Saturday 23rd July

Kiama Quarriers (5th - 25pts) v Thirroul FC (4th - 27pts) @ Kiama Leisure Centre

The feature match of Round 18 brings together the two sides currently sitting just inside the 'Top 5' with five rounds to play although Thirroul do have a game extra play due to an earlier postponed fixture.

Three points for both sides is vital for both teams has they push to consolidate a position in the season defining games come September.

Both sides recorded similar results (2-1 victories) in Rd 17 over Balgownie and Oak Flats respectively and have been in good form in recent weeks.

Keegan Beringer scored the second half winner last Saturday for the Quarriers to add to his goal tally of 11 for the season and the Thirroul defence will need to keep the young striker in check to improve their chances of winning this game.

From their point of view, the Thunder have a number of players (Messrs Haines-Grose, Kellond & Mittwollen) who have been regulars on the scoresheet which makes it a bit more difficult to target any one player from Kiama's point of view.

Honours were even the last time the two teams met in Round Seven and based on current form it could be difficult to separate them at the Quarry on Saturday.

Tip: Draw

 

Fernhill (3rd - 33pts) v Bellambi (12th - 7pts) @ Ray Robinson Field

Fernhill come into this fixture with their northern neighbours on the back of a thumping 6-0 victory over University last Saturday and never gave the Students a chance to get into the game scoring three goals in each half.

The Foxes are quite lethal going forward with Japanese Import Kazuma Nagaishi leading the line well with seven goals but he receives strong support from Marc Sergi (7) and June signing, Andy Keep who has scored six goals in five games since his arrival including a brace last week.

Although on the wrong end of the of the scoreline (1-4) when runaway League Leaders, Corrimal Rangers visited Elizabeth Park last Saturday, the Rosellas were in that game for a long period and only two late goals blew score out. So despite their lowly position on the ladder, Bellambi are not afraid to mix it with the opposition and Coach Greg Smart will no doubt have his charges ready to go in this local derby.

Fernhill did win the first round encounter by the odd goal in three and one would think that on current form (4 wins from last 5 starts) the home side should be too strong for this return fixture.

Tip: Fernhill

 

Berkeley Sports (6th - 21pts) v Oak Flats Falcons (9th - 17pts) @ Berekley Sportsground

Berkeley welcome Oak Flats to town for this clash which has a local derby flavour about it has well and would be heartened by a pleasing result in Rd 17 which generated a point away to Helensburgh (1-1) although they were unfortunate not to come away with a win after conceding very late on.

The Sports really need to win this one to keep the two teams in front of them on the table honest in the run home and they do have a game in hand over Kiama which should help their cause to reach the Finals at season's end.

Oak Flats have probably run their race after last week's close loss to Thirroul and are playing for pride which is normally paramount in clashes between these two close rivals. Berkeley got the better of the Falcons in a five goal thriller at Keith Bond earlier in the season so Oak Flats will be looking to turn the tables and put an end to Berkeley's hopes of playing Finals Football.

Tip: Berkeley Sports in a tight one

 

Balgownie Rangers (8th - 19pts) v Warilla Wanderers (2nd - 36pts) @ Judy Masters Oval

Balgownie are not quite out of the Finals race just yet after losing to Kiama(1-2) in a close one last Saturday but they really need results to go their way going forward and to top it off they welcome high flying Warilla Wanderers to Judy Masters to try and get their finals push back under way.

If the home side are to have any chance, they will really need to start the game positively and get to half time without conceding. The Wanderers have had a knack of blowing their opponents out of the water early in proceedings with a high ratio of their goals scored in the bank in the opening 45 minutes.
Bojan Caric has been the hit man up front for the visitors with an impressive return of 11 goals from 13 games played in 2016. Coach Barney King has some good quality players at his disposal and it's no wonder they have amassed 44 goals so far this season and are reasonably sound defensively.

The Rangers will need to play really well for 90 minutes here to cause an upset but will take heart from the fact that the game went to wire in the first round when beaten 2-1 at King Mickey Park.

Tip: Warilla Wanderers

 

Wests Illawarra (11th - 13pts) v University FC (10th - 16pts) @ Unanderra Oval

In a game with which features two sides that are out of the reckoning for a top five finish, this is a terrific opportunity for Wests Illawarra to pick up a win that would ease them clear of the relegation zone once and for all.

Wests did reasonably well last time out in their 1-3 loss to Warilla and welcome University to the 'Derra on the back of a ignominous 6-0 loss to Fernhill in Rd 17.

Both sides have had similar runs of form in recent weeks with just the one win in the past five games so this match up provides a great chance to get back in the winners circle and be in a position to sing the victory song come 4-45pm on Saturday afternoon.

Wests won the first round meeting by two goals to nil and could be slight favourites to complete the 'double.

Tip: Wests Illawarra (just)

 

Sunday 24th July

Corrimal Rangers (1st - 49pts) v Helensburgh Thistle (7th - 20pts) @ Memorial Park

Corrimal Rangers march to promotion to the IPL continued unabated last week when they recorded their 16th win on the bounce since the 1-1 draw with Fernhill on the opening day of the season.

They didn't have matters all their own way in the 4-1 win over Bellambi which required two late goals from Save Treneski to complete his hat-trick amd make the points safe. Treneski has had a prolific season in front of goal which has reaped 20 goals and set up an intriguing one on one shootout with team mate Mark Picciolini (21 goals) to see who wins the District League Golden Boot Award.

The win (against Bellambi) came at a small cost with Gavin O'Brien suspended for this match after picking up two yellow cards at Elizabeth Park. O'Brien has been in  great form in a holding midfield role this season but there is enough depth defensively to cover for him this week.

Helensburgh come into this fixture in indifferent form which has lacked any consistency for a major part of the season. Normally, 'Burgh sides would relish this type of clash as only Coach Matt Callahan is well aware but he is going to need all his wealth of experience to motivate his side to be up for it and in the right frame of mind if they are to spring an upset in this one.
They desperately need playmaker, Andrew Paine back on deck for this one after he missed last week's draw with Berkeley Sports.

Tip: Corrimal Rangers

 

By David Naylor

Photo Courtesy of Pedro Garcia (library archive)