run of form with a heart stopping late win against Thirroul in a five goal thriller in Rd 13 to keep up the chase on runaway leader's Corrimal Rangers.

Coach Barney King has a deep squad at his disposal and last week substitute Adrian Montalbano answered the call with an 84th minute winner.

Berkeley's recent good run was halted last week in a two-one loss to Balgownie Rangers. This was a game of slender margins and Berkeley would consider themselves unlucky after Goal Keeper Tyrone White was sent off for a second bookable offence. Tony Paglialunga scored his side's goal in the loss to Bally and he would like nothing more to grab another one playing against his old mentor.

Warilla got the better of Berkeley in Round 3 and with the Wanderers travelling so well at the moment it is hard to look past the 2nd placed team picking up another three points in their pursuit of the Rangers.

Tip: Warilla Wanderers

 

Thirroul FC (4th - 18pts) v University FC (10th - 13pts) @ Thomas Gibson Park

Aftergiving so much in their game against Warilla but coming up short at the same time, Thirroul will be anxious to get back to winning ways against UOW who are in the midst of a run of form that has yielded 10 points from a possible 12.

The Thunder always have had a work ethic that demands nothing less than 100% and this is something that University are going to have to overcome if they are going to get anything from the game.

Uni's terrific run of form of late is due in no small measure to striker Evan Fitzsimmons who has scored back to back hat-tricks and is certainly a player that the Thirroul defence will have to keep an eye on if the home side is to prevail.
Coach Brendan Fotheringham has certainly turned his sides fortunes around with confidence in the Uni camp a lot higher than it was six rounds ago. Marvellous what three or four wins does for a side!

Thirroul got the better of University in the corresponding fixture in the first half of the season but I fancy that this one might be a bit closer this time around.

Tip: Thirroul (by 1 goal)

 

Sunday 26th June

Corrimal Rangers (1st - 34pts) v Balgownie Rangers (7th - 16pts) @ Memorial Park

The Rangers continued on their merry way in Rd 13 with a comfortable five goal victory over Wests Illawarra thus maintaining their seven point margin (prior to going to print) over 2nd placed Warilla. Corrimal are playing unbelievably well as a unit having scored a very impressive 44 goals (almost four per game) and at the other end of the park, a defence led by the Competition's best goalkeeper, Mitchell Blowes has given up just a miserly six goals.

Save Treneski(12) scored a hat-trick against Wests and his potent partnership with Mark Picciolini(14) up front has yielded 26 goals between them.  

The race for the FSC Golden Boot is on in earnest and it is inevitable that the winner will come from one of these two fine players.

This match is no mean task for Balgownie who revived their final five hopes with last week's win over Berkeley Sports and if they are to come out of this one with a positive outcome they will need to match it in mid-field with the home side in an effort to cut down the supply to the dynamic duo up front and defensively the visitors will need to play out of their skin.

Corrimal won the early season fixture by three goals to nil and it would be an optimistic person who would tip other than Corrimal completing the double.

Tip: Corrimal Rangers

 

By David Naylor

Picture courtesy of Pedro Garcia (Library archive)