Saturday 23 March

Coniston vs Wollongong United @ JJ Kelly Park

Coniston return to the Premier League for the first time since 2013 and first up that take on fierce rivals Wollongong United.

Both sides had FFA Cup wins midweek with United beating Fairfield Bulls 3-0 on Tuesday and Coniston knocking off Community League outfit Albion Park City 6-0 - curiously both matches were nil all at half time.

It’s been 2078 days since these two sides last met, on that occasion United got up 3-0 at Macedonia Park, they will be aiming for a similar result here but new Coniston coach Jeff Allport, who took Saturday’s opposition to last year’s grand final, will be hoping a strong home crowd will spur his side on to a result.

Prediction - Wollongong United

Wollongong Olympic vs Cringila Lions @ PCYC

Many people’s title favourites kick off their season at home to one of the side’s tipped to struggle in 2019. 

Olympic comfortably accounted for District League side Bellambi in a 7-1 third-place playoff win in the Fraternity Club Cup while Crinigla’s last match was a 2-0 trial win over Shell Cove nearly a fortnight ago.

It’s a massive ask for the Lions who may well be aiming to keep the score down.

Olympic have a home doubleheader this weekend with Randwick City travelling to the PCYC for an FFA Cup match on Sunday.

Wollongong Olympic

Fernhill Foxes vs Woonona Sharks @ Ray Robinson Field

Fernhill were the surprise package of the 2019 season and their campaign began with a 1-0 home win over Tarrawanna before three points away to Woonona.

Bruce Tilt’s side had a 2-1 trial win over State League outfit University of New South Wales last weekend while it has been a couple of weeks since Woonona beat second division University 5-1.

Both sides have FFA Cup matches four days after this tie.

Draw

Tarrawanna Blueys vs South Coast United @ Tarrawanna Oval

These two clubs met in the Fraternity Club Cup with Tarrawanna winning 3-0 to secure their passage to the knockout phase

The Blueys were beaten 3-1 in the quarter final by Wollongong Olympic over two weeks ago while South Coast were outclassed 7-1 by Capital NPL champions Canberra FC last Saturday night.

Tarrawanna are the favourites, they will be looking to make the most of a favourable opening month of the season.

Tarrawanna have to back up three days later in the third round of the FFA Cup.

Tarrawanna Blueys

Bulli vs Corrimal Rangers @ Balls Paddock

Match postponed

Sunday 24 March

Port Kembla vs Albion Park White Eagles @ Wetherall Park

The only Premier League fixture on Sunday will be at Wetherall Park with Port Kembla opening the season against Fraternity Club Cup finalists Albion Park.

These sides met in the preseason cup with the White Eagles getting up 2-1 at Terry Reserve in a match which was relatively even over the 70 minutes.

It’ll be interesting to see how Albion Park react from their 3-1 final defeat against Corrimal while Port’s last trial match was a couple of weeks ago beating Fernhill 3-0.

New Port coach Steve Dimitrievski will clearly want a home three points to start the season but a draw wouldn’t be a terrible result. 

It is worth noting Port are hosting their annual pizza day on Sunday, hence the reason I asked to be assigned to this match.

Draw

Preview by Dylan Arvela, on Twitter @dylanarvela

File photo by Kiah Hufton