ILLAWARRA MERCURY PREMIER LEAGUE – ROUND 4 PREVIEW

Saturday 13 April

Woonona FC vs Wollongong United @ Ocean Park – 2:30pm

The Sharks grabbed their second win of the season with a 2-0 victory over Port Kembla on Saturday and continued their FFA Cup run on Wednesday night with a 3-1 win over NPL 2 side GFHA Spirit. A win against Wollongong United could see Dan McGoldrick’s side move into the top three, which would be a fantastic showing from the side this early in the season.

Meanwhile their opponents in Wollongong United are hoping to quickly turn it around in the league after the side ended up on the wrong end of a 4-0 thumping from Corrimal Rangers last Sunday. A 4-1 win against Kemps Creek United in the FFA Cup on Wednesday night will be an encouraging result for Icko Atanasoski’s side, who will be hoping to return to the top half of the ladder with a positive result.

It should be noted that the last time the Sharks beat Wollongong United in the league was a 6-0 thrashing back in August 2016, so a similar result would no doubt please Woonona fans, but this might be a match that is too close to call.

Prediction - Draw

Fernhill FC vs Cringila Lions @ Ray Robinson Field – 2:30pm

Fernhill are yet to pick up their first win of the 2019 campaign, with the Foxes going down 1-0 to undefeated Tarrawanna last Saturday in a tight match. Bruce Tilt’s men will be looking for a way to move away from the foot of the ladder and a result against Cringila will certainly create that passage for the side.

Cringila on the other hand are yet to receive their first points of the season, with the side losing their third straight league match in a row on Saturday, going down 3-1 to Coniston, with substitute Jake Webster the lone scorer for the Lions.

There is a lot to play for here between these two sides, and while Fernhill won both of their encounters against Cringila last season, the Foxes might need to be at their best to ensure all three points.

Prediction – Fernhill

Port Kembla FC vs South Coast United @ Wetherall Park – 2:30pm

Port Kembla saw their undefeated start to the season come crashing down in the final 20 minutes of their match against Woonona last Saturday, ending up losing 2-0, but the side remains in the top four despite the setback and a win here for Steven Dimitrievski’s squad could move them into the top three come the end of the round.

Meanwhile South Coast United picked up their second loss of the league campaign in a 3-0 loss to Bulli but Greg Valic’s men will be hoping to pick up their first win of the season and move away from the foot of the ladder.

South Coast United last beat Port Kembla back in July 2016, so the side might need to produce something special to grab all three points at Wetherall.

Prediction – Port Kembla

Albion Park White Eagles vs Coniston FC @ Terry Reserve – 3pm

Albion Park were unable to grab their second win of the season against a strong Wollongong Olympic side, going down 3-0 at PCYC last Sunday, but Paul Carter’s squad will be hoping to move back into the top half of the ladder with a win over Coniston.

Meanwhile Coniston picked up their first win of the season last Saturday when Jeff Allport’s squad flew to a 3-1 victory over Cringila, with goals to Matt Tschentscher, Dinko Terzic and Yuki Samoto guiding the side to their first win of the campaign and their first victory in the Illawarra Premier League since 2013. Coniston also progressed to the 5^th round of FFA Cup Qualifying on Wednesday night with a thumping 6-0 win over West Ryde Rovers.

With both sides desperate to grab a win and move towards the top five, the White Eagles’ home advantage might just be enough to see them grab the three points.

Prediction – Albion Park White Eagles

Sunday 14 April

Tarrawanna Blueys vs Bulli FC @ Tarrawanna Oval – 2:30pm

Tarrawanna are only one of two sides yet to drop any points this season, with the Blueys making it three league wins from three with a slim 1-0 win over Fernhill on Saturday. Peter Willis’ squad will be hoping to extend this good start to the season – one which got even better with a 4-2 win over NPL 2 side Rydalmere Lions in the FFA Cup 4^th Round Qualifying on Wednesday night – and potentially move into outright first place with results going their way.

But Bulli are no pushover, with the side picking up their second victory of the league campaign on Saturday with a 3-0 victory over South Coast United. Matt Bailey’s side was able to continue their undefeated streak to 22 matches with a 1-0 win over Sydney CBD FC in the FFA Cup 4^th Round Qualifying on Tuesday night and a win against Tarrawanna would see the side move into the top two.

This match is shaping up to be one of the top picks of the round, with two of the three sides yet to lose a match this season facing off in what promises to be a tightly fought match. A lone goal either way could end up deciding this fixture.

Prediction - Draw

Corrimal Rangers vs Wollongong Olympic @ Memorial Park – 3pm

Corrimal had the result of the round last Sunday after goals to Matthew Galanti, Banri Kanaizumi, Van Elia and Tomoki Wada helped the Rangers to fire past Wollongong United in a 4-0 thumping, helping Corrimal rise to 6^th on the ladder. A result for Robert Jonovski’s squad against Olympic would see the Rangers potentially move into the top five, a great spot to sit in after the opening four fixtures.

But they have a big ask to depose the top-of-the-table Wollongong Olympic, who picked up their third consecutive win of the league campaign on Sunday with a 3-0 rollover of Albion Park White Eagles, with goals to Matt Floro, Ekoue D’Almeida and Jamie Wakeling ensuring that George Antoniou’s squad remain only one of two sides yet to drop points in the 2019 league campaign.

Both sides came out of last round with a pair of good results, but this match is shaping up as one that could go either way.

Prediction - Draw

Preview by Cal Behrendt, on Twitter @CalBehrendt