ILLAWARRA MERCURY PREMIER LEAGUE – ROUND 13 PREVIEW

Saturday 15 June

Bulli FC vs Woonona FC @ Balls Paddock – 2:30pm

It was a mixed week for Bulli, with the side falling to a 2-0 defeat to the high-flying Corrimal Rangers last Sunday – seeing the side drop to seventh on the ladder and two points outside the top five – but making the Bert Bampton Cup semi-finals after holding out for a 2-1 win over District League leaders Bellambi at Balls Paddock on Wednesday night. Matt Bailey’s side has struggled to find consistent form in recent weeks, with the side notching up only one win in their last five league matches. The side will be hoping to get over their local rivals and return to the winners circle as they hope to remain in touch with the top five, especially as a loss for the side could see them fall five points adrift of fifth if results don’t go their way.

Woonona also had a rollercoaster of a week last time out, with the side picking up their fourth consecutive Premier League win on Sunday thanks to a 3-1 win over Fernhill – which moved the Sharks into the top five for the first time this season – but the side saw their quest for consecutive Bert Bampton Cup semi-final appearances end at the hands of a 2-0 defeat to Port Kembla at Wetherall Park on Wednesday night. Dan McGoldrick’s side has been the form side of the league in recent weeks, with the Sharks now only three points off second place thanks to their recent purple patch. However, a loss for the Sharks against Bulli could see them slide out of the top five and potentially as low as eighth.

Bulli were in rare goalscoring form the last time these two sides faced off back in Round 2, with goals from Ben McDonald, Kyle Hazebroek-Southgate and a brace from Brendan Pattman helping the side to a 4-0 thumping of the Sharks. With Woonona last grabbing a league win over Bulli back in April 2014, the Sharks will be out to prove a point and the positive momentum created by their recent form could be just enough to get them over the line.

Prediction – Woonona FC

Wollongong United vs Albion Park White Eagles @ Macedonia Park – 2:30pm

Wollongong United had last weekend off, with the side’s Round 12 clash against Coniston postponed due to a waterlogged pitch at Macedonia Park. This meant that Oli Vrtkovski’s side temporarily slipped out of the top five as a result, with Woonona moving ahead of the side after they picked up victory in their Round 12 clash. With Wollongong United now in sixth, the side will be looking to return to the top five with a win over Albion Park and hold a vital game-in-hand as they seek to move back into the title race.

Meanwhile Albion Park were in rare form last weekend, with a six-goal haul from Cameron Morgan helping the side to a 6-1 thumping of Port Kembla on Saturday at Terry Reserve. Paul Carter’s side managed to leap past Tarrawanna with the result, moving the side into third on the ladder and now only four points off league leaders Wollongong Olympic. However, what will be slightly worrying for the side is their recent trend of winning a match and then losing the following match – with Albion Park winning three and losing two of their last five matches in an alternating pattern. This could suggest that the White Eagles are due for another loss, but the side will be hoping to carry their positive goal-scoring momentum into the clash and potentially move within one point of first.

Albion Park hold the most recent bragging rights between the two sides, with a Robert Delbanco brace helping the side to a 2-1 win over Wollongong United back in Round 2. While Wollongong United have welcomed a long break between matches, Albion Park will be raring to keep their momentum going and that could be just enough to see them take the points.

Prediction – Albion Park White Eagles

Wollongong Olympic vs Coniston FC @ PCYC – 2:30pm

Wollongong Olympic suffered one of the shock results of last round, falling 2-0 to a resurgent Cringila Lions in a game that saw Olympic’s five-point lead at the top of the ladder cut down to three. It wasn’t all bad news for George Antoniou’s side though, with Olympic’s Bert Bampton Cup defence staying afloat for another round after their 2-0 win over Corrimal Rangers on Wednesday night saw them progress to the semi-finals. A win for Olympic will keep the side at the top of the ladder and potentially open a six-point gap if results fall their way but a second consecutive defeat for the side could see them overtaken by Corrimal if the Rangers manage to get past Port Kembla.

Meanwhile Coniston had a disappointing week last time around, with the side having their clash against Wollongong United postponed due to a waterlogged pitch and losing to Tarrawanna 3-0 in a Bert Bampton Cup Quarterfinal clash, ending the side’s hopes of making their first semi-final since 2006. Jeff Allport’s side need a win to remain in touch with the top five, with the side currently five points off fifth-placed Woonona albeit with an extra game in hand but a loss for Coniston could see them stranded in ninth if results fail to go their way.

Olympic had a tough time against Coniston back in Round 2, with the side grabbing a 2-1 win thanks to goals from Julian Minutillo and Yusuke Ueda, and with the side needing to quickly return to winning ways if they want to keep their title hunt on track, they should be able to do enough to see off what will be a strong Coniston challenge.

Prediction – Wollongong Olympic

Fernhill FC vs South Coast United @ Ray Robinson Field – 2:30pm

Fernhill were unable to get the job done against an in-form Woonona side last round, going down 3-1 to the Sharks on Sunday. The loss means the Foxes have now been pulled into a relegation battle after Cringila and South Coast United both picked up wins, leaving Fernhill only three points ahead of 12^th. Bruce Tilt’s side have struggled in recent weeks, with only a 2-1 win over Coniston in Round 9 the only points gained by the side in the last five rounds. A win for the Foxes will see them move six points clear of their opponents and create come vital breathing room at the foot of the ladder.

However, South Coast United will be attempting to grab their second win of the season after the side finally broke their 2019 duck with an epic 3-2 win over Tarrawanna on Saturday. Greg Valic’s side now sits three points behind Fernhill and Cringila on the ladder and a win for the side could move them into 10^th but a loss could see them fall six points adrift of safety if Cringila get over Tarrawanna.

Neither side was able to grab the three points back in Round 2, with goals from South Coast United’s Greg Valic and Cameron Hanson cancelled out by a brace from Fernhill’s Alex Rooke in a 2-2 draw at Ian McLennan Park. However, with a gigantic three points on the line, Fernhill might just be more desperate to take the points and move away from a relegation dog-fight.

Prediction – Fernhill FC

Tarrawanna Blueys vs Cringila Lions @ Tarrawanna Oval – 2:30pm

It was an odd week for Tarrawanna, with the Blueys wasting a golden chance to close the gap in the title race by falling 3-2 to South Coast United on Saturday evening and dropping to fourth as a result of the loss. However, the side progressed to their first Bert Bampton Cup semi-final since 2015 on Monday thanks to a 3-0 win over Coniston at Tarrawanna Oval. Peter Willis’ side has been something of a Robin Hood figure in recent weeks, taking wins from the high-flying Corrimal and Albion Park but giving points to Coniston, Woonona and SCU. Tarrawanna need to show that they can grab wins over sides in the bottom half of the ladder and a win over a resurgent Cringila would prove they want to hang about in the title race.

However, Cringila will be no pushover and the side’s 2-0 win over league-leaders Wollongong Olympic helped announce to the league that the Lions will be a force to be reckoned with. Stuart Beedie has revitalized the side in recent weeks, with Cringila notching up a pair of wins and a draw since his appointment as the side is now level on points with Fernhill. A win for the Lions against Tarrawanna could push them into 10^th and potentially create a six-point gap between themselves and the bottom of the ladder, while a loss could see them slip back into last if SCU can get over Fernhill.

Tarrawanna claimed all three points when these sides met back in Round 2, with four different goal scorers helping the Blueys to a 4-2 win over Cringila. However, with Tarrawanna struggling against lower-ranked sides in recent weeks and Cringila storming up the ladder, the Lions could be on for another league-shaking win against the Blueys.

Prediction – Cringila Lions

Sunday 16 June

Port Kembla FC vs Corrimal Rangers @ Wetherall Park – 2:30pm

Port Kembla’s torrid league form continued last round, with the side on the end of a 6-1 thumping at the hands of Albion Park White Eagles, with the sides only goal coming off Albion Park’s Kyle Senior. However, Steven Dimitrievski’s side also made their first Bert Bampton Cup semi-final since 2014 on Wednesday night thanks to a 2-0 win over the in-form Woonona. Port Kembla have only taken four points out of their most recent 15 and the side has slipped to eighth as a result, but a win over Corrimal could see them jump into sixth spot on the ladder, but a loss could see Coniston overtake the side.

Meanwhile, Corrimal cut the gap at the top of the Premier League ladder to three points after the side shot to a 2-0 win over Bulli on Sunday but the side was unable to get over their title rivals Wollongong Olympic in the Bert Bampton Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday evening, going down 2-0 to the league leaders in a rematch of last season’s Bert Bampton Cup Final. Robert Jonovski’s side could potentially move into top spot with a win if Olympic lose to Coniston but a loss for the Rangers could see them slip as low as fourth.

Port Kembla grabbed all three points when these sides met back in Round 2, with a Brad Acev brace helping the side to a 2-1 win, but Port Kembla’s stuttering form could see them go down this time around to a Corrimal side who has won four of their last five league matches.

Prediction – Corrimal Rangers

Preview by Cal Behrendt, on Twitter @CalBehrendt