ILLAWARRA MERCURY PREMIER LEAGUE – ROUND 14 PREVIEW

Saturday 22 June

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

Cringila’s mid-season revival continued last round, with goals from Anthony Romeo and Takao Teramoto firing the Lions to a 2-0 win over top-five side Tarrawanna at Tarrawanna Oval on Saturday. Stuart Beedie’s side have moved up to 10^th as a result of the win, with their upcoming opponents now firmly in their sights. A win for Cringila would send the Lions within a point of Coniston but a defeat could see the side slip back behind Fernhill if the Foxes can grab a win against Tarrawanna.

Meanwhile Coniston missed a chance to move up the ladder last round, falling 2-1 to league-leading Wollongong Olympic at PCYC on Saturday. Jeff Allport’s side has struggled for form in recent weeks, with the side’s loss to Olympic the latest in a five-game winless streak across all competitions for the club. A win for Coniston could prove vital as they attempt to remain in the top-five hunt, with a win potentially sending them into seventh on the ladder but the side will also be keeping an eye on their rescheduled Round 12 clash against Wollongong United which is currently scheduled for Tuesday evening.

The Round 3 fixture between the two sides was the first win collected by Coniston in their return to the Premier League this season, with the side running out 3-1 winners over the Lions thanks to goals from Matthew Tschentscher, Dinko Terzic and Yuki Samoto. However, the side will have a tough time going up against a resurgent Lions outfit and Cringila will be looking to close the gap and potentially spark a late finals push with a win on Saturday.

Prediction – Cringila Lions

Wollongong United vs Corrimal Rangers @ Macedonia Park – 2:30pm

Wollongong United were left frustrated last round, going down 2-0 to Albion Park White Eagles at Macedonia Park on Saturday and leaving the side two points adrift of fifth-placed Tarrawanna. While Oli Vrtkovski’s side have a game in hand over most of their top-five challengers – United are due to play their rescheduled Round 12 match against Coniston on Tuesday at Macedonia Park – the side will be attempting to return to the winners circle with a victory over Corrimal, with a win potentially sending United back into the top five at the expense of Tarrawanna if the Blueys fail to get over Fernhill.

However, Corrimal will be no pushover for United, with the Rangers storming to a 5-1 thumping of Port Kembla last Sunday at Wetherall Park. Corrimal continued their strong goal-scoring form in the match, finding the back of the net five times in the second half to keep the gap between themselves and league leaders Wollongong Olympic at three points. Robert Jonovski’s side could move into top spot with a win on Saturday but a loss could see the Rangers slip behind Albion Park White Eagles.

Corrimal will be confident of keeping their recent good form over Wollongong United, with the side having won their last three league encounters against their opponents – including a 4-0 thumping back in Round 3 – and with Corrimal seeking to keep their title campaign rolling, they should be able to see off a spirited Wollongong United challenge and claim the points.

Prediction – Corrimal Rangers

Woonona FC vs Port Kembla FC @ Ocean Park – 2:30pm

Woonona continued to stake their claim as the most in-form side of the league last round, sailing to a 3-0 win over local rivals Bulli at Balls Paddock on Saturday. Dan McGoldrick’s side has now won five straight league games and this purple patch of form has shot the Sharks up to fourth on the ladder – four points ahead of sixth placed Wollongong United. Woonona could jump Albion Park and move into third with a win over Port Kembla on Saturday and the Sharks will be looking to their revived defence to help get the job done against Port Kembla, with Woonona only conceding two goals in their last five league games.

Meanwhile Port Kembla’s struggles in the league continued last round, with the side taking a first half lead over Corrimal thanks to a Sandy Lowcock strike only to fall to a 5-1 defeat at Wetherall Park on Sunday. Steven Dimitrievski’s side have now lost four of their last five games and the side has not picked up a league win since Round 8, tumbling out of the top five and seeing the side land in eighth. A win for Port Kembla is vital if the side wants to remain in the finals conversation, but a loss could see them overtaken by Coniston and fall seven points adrift of a top five spot.

Interestingly, Port Kembla’s only victory in the past month has come at the expense of the Sharks, with the side edging past Woonona 2-0 in the Bert Bampton Cup Quarter-final on June 12^th. However, it is the Sharks who have the most recent bragging rights in the league, with goals from Jesse French and Lachlan Newman helping Woonona to a 2-0 win back in Round 3. With the most in-form side going up against one of the sides most out of form, the Sharks should be able to keep their strong run going with a win.

Prediction – Woonona FC

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

Tarrawanna’s recent struggles continued last round, with the side falling 2-0 to a resurgent Cringila at Tarrawanna Oval on Saturday – the first time the Blueys have lost to the Lions at Tarrawanna Oval since 2008. As a result, Peter Willis’ side now sits in fifth on the ladder, two points ahead of Wollongong United but with United having a game in hand, the Blueys need to pick up points quickly if they want to remain in the top five. The Blueys have lost three matches in a row but they will be hopeful to return to winning ways against Fernhill and keep their top five spot for another week.

Meanwhile Fernhill were unable to drag themselves out a relegation battle last round, drawing 2-2 with last-placed South Coast United in a result that saw the Foxes drop to 11^th on the ladder, now only three points ahead of SCU. Bruce Tilt’s squad has been shy in front of goal this season, with the Foxes the only side scoring at a rate of less than one goal a game. Fernhill will need to find the back of the net against Tarrawanna if the side wants to push away from the foot of the ladder and attempt to reclaim the spot that Cringila nabbed from the side last round.

A lone Stephen Lloyd strike was enough to hand Tarrawanna all three points when these sides met back in Round 3, with the Blueys taking a 1-0 win at Ray Robinson Field. While both sides have been struggling for form of late, the desire for the Blueys to keep their spot in the top five might just be enough to get them over the line in what should be a close encounter.

Prediction – Tarrawanna Blueys

Albion Park White Eagles vs Wollongong Olympic @ Terry Reserve – 3pm

Albion Park threw their hat in the title challenge ring last round, with goals from Cameron Morgan and Yuki Uno helping see off Wollongong United 2-0 at Macedonia Park on Saturday to keep the White Eagles four points off top spot. Paul Carter’s side could cut that gap down to one point with a win over the league leaders on Saturday as the side attempts to win a third match on the trot, but a loss could see the side overtaken by Woonona. Albion Park will no doubt be looking to an in-form Cameron Morgan to help the side over the line, with the striker shooting to second on the goalscoring charts off the back of good performances against Port Kembla and Wollongong United in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, Wollongong Olympic ensured they remained in top spot last round with a 2-1 win over Coniston at PCYC on Saturday, leaving George Antoniou’s side three points ahead of Corrimal at the top of the ladder. With eight games remaining after their clash with the White Eagles, Olympic can take a huge step forward in their title hunt with a win over Albion Park, but a loss could see the side drop to second if Corrimal grab a win over Wollongong United.

Wollongong Olympic sailed to all three points when these two sides last faced back in Round 3, with Matt Floro, Ekoue D’Almedia and Jamie Wakeling helping the side to a 3-0 win at PCYC. In what should be a bumper clash between two of the top sides in the league, Wollongong Olympic might just have enough desire to keep hold of their top spot in order for them to grab the three points in this match.

Prediction – Wollongong Olympic

South Coast United vs Bulli FC @ Ian McLennan Park – 6:30pm

South Coast United were unable to net consecutive wins last round, drawing 2-2 with Fernhill at Ray Robinson Field on Saturday and leaving the side three points behind the Foxes at the bottom of the ladder. Greg Valic’s side will take solace in their recent goalscoring form – with the seven goals the side has scored in their past three fixtures equating to over half of their total season haul to date – and SCU will be hoping that a win over Bulli pushes them past Fernhill at the foot of the ladder.

However, Bulli will be keen to return to the winner’s circle against SCU, with the side falling to a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Woonona – their equal worst result of their campaign to date - last Saturday at Balls Paddock. Matt Bailey’s side sit in seventh as a result of the loss, with the side three points adrift of fifth-placed Tarrawanna. A win for Bulli could potentially push the side back into the top five if results fall their way but a third successive loss could see the side overtaken by Port Kembla and Coniston.

Bulli have eased to victory in the two fixtures between the sides this season – grabbing a 3-0 win back in Round 3 and storming to a 6-0 victory in the Bert Bampton Cup Round of 16 – but while Bulli will be expected to secure the three points once again, South Coast United will be keen to show they cannot be counted out and will be hopeful that they can pounce on a inconsistent Bulli side and nab a surprise result.

Prediction – Bulli FC

Preview by Cal Behrendt, on Twitter @CalBehrendt