ILLAWARRA MERCURY PREMIER LEAGUE – ROUND 8 PREVIEW

Saturday 11 May

Bulli FC vs Wollongong United @ Balls Paddock – 2:30pm

The match of the round sees a rematch of last season’s Grand Final, where Bulli broke a 32-year drought to claim victory in a tight 3-2 win over Wollongong United. Both sides have been picking up speed in recent weeks, with Matt Bailey’s Bulli claiming a 2-1 win over Port Kembla last round to move them into 3^rd place, with a win over Wollongong United potentially sending the side top if results fall their way.

Meanwhile Wollongong United enter the fixture off the back of a 6-1 victory over Fernhill, where the side overcame a 1-0 deficit at the break to storm to victory and sit one point outside the top five. However, the club has gone through a brief phase of uncertainty this week as First Grade coach Icko Atanasoski resigned earlier in the week, which will leave some questions as to how Wollongong United will operate heading into the fixture.

Wollongong United handed Bulli their only defeat during their 2018 league campaign with a 1-0 win in May 2018, but since that match Bulli has beaten Wollongong United twice – with a 4-0 thumping in July 2018 and a 3-2 win in last season’s Grand Final. However, with both sides having undergone some large changes since that historic day in September, a draw looks all over the cards here.

Prediction – Draw

Woonona FC vs Corrimal Rangers @ Ocean Park – 2:30pm

Woonona continued their fluctuating season last round, picking up a 1-1 draw against Albion Park White Eagles, which saw the side drop into 9^th place after Coniston claimed victory over South Coast United. Dan McGoldrick’s side has shipped 17 goals so far this campaign - the second worst in the league behind Cringila - but the Sharks sit three points ahead of Fernhill on the ladder despite this and if the side can grab a result over Corrimal, then Woonona will likely be closer to the top five than the bottom three.  

However, Corrimal are coming into the match off the back of a fantastic scoring display, with Van Elia’s five goal haul helping the Rangers to a 6-2 win over Cringila and putting the Rangers within two points of a top five spot. Robert Jonovski’s side are in the middle of a purple patch of goal-scoring form – finding the back of the net an average of four times a match across the last three games – and another good display could see the side shoot into the top five.

The Sharks will be bolstered by recent history however, with Corrimal only taking maximum points against Woonona in the league once in the past two seasons compared to Woonona’s two, but Rangers fans will note that the side’s 3-0 win over the Sharks in last season’s Bert Bampton Cup Semi-Final was a much more important victory that the Sharks will look to avenge.

Prediction – Corrimal

Fernhill FC vs Wollongong Olympic @ Ray Robinson Field – 2:30pm

Fernhill have had a tough time in recent weeks, with the side conceding nine goals across the two fixtures the Foxes have played since their 1-0 win over Bulli in Round 5, including six in the second-half of their Round 7 match against Wollongong United as the side fell to a 6-1 defeat. Bruce Tilt’s side currently sits in 10^th on the ladder with a three-point gap both directions, so a result for the Foxes could help them catch up with the rest of the ladder but another defeat could see the side slide back towards the relegation zone.

Meanwhile their opponents in Wollongong Olympic will be looking to make top spot more comfortable after moving into the spot last round, with Yusuke Ueda and John Martinoski helping Olympic down Tarrawanna Blueys 2-0. George Antoniou’s side could open up a four-point gap if results fall their way this weekend but at the very least the side will be looking to continue extend their winning streak to three matches.

Fernhill failed to score a goal last season against Olympic in the league – going down 2-0 and 4-0 respectively – and that streak looks to have continued in the Fraternity Club Preseason Cup where the side went down 2-0 to Olympic in Group A. Whether the Foxes can turn it around and shock the league once again remains to be seen.

Prediction – Wollongong Olympic

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

After three rounds on top of the Illawarra Premier League table, Tarrawanna were overtaken by Wollongong Olympic after the Blueys fell to a 2-0 defeat to Olympic on Saturday. Peter Willis’ side currently sit in 2^nd and could retake top spot with a result and if other results fall their way but a defeat to Coniston may also see the Blueys drop to fifth place.

Meanwhile, things have seemed to finally click for Jeff Allport’s Coniston, with the side recording their second consecutive win in the league – something Coniston have not accomplished in the top tier since September 2012 – in a 2-0 win over South Coast United on Saturday. The side currently sit in 8^th place, having overtaken Woonona as a result of the win and another result for Coniston could see the side sneak into the top five if results fall their way.

It was the Blueys’ who got over the top of Coniston when these two sides last faced back in June 2013 – running out to a 3-0 win – and while Coniston look to have become quickly comfortable with life back in the Premier League, grabbing a result over Tarrawanna may look to be a bridge too far for now.

Prediction – Tarrawanna

South Coast United vs Albion Park White Eagles @ Ian McLennan Park – 6:30pm

South Coast United’s struggles continued last round, with the side falling to a 2-0 defeat against Coniston to keep the side locked in 11^th place on the IPL ladder. Greg Valic’s side could overtake Fernhill and move away from bottom-placed Cringila with a result over Albion Park, but the side will likely need to overcome their struggles in front of goal to grab a result – with SCU only having four goals to their name so far this season.

Meanwhile their opponents will be hoping to return to winning ways after Albion Park could only manage a point in a 1-1 draw against Woonona, keeping the side in 5^th on the ladder. Paul Carter’s side could make their spot in the top five more comfortable with a win this weekend, but anything less than all three points could push the White Eagles out of the top five all-together.

The last time these two sides clashed saw a share of the spoils, with Albion Park coming back from a goal down to secure a 2-2 draw against South Coast United in June 2018 in a match which saw SCU pick up their second point of the season, but with Albion Park once again looking to keep in the top five hunt, it will require another fantastic performance from SCU to grab anything from this match.

Prediction – Albion Park

Sunday 12 May

Cringila Lions vs Port Kembla FC @ Crehan Park – 2:30pm

Last round was not the result Cringila were looking for when the side took on Corrimal Rangers, falling to a 6-2 defeat with the only bright spots for the Lions being a pair of Alex Mojsoski goals in the final 15 minutes. Zivko Jovanovski’s squad remain bottom of the league after seven matches, but a result over Port Kembla could potentially push the side ahead of South Coast United.

Meanwhile, it was a difficult weekend for Port Kembla, with the side going down 2-1 to Bulli in an emotional match for the club after the passing of young goalkeeper Colin Heapy. Steven Dimitrievski’s side dropped to 4^th as a result of the defeat but a return to winning ways against Cringila could see the side take top spot if results fall their way.

Port Kembla struggled to get past the Lions last season, only managing to find the back of the net twice against Cringila in a 1-0 win and a 1-1 draw on the final match-day of the 2018 campaign. With Port Kembla’s top five aspirations under threat, the side will be hoping the Lions do not prove to be a potential banana peel once again.

Prediction – Port Kembla

Preview by Cal Behrendt, on Twitter @CalBehrendt

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