PeopleCare District League Round 5 Preview

Friday 19 April

Shell Cove FC vs Balgownie Rangers at Barrack Heights Sports Field

Shell Cove got their season up and running with a 2-1 win over University 2-1. With a bit of a confidence boost going into the weekend, Shell Cove could ride their form to make it two wins on the trot.

Balgownie are hoping to turn it around after being on the end of a 4-0 drubbing from Bellambi. The Rangers are still one win from four to start the campaign, the opposite of how they started last season where they went on a four game win streak.

Balgownie were successful in beating Shell Cove on both occasions last year but with such high morale at Shell Cove, this may shape up to be a close encounter and we may struggle to see a winner.

Prediction: Draw

 

Berkeley Sports FC vs Warilla Wanderers at Berkeley Sports and Social Club

Berkeley are the only team left in the league yet to pick up a point this season, and have the worst defence so far, conceding an average of four goals a game. Coming off a 4-1 loss to Helensburgh, it could be interesting to see how determined the Goats are to grab those first points of the year.

The Wanderers have taken four points out of a possible 12 this campaign, including dropping points to a nine-man Picton in the last few minutes with their one-all draw on Saturday. Leading for 60 minutes could be a positive for the Wanderers but they are going into this fixture with only two goals from four games, something that could change at the expense of Berkeley.

This game has the ability to be a cagey affair. Warilla need to start finding their form up front, and this may be the game where they can.

Prediction: Warilla

 

Bellambi FC vs Kiama Quarriers FC at Elizabeth Park

Bellambi are cruising through the competition, picking up 12 points from a possible 12. They accounted for Balgownie last weekend, 4-0 and sit second on the table with 11 goals scored and only one conceded.

Kiama have only gone downhill since their round win over Thirroul with three straight defeats. The Quarriers went down to league leaders, Oak Flats on the weekend and will have a lot to improve if they wish compete in this one.

Despite Kiama holding the Rosellas to a 1-1 draw towards the end of last season, they may need something special to stop Bellambi from keeping their perfect record intact.

Prediction: Bellambi

 

Picton Rangers vs Thirroul Thunder FC at Hume Oval

The Rangers were lucky to snatch a point off Warilla last weekend when they ended the game with 9-men, losing Benjamin Roberts and Josh Maiolo. Despite being down a player for the second half, the Rangers showed great resilience to comeback to grab a draw in the final minutes.

Thirroul are also coming off a stalemate when they couldn’t be separated with Unanderra on Saturday. The Thunder have started to find their feet after two straight losses in the first two rounds. With a win at Shell Cove and draw against Unanderra, their season is slowly getting the kick-start it needed.

Both teams sit on equal points after four rounds, with only one goal scored separating them on the table. This game could be crucial for one team in pushing closer to the top five spot so three points is a must for either side.

Prediction: Draw

 

Helensburgh Thistle FC vs Oak Flats Falcons at Rex Jackson Park

Helensburgh sit alone in fourth in the competition after their 4-1 win over Berkeley on Saturday. Addison Grinham and Brad Watts leading the Thistle’s attack where they’ve scored 10 of their teams 13 goals this campaign. A win here could see them become level with the Falcons and possibly jump into the top two.

With four wins from four games, including a 2-1 win over University in the Bert Bampton cup on Tuesday night, Oak Flats aren’t a team to be written off. This form has shot them straight to the top of the table and with both Daniel Munilla and Justin Potter already netting five times each, their attacking football has been on point.

The two best attacking teams face off in what will certainly be the match of the round which could be decided by a single goal.

Prediction: Draw

 

Unanderra Hearts vs University FC at Unanderra Oval

A draw with Thirroul on Saturday keeps the Hearts just two points behind the league leaders. Daniel Saverino and Save Treneski both got on the scoresheet against the Thunder and have proved to be influential players in the Hearts success so far, with the pair scoring half the Hearts’ goals in the opening games.

In what surprised everyone based on form, the students went down to Shell Cove last round, 2-1. With a mid-week loss to the Falcons in the final minutes, they were unlucky to take the game into extra-time. Keeping the game level with the league leaders for 85 minutes could spark some resurgence in the University camp but will need to be at their best to grab the points away to Unanderra.

The two lowest teams in the competition last year have been surprising everyone with a good start so far. Both sides will be eager to stay within the top half of the ladder which will most likely result in a very close affair.

Prediction: Draw

 

Report by Nathan Turner