ILLAWARRA MERCURY DISTRICT LEAGUE – ROUND 5 PREVIEW

Thursday 18 April

Bulli FC vs Fernhill FC @ Balls Paddock – 8pm

Bulli’s undefeated start to the season came to a crashing halt against Tarrawanna, conceding two goals in the opening five minutes as Bulli fell to a 3-0 defeat at Tarrawanna Oval on Sunday. While Matt Bailey’s side retained their spot in the top three despite the loss, a return to winning form is a must if Bulli want to remain in the top five come Easter Monday.

Meanwhile the Foxes struggled to find the back of the net last round, being held to a tight 0-0 draw against Cringila at Ray Robinson Field on Saturday. Bruce Tilt’s side have the chance to move past Coniston and into ninth with a positive result but facing up against last season’s champions will be a big ask for the side.

It was Bulli who claimed all three points when these sides last faced at Balls Paddock back in April 2018, with a Marcus Beattie hat-trick helping the side rocket to an 8-0 thumping of the Foxes and while this match might not meet that score line, Bulli will be hoping to replicate the end result.

Prediction – Bulli FC

Friday 19 April

Port Kembla FC vs Tarrawanna Blueys @ Wetherall Park – 2:30pm

Port Kembla struggled to see off a ten-man South Coast United at Wetherall Park last Saturday, laboring to a 1-1 draw with the 11^th-placed side and relinquishing their chance to move into the top three. A win for Port Kembla could see the side rise into second place should results fall their way, but a loss to the Blueys could see Port Kembla drop out of the top five.

Meanwhile the Blueys can be assured of their top two status for at least this round, after a brace from Yusuke Maruyama and a Stephen Lloyd strike helped Tarrawanna down Bulli 3-0 on Sunday to extend their winning start to four matches, their longest winning streak in the league since June 2013. Another win for the Blueys could help them make the top spot their own, especially if fellow title contenders drop points.

Both teams picked up a win when facing each other in the league last season, but with Tarrawanna’s bright start to the season Port Kembla will have a challenge to break the Blueys down.

Prediction – Tarrawanna Blueys

Albion Park White Eagles vs Cringila Lions @ Terry Reserve – 5pm

Albion Park had a good day in front of goal last round, with a goal from Yuki Uno and braces from Cameron Morgan and Joel Beattie helping the Eagles to a 5-2 win over Coniston at Terry Reserve. Paul Carter’s side have a perfectly balanced record of two wins and two losses so far this season, but the squad will be hoping to pick up their third victory of the season against bottom-placed Cringila.

The Lions meanwhile grabbed their first point of the season last round, with a tense 0-0 draw against Fernhill at Ray Robinson Field on Saturday enough to break the Lions’ duck for the 2019 season. A win for the Lions could see them rise out of the bottom three but with the side having shipped 12 goals in their initial four matches a great defensive performance will be needed to get anything against a tough Albion Park squad.

It should be noted that Cringila have not beaten Albion Park since April 2017 - when an 89^th minute Todd Sparks strike was enough to give the Lions the win – but with a much needed three points on the line, Cringila fans will be hoping for a repeat performance from the squad to get a result.

Prediction – Albion Park White Eagles

Saturday 20 April

Coniston FC vs Corrimal Rangers @ JJ Kelly Park – 2:30pm

Coniston were on the receiving end of a 5-2 defeat to Albion Park White Eagles at Terry Reserve last round, but Jeff Allport’s side will be hoping to return to winning ways against Corrimal at the club’s Old Boys day at JJ Kelly Park. While Coniston have struggled defensively so far this season conceding 12 goals in their opening four fixtures – the equal worst in the league alongside Cringila – a win for the side could see them push past Wollongong United, Woonona and Albion Park White Eagles and into the top half of the ladder.

But their opponents will be no pushover, with Corrimal ending Wollongong Olympic’s undefeated start to the season on Sunday thanks to a 1-0 victory which sent the Rangers into the top four. Defence has been a strong point in Robert Jonovski’s side over the opening four matches, with Corrimal only conceding three goals so far this campaign, but they will need to be on top form to secure the result and make their spot in the top four a little more comfortable.

The last time Coniston faced Corrimal was back in August 2015 when both sides were in the District League and it was the Rangers who prevailed 2-0 on that occasion and a similar result for Corrimal on Saturday would surely help stake their claim for a top five spot.

Prediction – Corrimal Rangers

Wollongong Olympic vs Woonona FC @ PCYC – 2:30pm

Wollongong Olympic were removed from the top spot on the Premier League ladder on Sunday following a 1-0 defeat to Corrimal Rangers which saw George Antoniou’s side lose grasp of their undefeated start to the 2019 campaign. The side also has the stress of their 4^th Round FFA Cup Qualifying match against NPL 3 Dulwich Hill FC at Valentine Sports Park in Glenwood on Wednesday night before facing the Sharks, but if Olympic can grab two wins in four days it will be a quick return to a winning mentality.

Meanwhile Woonona missed out on a chance to break into the top three on Saturday, going down 3-0 to a resurgent Wollongong United side. While the Sharks dropped out of the top five as a result of the defeat, a win for Woonona could see the side rise back into the top five if results fall their way.

The Sharks don’t have recent history on their side however, with their last league win over Olympic – a 4-0 thumping at PCYC - coming in May 2014 but heading into a match against a potentially tired Olympic side, the Sharks could have a solid chance at grabbing something from the match.

Prediction – Wollongong Olympic

Wollongong United vs South Coast United @ Macedonia Park – 5pm

Wollongong United returning to winning ways last round with a 3-0 win over Woonona last Saturday thanks to a brace from Hikaru Kawasakiya and a strike from Matthew McNab in his first match of the season, but Icko Atanasoski’s side will be hoping to move into the top five with a result against South Coast United and keep the momentum rolling at the same time.

However South Coast United will be buoyed by their solid hit out against Port Kembla last round, where the side was able to secure a 1-1 draw despite going down to ten men after Chris Valic received a pair of yellow cards. A result for SCU would see them creep away from the bottom of the ladder, but with only three goals scored to date this season, Greg Valic’s side will need to find some attacking strength to get anything out of Wollongong United.

It is South Coast United who have the most recent bragging rights between the two sides – with an Ivan Bratjanscak strike all that separated the two teams last time they played in August – but both sides will be hoping for a result that accelerates them up the ladder.

Prediction – Wollongong United

Preview by Cal Behrendt, on Twitter @CalBehrendt