The third round of the BBC kicked off the Sunday before last with the introduction of Premier League teams with the last four District League sides. Bellambi, Kiama, Helensburgh and Warilla remain in the competition needing to show their worth against some of the best top division sides. There were some very interesting matchups as teams battled it out for the inaugural cup.

Sunday 12 May

Bellambi FC vs Wollongong United @ Elizabeth Park

District League heavy-weights Bellambi took on last year’s Premier League runners up in what would be one of the games of the round. Questions were asked to see if big-name players would start in this fixture or whether either side would wish to rest them on a double-header weekend.

Both sides were going into the game having played in their respective competitions the day prior. Bellambi remain as the only undefeated side out of the top two tiers with a 1-0 win over Unanderra whereas United took out reigning champions, Bulli 1-0 at Balls Paddock.

The Rosellas took out the game as 2-0 winners against a very rotated United side. Bellambi weren’t at full-strength either with half their usual line-up taking the game off. Two first half goals to Scott Mulwiyk and an own goal from Billy Tsolovos was enough for the Rosellas to advance to the final eight. Daniel Carella was unlucky to score a consolation goal in the dying stages as Jack Dugan made a fantastic double save to ensure his team kept a clean sheet.

 

Warilla Wanderers FC vs Coniston FC @ King Mickey Park

Newly promoted Coniston took on Warilla in a 2018 District League Grand-Final rematch. Again, with both teams playing the day before, both went into the match with rotated sides, with Coniston resting star players, Dinko Terzic and Kohei Enokido and also the Wanderers leaving central-defender, Drew Shaw out of the contest.

Warilla would go into the match seeking revenge from last year’s final day and gained a confidence boost and a bit of form coming off a 2-1 win over Thirroul on the Saturday. Coniston were also starting to find form in the Premier League after they knocked off strong starters, Tarrawanna 3-2 away from home.

Coniston young guns Matt Popovski and Matt Tschentscher were at their best to help the visitors to a 4-1 victory. Popovski scoring either side of half-time before late strikes to Rob Brown and Tschentscher helped Coniston to a four-goal lead going into the final 10 minutes. Warilla pulled one back in what was a mere consolation goal for the home-side as Martin Castelli casted his name on the scoresheet in stoppage time.

 

Tuesday 14 May

Cringila Lions vs Tarrawanna Blueys FC @ Crehan Park

The first all Premier League encounter saw strugglers Cringila take on high-flying Tarrawanna at Crehan Park on Tuesday night. The Blueys had already beaten the Lions in the league this year when they came from behind to secure a 4-2 victory in round 2.

Tarrawanna were too good again on this occasion taking out the game in nice fashion with a 4-1 win on a cool night. Rick Goodchild was at his best netting three times during the game and with another goal to Jacob Fryday 10 minutes from time doing more than enough for the Blueys to advance following Ibrahim Sesay’s goal early in the first half.

 

South Coast United vs Bulli FC @ Ian McLennan Park

The other early weeknight game saw title holders Bulli travel to South Coast. A mix of young and old took the field for the home side with majority of first-team players starring for the visitors as they cruised to a 6-0 victory.

Bulli surged out to a 4-0 score-line at the break with goals courtesy of Ryan Emerton, Ben McDonald and a two-minute Mitchell Del Turco brace. South Coast didn’t have much to match the dominant Bulli outfit as the visitors netted a further two more times through Del Turco again and Blake Hewson to advance to the next round of the cup.

 

Wednesday 15 May

Port Kembla vs Albion Park White Eagles @ Wetherall Park

The first Wednesday night game was another blockbuster contest with both sides sitting in 2^nd and 3^rd place respectively following the previous weekend of football. Port Kembla got the better of their opponents in round 1 with a 1-0 win and did the same again in the cup with a smashing 4-0 victory at Wetherall Park.

To some despair for the White Eagles it was a very different side to the team that had smashed South Coast 8-2 the weekend prior with only five names backing up the impressive performance. Whereas for Port Kembla, a relatively stronger side dominating on the night with Nuno Pires netting in the opening 10 minutes before a brace to young-gun Danijel Djukic either side of half-time gave the home-side bragging rights over the White Eagles yet again.

 

Helensburgh Thistle FC vs Corrimal Rangers @ Rex Jackson Oval

With this game shaping up to be one of the games of the tie, these teams did not disappoint. Both very strong attacking teams this season after the Thistle put six past University and Corrimal netting five times against Woonona, fans new it was going to be some sort of contest.

Helensburgh were out to make amends from the last time they played the Rangers which was last year in the quarter finals of the BBC when they lost 6-1. But this time they got out to a flying start when District League top goal-scorer, Addison Grinham scored inside the first 15 before Aaron Dark added to the home side’s tally just 10 minutes later. Although a deadly Corrimal outfit regained their feet to score three times in the space of three minutes with a brace from Tim Whylie and a goal from Paul Guido from the 34^th minute. Cody Cuthbertson equalised for the Thistle with four minutes to play which saw the game end level.

With circumstances beyond either teams’ control, a mutual agreement was met to send the game straight into penalties with Corrimal’s Matt Galanti scoring the deciding penalty to take out the shootout, 6-5.

 

Sunday 19 May

Wollongong Olympic vs Kiama Quarriers @ PCYC

It was David vs Goliath in this epic battle between Olympic and the Quarriers at the PCYC on Sunday. Olympic are flying high at the top of the Premier League table after their one-all draw with Bulli whereas Kiama were coming off a 3-0 win over Berkeley away from home.

As expected though, the game ended in a wash for Olympic as they flew to a 7-1 victory. The home side scored four in the first 45 minutes, including a Jamie Wakeling hat-trick. They stepped their foot off the gas a little bit scoring twice earlier in the second before Kiama had something to cheer about when Konata Kojo netted in the 70^th minute. Wakeling then scored his fourth within the last five minutes to help send Olympic to the final eight.

 

Fernhill Foxes FC vs Woonona FC @ Ray Robinson Field

The final game of the round was between 9^th placed Woonona and 10^th placed Fernhill. Sitting just three points apart on the table, this game was shaping up to be another see-saw battle as both sides were eager to continue on their winning form after their league games the day before.

Fernhill edged past Coniston at JJ Kelly Park, 2-1 and Woonona secured a 1-0 win over Cringila at home. The sides last met in round one with Woonona taking the three points in a 3-2 victory at Ray Robinson Field.

It was Woonona again getting the better of the Foxes with a tight 2-1 win to advance to the next round of the cup. The game was scoreless up until the 71^st minute when Bradley Strudwick broke the deadlock before doubling the Sharks advantage just eight minutes later. It was set out to be a spectacular finish to the game when substitute, Liam Brown pulled one back for the home side, but a strong defensive finish saw Woonona hold on.

The Youth Cup results were:

Wollongong United 11-1 Unanderra Hearts, Coniston 2-1 Warilla Wanderers, Tarrawanna 8-0 Cringila Lions, Bulli 4-1 South Coast United, Port Kembla 4-1 Albion Park W.E., Helensburgh Thistle 2-1 Corrimal Rangers, Balgownie 1-0 Wollongong Olympic, Fernhill 3-2 Woonona Sharks.

The quarter-final draw is set to be released on Tuesday night with the games to be played on the June long-weekend.

Review by Nathan Turner, on Twitter @nathanturner23_

Photo courtesy of Dana Guthrie