ILLAWARRA MERCURY PREMIER LEAGUE – ROUND 6 PREVIEW

Saturday 27 April

Woonona FC vs Coniston FC @ Ocean Park – 2:30pm

The Sharks needed a late Lachlan Newman strike to secure a point last round, holding Wollongong Olympic to a tight 2-2 draw at PCYC last Saturday to keep Woonona in touch with the top five. Dan McGoldrick’s could push into the top five if results fall their way but grabbing all three points will no doubt be the top priority for the side.

Coniston meanwhile put in a solid performance against in-form Corrimal at JJ Kelly Park on Saturday, securing a point in a 2-2 draw although results elsewhere meant the side dropped past Fernhill on the ladder. Coniston will be looking to move past Fernhill and return to 9^th with a win, but the side could be contending with fitness issues after having to travel up to Cromer Park to play Manly United in the FFA Cup 5^th qualifying round on Wednesday, a match that saw Coniston knocked out of the cup in a 3-0 defeat.

The Sharks will be hoping this fixture doesn’t go the way of the last meeting between the two clubs – a 3-2 win for Coniston back in July 2013 – but Woonona’s home advantage should be enough to push the Sharks over the line.

Prediction – Woonona

Fernhill FC vs Port Kembla FC @ Ray Robinson Field – 2:30pm

Fernhill grabbed a fantastic result last time out in a 1-0 win against defending champions Bulli at Balls Paddock last Thursday, getting the Foxes their first win of the 2019 campaign and pushing the side past Coniston on the ladder. Another win for Fernhill could see them within eyesight of a top five spot and push them into a solid mid-table position.

Port Kembla also picked up all three points last round after a Sandy Lowcock hat-trick helped to end Tarrawanna’s unbeaten start to the league campaign, with Port Kembla running out 3-0 winners at Wetherall Park last Friday. Steven Dimitrievski’s side currently sit in third place but a win over Fernhill could push the side into top spot if Tarrawanna and Wollongong Olympic drop points.

A Fabian Iacovelli brace helped Port Kembla to a 3-0 victory when these two sides last faced in August 2018 and a repeat performance could help Port Kembla lock down a spot at the top of the ladder.

Prediction – Port Kembla

Cringila Lions vs Bulli FC @ Crehan Park – 5pm

Cringila didn’t have the best day at the office last round, going down 3-0 to Albion Park White Eagles at Terry Reserve on Good Friday, but the side will be hoping to bounce back and potentially grab something from an out-of-form Bulli, with a result for the Lions potentially moving them the bottom of the ladder.

Bulli meanwhile, are coming into the match off a two-match losing streak in the league, something which has not happened to the side since August 2013, but Matt Bailey’s side will be hoping to return to winning ways and potentially move back into the top five with a result over the bottom-placed Lions.

Interestingly, it should be noted that Bulli last ended their August 2013 losing streak – which also contained a 1-0 defeat to Fernhill - with a 6-0 thumping of Cringila on the final match-day of the season, so Bulli will be looking for history to repeat itself once more to help the side return to winning ways.

Prediction – Bulli

South Coast United vs Wollongong Olympic @ Ian McLennan Park – 7pm

South Coast United were unable to get anything from their match against Wollongong United last round, conceding a pair of second half goals - including one in stoppage time - to fall to a 2-0 defeat at Macedonia Park last Saturday, leaving Greg Valic’s squad sitting in 11^th and only one point ahead of Cringila at the foot of the ladder. The side are still without a win this campaign, but a result for SCU could push them past Coniston and give them some breathing room from the relegation zone.

But their opponents in Wollongong Olympic are desperate to return to winning ways, with the side stumbling in the last few rounds, including a 2-2 draw against Woonona last Saturday at PCYC – a match where Olympic lead 2-0 before going down to ten men and conceding a pair of second-half goals. With the side also being knocked out of the FFA Cup in the past week – going down 5-3 on penalties to NPL 3 side Dulwich Hill after a 2-2 draw – George Antoniou’s squad will be hoping to return to form and SCU will be a perfect vehicle to achieve that goal.

Olympic were all over SCU last season when these two sides faced, netting eight goals across the two league fixtures and only conceding one, and a result for Olympic is needed if the side wants to stay in contact with the top of the ladder.

Prediction – Wollongong Olympic

Sunday 28 April

Tarrawanna Blueys vs Wollongong United @ Tarrawanna Oval – 2:30pm

Tarrawanna saw their unbeaten start to the campaign come crashing down last Friday, falling to a 3-0 defeat against Port Kembla at Wetherall Park but the Blueys managed to remain in the top spot for another round after Olympic drew with Woonona. If results fall their way, Tarrawanna could open up a five-point lead but the Blueys will no doubt settle for grabbing all three points against fellow top five side Wollongong United.

Wollongong United fans have enjoyed the last couple rounds, with the side grabbing six points from their last two fixtures – including a 2-0 win over South Coast United last Saturday – but more importantly the side has not conceded a goal, grabbing a pair of clean sheets and seeing the side rise into the top five. A win for Icko Atanasoski’s side could take them past Tarrawanna and lock down a spot at the top of the ladder.

The Tarrawanna-Wollongong United fixtures were some of the most exciting matchups of last season, with a 2-2 draw and a 3-2 win to United handing Wollongong United the bragging rights heading into this fixture but fans should expect a tight and entertaining match as both sides look to make a top five spot their own.

Prediction – Draw

Corrimal Rangers vs Albion Park White Eagles @ Memorial Park – 3pm

After a pair of great results against Wollongong Olympic and Wollongong United, Corrimal stumbled a little last round, only picking up a single point in a 2-2 draw with Coniston at JJ Kelly Park. The Rangers have slipped outside of the top five as a result but will be looking to move back in with a good result over fellow top five hopeful Albion Park.

Albion Park were in complete control of their match last round, with Joel Beattie, Chris Gomez and Shaun McRae getting on the scoresheet in a 3-0 victory over Cringila – pushing Paul Carter’s squad into the top five as a result. A win for Albion Park against Corrimal could see the side go top of the IPL ladder if other results fall their way but the White Eagles will be merely hoping to extend their winning run to three matches with a result over Corrimal.

It was Albion Park who grabbed all three points when these two sides last faced back in July 2018 – with the side coming back from two goals down to run out 5-2 winners – but this match is shaping up to be a lot closer as both teams stake their claims for a top five spot.

Prediction – Draw

Preview by Cal Behrendt, on Twitter @CalBehrendt

File Photo: Kiah Hufton