Round 14 Preview

Saturday 22 June

Oak Flats Falcons vs Berkeley Sports FC @ Keith Bond Oval

The Falcons will be looking to continue their strong run of results as they search for their fifth straight win. Last week’s 1-0 victory over Balgownie saw them become level on points with Helensburgh in second place. Oak Flats trail the Thistle on goal difference- 18 goals to be exact - so finishing level with them won’t be an option come seasons end, making this and every encounter crucial.

Whereas for Berkeley, their winless run continues and drags into 13 games- having only drawn twice in this period. They sit on just two points and are seven points below Kiama at the foot of the table. Their 3-0 loss to Picton was another sign of misery for the Goats still on the search for the first three points of the campaign. Attacking flare is missing at Berkeley as they have average less than a goal a game.

The last meeting between the two sides was a 3-0 win to the Falcons and it’s shaping up to be a repeat of the round three fixture this time round.

Prediction: Oak Flats

 

University FC vs Bellambi FC @ Kooloobong Oval

The Students have started the second-half of the campaign like they did the first- on the end of consecutive wins. Their 5-2 win over Balgownie in round 12 was followed with a comfortable 3-0 win against Kiama on Sunday. University are in fine attacking form having scored eight in the last two games- which sees them push up to the third best attack in the league, something that will be definitely tested this week as they tackle a strong defensive outfit in Bellambi.

The Rosellas are still yet to lose this campaign but dropped their second set of points when they drew nil-all with Thirroul on Sunday. They also missed the chance to widen the gap at the top of the table after Helensburgh’s draw with Unanderra. They’ll be looking at in-form attacking player, Ben Ellul who has found the net four times in his last four games in both the league and BBC to help them out in this one.

The reverse fixture between the sides saw Bellambi beat a 10-man University side, 2-0 at Elizabeth Park in April but having succumbed to the draw with Thirroul, Bellambi may be vulnerable as the Students will be eager to continue their drive into finals football.

Prediction: Draw

 

Thirroul Thunder FC vs Shell Cove FC @ Thomas Gibson Park

The Thunder were impressive when they took points of top-placed Bellambi last weekend and will look to continue putting the pressure on those around the fifth-placed spot if they keep getting results over top 5 teams. The Thunder beat Oak Flats and drew with University a few weeks back so their record shows they can compete with the top sides. A win here could push them a little bit closer to University should the students go down to Bellambi, cutting their deficit from seven to four points with nine games to play.

For Shell Cove, they moved eight points clear of the bottom and one-point above Kiama last round with their 0-0 draw with the Wanderers. This is a significant improvement from the week before having conceded 10 goals to a dominant Helensburgh outfit. But now for two games in a row they’ve failed to find the net, so they will be hoping their top goal-scorer in Nicola Rusic will help them find some attacking form.

Thirroul were the better out of the two last time these teams met and will need to be wary of a determined Shell Cove outfit looking to jump into ninth.

Prediction: Thirroul

 

Warilla Wanderers vs Unanderra Hearts @ King Mickey Park

The Wanderers had to settle for a nil-all draw against Shell Cove last weekend and will be frustrated they didn’t grab a result in a clash that could have seen them jump to sixth. Their aspirations of finals football are still in the balance but will need to start getting results -following just two wins in their last five games - if they wish to start closing the seven-point gap between them and University.

Unanderra were impressive in their one-all draw with Helensburgh at home last Saturday and we’re unlucky to leave with all three points as a last-minute free-kick snatched the win away from the Hearts. Luke Picciolini continued to look dangerous up front and with positive signs coming out of defence – only conceding one against the best attacking side in the competition – they could be all but certainly playing finals football.

The sides last met at King Mickey Park in round three where the Hearts left with a comfortable 3-0 win which will be enough to help them to their second victory over the Wanderers this campaign.

Prediction: Unanderra

 

Helensburgh Thistle FC vs Picton Rangers @ Rex Jackson Oval

The Burgh will be disappointed to not get a result on Saturday as a win could have seen them close the gap at the top to just two points. Instead, Jarrad Benham was the hero, scoring late as they snatched a draw against Unanderra at Unanderra Oval. The Thistle are still hanging around the top of the table sitting four points behind Bellmabi. They will be looking at Adison Grinham and Luke Van Zyl to continue their attacking form having both scored hat-tricks last time at home.

Whereas for Picton, they broke a string of four straight losses with a much-needed 3-0 win over Berkeley. The win sees them jump back over Balgownie into eighth, just one point below both Thirroul and Warilla. The Bushpigs will need to hope this sparks a significant turn in form as they play to keep their season alive.

The Bushpigs’ defensive line will need to be at their best here with Helensburgh looking to leave the draw with the Hearts last week behind them.

Prediction: Helensburgh

 

Sunday 23 June

Balgownie Rangers vs Kiama Quarriers FC @ Judy Masters Oval

Balgownie were unlucky to grab a point in an even contest against Oak Flats last weekend when they went down, 1-0. This saw the Rangers drop down to ninth following a Picton win and sit just two points above Shell Cove in 10^th. A strong defensive performance against the Falcons will need to continue into this weekend to help their attack punish a lacklustre Kiama backline.

The Quarriers were on the end of another loss in round 13, their fourth in a row after they lost 3-0 to University on Sunday. Kiama didn’t have many chances on goal and failed when they did have a rare sight of scoring. They were left in second last spot after the Shell Cove draw but still sit a comfortable seven points away from the bottom, something they’ll wish to extend in the coming weeks.

Balgownie will be looking to turn around a poor run of results having lost four in the last five games- something that could come at the expense of Kiama. For the Quarriers, the 3-2 loss to the Rangers last time round- and with the determination of getting a win after a month of losses - won’t see them be written off in this one.

Prediction: Draw

Preview by Nathan Turner, on Twitter @nathanturner23_

Photo Credit: JC Sports Photography