PEOPLECARE DISTRICT LEAGUE – ROUND 10 PREVIEW

Saturday 25 May

Shell Cove vs Picton Rangers @ Barrack Heights Sportsfield 3 pm

Shell Cove continued their disappointing start to the season last round, going down 4-2 to Unanderra Hearts, extending a poor run of form in which the side have lost their last five games and have conceded 18 goals in the process. This means they are only one point in front of Berkeley at the bottom of the ladder. Rob Mihajlov’s side have had issues at both ends of the pitch so far this season, scoring the second-least amount of goals and conceding the second most. A marked improvement from the side will be needed in order to grab a result over Picton. But the Rangers’ record against sides below them this season - in which they are yet to lose a match against lower-ranked opposition, suggests it will be a tough challenge for Shell Cove to overcome.

Meanwhile, their opponents in Picton are also coming into the fixture off the back of a loss, with the Rangers going down 2-1 last round to league leaders Bellambi, leaving the side four points off the top five. A lack of consistency has been an issue for Mick Rowles’ side so far this campaign, with the Rangers yet to string two consecutive league wins together. However, a win for the side could see them move within a point of the top five if University lose to Thirroul.

It has been a change of scenery since the last time these sides met in the league, with both sides facing off in the Premier League back in August 2016 where the Rangers got up in a 3-2 win. Both teams will be looking to the claim a vital three points with a win, with a victory for the Rangers potentially putting them within a point of the top five if University lose to Thirroul, while a Shell Cove win could potentially create some space from bottom-placed Berkeley and push them back towards the middle of the table.

Picton will be gunning to keep the pressure on the top five and will be confident of getting a result against a struggling Shell Cove side.

Prediction - Picton

 

Bellambi Rosellas vs Berkeley Sports @ Elizabeth Park 3 pm

It’s first place against last place at Elizabeth Park as the Rosellas hope to extend their unbeaten run in the league to ten matches when they take on Berkeley. While a 2-1 win at Hume Oval last round against Picton was enough to keep the Rosellas in top spot after the opening nine rounds, the side will be hoping to do better than themselves than this time last season, with a win over the Goats handing them a one point improvement over their standing from this time last season.

Meanwhile, Berkeley extended their tough start to the season, with the side now going nine rounds without a win after a 3-0 defeat to Kiama - becoming only one of two sides this season who failed to find the back of the net against the Quarriers which further highlights the sides’ shyness in front of goal, only finding the back of the net nine times this season. The Goats need to start picking up points if they are to avoid a potential relegation battle, but it is unlikely to happen this weekend as they go up against the current leaders of the District League.

However, it was this time last year that the Rosellas received their first defeat of their campaign, going down 2-1 to eventual champions Coniston. Furthermore, the Goats were just one of three teams to take points off Bellambi last season, when they drew 1-1 in round 18. The visitors will look to this as inspiration to gain their first win of the season, but the Rosellas have been relentless in their assault on top spot and will be confident of extending their invincible run to ten games.

Prediction - Bellambi

 

Balgownie Rangers vs Warilla Wanderers @ Judy Masters Oval 3 pm

Both Balgownie and Warilla have had inconsistent seasons so far, sitting in the bottom half of the table with just a point separating the two sides heading into round ten. The Rangers were hit for six by Helensburgh in a 6-2 loss last round which extended Balgownie’s winless run to four matches, while Warilla were also defeated in round nine in a 3-1 loss to University - their fifth loss of the campaign.

Balgownie are yet to pick up a win at Judy Masters Oval this season and with James Dummett’s side struggling to find form, the side might need something special to grab a result over Warilla and stay in the conversation for a top five spot.

Meanwhile, Warilla are still the lowest scorers in the division with just six goals to their name this campaign. This means on average they are scoring less than two goals per game, which is what the bottom three sides were averaging last season. The Wanderers need to improve in this department if they are going to avoid being sucked into a potential relegation scrap, with Balgownie potentially proving to be the perfect game for them to improve that statistic as the Rangers are conceding on average 2.6 goals per game this season. This could provide plenty of opportunities for the Wanderers to get some confidence back in front of goal.

Neither side are able to drop points this weekend but Balgownie’s poor record at home and recent form suggest the Wanderers could go above their opponents with a win on Saturday.

Prediction - Warilla

 

Oak Flats Falcons vs Unanderra Hearts @ Keith Bond Oval 3 pm

This is potentially the game of the round as the 4th placed Oak Flats take on the 3rd placed Unanderra as both sides seek to remain in the title hunt. Last round, the Falcons were shocked 2-1 by Thirroul in what was only their second defeat of the season while the Hearts had a very different round nine result, getting up 4-2 against Shell Cove. These results mean the sides are separated by just a point going into round ten.

Oak Flats have a much better start to the season in comparison to 2018, having earned nine more points. The Falcons’ improvement this season means they are comfortably in the top five at the moment and are searching for a win that could potentially send them within three points of top spot. Oak Flats have also been resolute defensively this season, conceding just ten goals - the second-best record of any side in the division. This sets out some positive credentials for the hosts heading into this clash.

But the Hearts will be no pushover, with the side already rocketing past their points total of last season and staking a good claim for finals football this time around. However, the side has struggled for consistent defensive form in recent weeks, with them failing to keep a clean sheet for the previous six rounds. They will need to improve in that aspect if they are to topple the Falcons on Saturday.

A win will help both sides stake their claim for a top three finish, but Oak Flats will be determined to get back in the winners' circle after last week’s disappointment. The Falcons should have the quality to produce a winning performance which would see them go above their opponents.

Prediction - Oak Flats

 

Kiama Quarriers vs Helensburgh Thistle @ Kiama Sporting Complex 3 pm

It was a mixed bag for Kiama last weekend, with the side winning 3-0 against Berkeley on Saturday but being shown the door in the Bert Bampton Cup Round of 16 on Sunday after a 7-1 pumping at the hands of Premier League leaders Wollongong Olympic. The latter result reflects a trend this season for Kiama, with the Quarriers conceding a staggering 46 goals across all competitions this season, equating to nearly four goals per game.

The Thistle will be confident of inflicting more damage on the home side this weekend, with Helensburgh currently the leading scorers in the division with a tally of 36 goals. More than half of that tally has come in their past four fixtures as the Thistle have hit a purple-patch of goalscoring form. Addison Grinham has been in exceptional form this year, having the highest goal return of any player across the top two divisions. He will be relishing going up against a side who have leaked the most goals in the division.

A win for Helensburgh will keep the pressure on Bellambi at the top of the table, but they could go top if the Rosellas fail to get the job done against Berkeley, while three points for Kiama could send them as high as sixth if Picton, Thirroul and Balgownie all fail to win.

Kiama will no doubt take a draw against one of the form sides of the division especially considering their opponents attacking prowess, but with the Thistle’s seemingly unstoppable front line and winning run since round three, another three points for Helensburgh appears to be on the cards.

Prediction - Helensburgh

 

University vs Thirroul Thunder @ Kooloobong Oval 3 pm

University got back to winning ways last weekend with a 3-1 win against Warilla at King Mickey Park, with the Students’ fifth victory of the season seeing the side go four points clear of sixth place. Thirroul also picked up a victory in round nine with a 2-1 victory against an Oak Flats side that have been one of the form sides of the competition this season, with the win helping the Thunder jump up to seventh - five points behind University.

The Students’ form of late has been mixed, winning three out of their last five games as well as the side showing defensive issues this season, with Jake Howard’s side only keeping two clean sheets so far. However, University are showing no such issues up front, scoring 28 goals - the third highest in the division. They will need to rely on this attacking quality on Saturday if they are to get past the Thunder.

Thirroul meanwhile, have struggled this season, having won just three games to date. The Thunder have also had a tough time defensively, keeping just one clean sheet. They, however, did get the better of their opponents the last time the sides met with a 2-0 victory at Thomas Gibson Park in August 2018.

A result over Thirroul could mean a lot for University as the two sides in front of them go head-to-head. A win for the Students could see them go within three points of 3rd if there is a stalemate between Oak Flats and Unanderra, while a win for Thirroul would close the gap between them and their opponents to just two points.

It will be an interesting encounter with both sides showing defensive lapses in previous games but the Students’ attacking impetus should be enough to see them over the line.

Prediction - University

 

Preview by Timothy Gibson, on Twitter @Timg123_

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