Saturday 6 April

Shell Cove FC vs Thirroul Thunder @ Barrack Heights Sportsfield – 3pm

Shell Cove were unlucky not to get their first point of the season last round against Warilla, going down 1-0 in a tight match but the side picked up their first win of the season on Wednesday night with a 5-0 thumping of Unanderra Hearts in the Bert Bampton Cup first round, so Shell Cove fans will be hoping that result sparks some confidence in the side.

Thirroul are another side who are yet to pick up any points this season, with a 2-1 loss to Bellambi last round keeping the side from breaking their 2019 duck. The Thunder will be hoping to quickly overturn this result and return to winning ways.

The Thunder won both fixtures against Shell Cove in the 2018 season, but whether they can continue this streak will come down to how much both sides want their first points of the season.

Prediction - Thirroul

Berkeley Sports FC vs Oak Flats Falcons @ Berkeley Sports and Social Club – 3pm

Berkeley had a tough day at the office last round, going down 4-0 to a strong Picton Rangers outfit to push the side down into second-last on the ladder. With a Bert Bampton Cup fixture against Kiama the next day, Berkeley will have a challenge to balance the squad to ensure a good result in both matches.

Meanwhile Oak Flats are yet to drop any points this season, with the side claiming an exciting 4-3 win over Balgownie Rangers last Saturday to keep their winning start up. The Falcons have netted seven goals in their opening two matches and will be hoping they can fire a few more past the Goats on Saturday.

Both sides have already been involved in one high scoring match this season – Berkeley going down 5-4 to Unanderra and Oak Flats winning 4-3 over Balgownie – so this match could be a goal-scoring feast if the opening two rounds are to go by.

Prediction – Oak Flats

Bellambi FC vs University FC @ Elizabeth Park – 3pm

Bellambi have continued their perfect start to the season with a 2-1 win over Thirroul at Thomas Gibson Park but they will be expecting a tough challenge against one of the form sides of the competition in University.

The Students were on top form last round, thrashing Kiama 8-1 thanks to hat-tricks from Doug Woodiwiss and Bruce Wilson in a result which was enough to fire them into first place on the ladder after the opening two rounds.

Neither side are yet to drop points this season and this match is shaping up to be a tight encounter between two sides that are hitting the ground running.

Prediction - Draw

Picton Rangers vs Helensburgh Thistle @ Hume Oval – 3pm

The Rangers overcame their opening day defeat at the hands of Oak Flats to stump Berkeley 4-0 last round, with Benjamin Roberts, Connor Dymond and Key Mitchell all getting on the score sheet for Picton.

Meanwhile Helensburgh came crashing down to Earth after their thumping 7-1 opening day win over Shell Cove, falling 2-0 to Unanderra Hearts at Rex Jackson Park thanks to a double from Save Treneski, keeping the Thistle engaged in a mid-table scrap alongside their Round 3 opponents.

It was Picton who claimed bragging rights when these two sides last met in the District League, with the Rangers claiming a 3-2 win over the Thistle in the 2015 Preliminary Final, but Helensburgh will be hoping for some revenge served cold when these two sides face on Saturday.

Prediction - Helensburgh

Kiama Quarriers FC vs Balgownie Rangers @ Kiama Sporting Complex – 3pm

Kiama had a day to forget last Saturday against University, being at the receiving end of an 8-1 pumping and with a Bert Bampton Cup fixture against Berkeley on Sunday to consider, Kiama coach Curtis Campbell will be looking to run out a side that can grab the result will keeping enough left in the tank to advance to the next round of the Bert Bampton Cup.

Balgownie on the other hand are yet to kick-start their season, with a 4-3 loss to Oak Flats last Saturday keeping the Rangers without any points from their opening two fixtures and looking to their match against Kiama as a way of finally kicking their league campaign off.

While Kiama do have three points to their name already, they appear to be a very unknown quantity this season after their loss to University, so Balgownie will be hoping to catch the Quarriers on a bad day and grab a much-needed three points.

Prediction - Balgownie

Sunday 7 April

Unanderra Hearts vs Warilla Wanderers @ Unanderra Oval – 3pm

Unanderra have been one of the early surprise packages of this campaign, grabbing a pair of early wins including a 2-0 defeat over Helensburgh Thistle last round to fire the Hearts into the top four and keep their perfect season afloat. Despite a heavy 5-0 loss to Shell Cove in the Bert Bampton Cup on Wednesday night, the side will be hoping to return to top form in the league and make it three wins from three.

Warilla meanwhile picked up their first points of the season in a slim 1-0 win over Shell Cove on Saturday, with a Jack Fowler goal enough to give last season’s Grand Finalists all three points and kick-start their season after their opening round loss to Bellambi.

Both sides will be looking to make a spot in the top five a place of their own with this fixture, and the home advantage might just be enough to continue the Hearts’ strong start to the season.

Prediction - Unanderra

Preview by Cal Behrendt, on Twitter @CalBehrendt

File photo:Noel Wynn