ILLAWARRA MERCURY PREMIER LEAGUE – ROUND 15 PREVIEW

Saturday 29 June

Bulli FC vs Tarrawanna Blueys @ Balls Paddock – 2:30pm

Bulli missed a crucial chance to gain ground on the top five last round, with the side stuttering to a 2-2 draw with bottom side South Coast United at Ian McLennan Park on Saturday evening. The result left Matt Bailey’s side four points adrift of fifth and looking to move back into the finals conversation with a win over Tarrawanna that could see them rise as high as sixth if results fall their way. However, the side will need to fix their recent struggles in front of goal if they are to grab a result, with Bulli having only scored three goals in their last five league matches.

Meanwhile Tarrawanna returned to the winner’s circle in style last round, with a Sam Munro brace and a Keisuke Hayashi goal along with a pair of own goals helping snap a three-match losing streak, thumping Fernhill 5-0 at Tarrawanna Oval to move back into fourth place. The Blueys could potentially overtake Albion Park White Eagles with a win but a loss to Bulli would see Peter Willis’ side fall behind Woonona if the Sharks beat Wollongong United.

It was the Blueys who picked up all three points when these sides last face back in Round 4, with a Stephen Lloyd strike and a Yusuke Maruyama brace helping Tarrawanna to a 3-0 win at Tarrawanna Oval. While Tarrawanna no longer have Maruyama to help get them over the line, the Blueys will be looking to keep the positive momentum rolling and should have enough quality to get over the line against a Bulli side that is struggling in front of goal at the moment.

Prediction – Tarrawanna Blueys

Wollongong Olympic vs Corrimal Rangers @ PCYC – 2:30pm

Wollongong Olympic showcased why they are the team to beat last round, with the side pulling away to a 3-0 win over high-flying Albion Park White Eagles at Terry Reserve on Saturday, leaving George Antoniou’s side five points clear at the top of the ladder. Olympic now have a golden opportunity to increase that lead to as much as eight points with a win over second-placed Corrimal, and the side will no doubt be looking to take advantage of their league leading defensive line, with the side conceding less than one goal a game so far this campaign.

However, Corrimal will be looking to cut their title-rivals lead to two points after the Rangers dropped crucial points last round, struggling to a 0-0 draw with Wollongong United. Rob Jonoski’s side will be hoping that their strong goal-scoring record – the side leads the league with 38 goals this season, a rate of more than two and a half goals per game – can carry them over the line in what is shaping up to be a huge encounter. However, the Rangers will also have one eye on the rest of the league, with a loss to Olympic potentially pushing them back to third if Albion Park grab all three points against Coniston.

Both sides have secured a win over the other this season – with Corrimal running out 1-0 winners back in their Round 4 encounter and Olympic nabbing a 2-0 win in the Bert Bampton Cup Quarterfinals earlier in the month – but with this match having potentially huge connotations on the title race, Wollongong Olympic will be hoping home advantage will be enough to get them over the line as they chase their first league title since 1994.

Prediction – Wollongong Olympic

Cringila Lions vs Fernhill FC @ Crehan Park – 5pm

Cringila’s honeymoon period with new coach Stuart Beedie appears to have ended last round, with the side going down 1-0 to Coniston at Crehan Park on Saturday – leaving the Lions in tenth position, two points ahead of Fernhill. A win for the Lions would see them create a five-point gap between themselves and the Foxes, which might just be enough to keep the side out of a late relegation battle but a loss will see them overtaken by Fernhill and potentially within one point of last-placed South Coast United if SCU can beat Port Kembla. The side will be hoping that they can return to their recent goal-scoring consistency against Fernhill, with their last clash against Coniston the first time in five matches the Lions had been kept scoreless.

Meanwhile Fernhill will be looking for their first win since Round 9, with the Foxes suffering their fourth loss in five matches last round in a 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Tarrawanna. Bruce Tilt’s side sit only two points ahead of South Coast United and the side could drop into the relegation zone with a loss to Cringila and a SCU win. However, the Foxes will be hoping to overtake the Lions with a win and give themselves some crucial breathing room at the foot of the ladder.

Neither side was able to nab the three points during their last encounter – with both sides netting a point in a 0-0 draw at Ray Robinson Field back in Round 4 – but given Cringila’s recent positives and Fernhill struggling to find form at a crucial part of the season, the Lions might have enough to push past Fernhill and secure the win.

Prediction – Cringila Lions

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

South Coast United extended their unbeaten streak to three matches last round – nabbing a point in a 2-2 draw with Bulli at Ian McLennan Park on Saturday evening – but the side still remains two points adrift of Fernhill at the bottom of the ladder, with Greg Valic’s side potentially overtaking the Foxes with a win over Port Kembla and a Fernhill loss to Cringila. SCU will take solace in the fact they have found goal-scoring consistency as of late, with the side scoring at least two goals a game in their previous four fixtures, but the side has also conceded at least two goals a game in their previous four as well, meaning a tighter defensive ship will be needed if SCU are to grab all three points.

However, it was all good news for Port Kembla last round, with goals from Karouna Micheal and Danijel Djukic helping the side snap a run of five games without a win in a 2-1 win over top-five side Woonona at Ocean Park. Steven Dimitrievski’s side moved into seventh with the win, now only three points off fifth place. A win along with other results falling their way could see them rise to sixth, while a loss could see them fall to ninth if Bulli and Coniston grab wins. The side will be hoping to mark a return of their defensive prowess with a result over SCU, with the side having conceded 18 goals in their last six matches – with Port Kembla having last kept a clean sheet back in Round 8 against Cringila.

Neither side earned the three points back in Round 4 - with a Luke Boersma goal cancelled out by a Chris Smith strike in a 1-1 draw at Wetherall Park – but with South Coast United having last grabbed a league win over Port Kembla back in July 2016, the side will have a tough challenge ahead of them to get over a Port Kembla side that looks to have finally seen the light at the end of their tunnel of poor form.

Prediction – Port Kembla FC

Sunday 30 June

Coniston FC vs Albion Park White Eagles @ JJ Kelly Park – 2:30pm

Coniston picked up their first win in five matches last round, with a Matt Tschentscher goal enough to hand the side a 1-0 win over an in-form Cringila at Crehan Park. The result means Jeff Allport’s side now sit five points off the top five with a game in hand – the side still needs to play Wollongong United in their thrice-rescheduled Round 12 fixture – with a win potentially moving them as high as sixth if results go their way. Coniston will be hoping they can improve their record over top-five teams with a win over the White Eagles, with the side nabbing seven points from their encounters with teams in the top five this season so far.

However, Albion Park will be looking to return to winning ways after going down 3-0 to league-leading Wollongong Olympic last round at Terry Reserve, with the result leaving Paul Carter’s side in third, two points behind Corrimal but only one point ahead of Tarrawanna. A win for the White Eagles could see them move into second if Corrimal fail to get over Wollongong Olympic but a loss could see them slide to fifth if Tarrawanna and Woonona both nab wins.

Albion Park grabbed the win the last time these two sides faced back in Round 4, with braces from Joel Beattie and Cameron Morgan the headlining news as Albion Park flew to a 5-2 win at Terry Reserve. With the two sides ahead of them facing off this round, Albion Park have a great chance to make their move in the title race and that could be just enough desire to help them get over the line against Coniston.

Prediction – Albion Park White Eagles

Wollongong United vs Woonona FC @ Macedonia Park – 2:30pm

Wollongong United’s winless run extended to four matches last round, with the side holding title challenging Corrimal to a 0-0 draw at Macedonia Park. The result means that United now sit three points adrift of the top five with a game in hand but a win over Woonona would see the side move back into the top five after three rounds out at the expense of the Sharks. However, a loss for the side could see them drop as low as ninth if results fail to go their way. Oli Vrtkovski’s side will be hoping to return to finding the back of the net against Woonona, with the side unable to score in their previous two fixtures.

Meanwhile Woonona will be looking to hold onto their top five spot after suffering their first loss since Round 8 last round, going down 2-1 to Port Kembla at Ocean Park. Dan McGoldrick’s side currently sit three points ahead of Wollongong United and Port Kembla, with a loss seeing the side slip out of the top five but a win could send the Sharks as high as third if results go their way. Woonona will be hoping the side can retain the defensive strength they have found in recent weeks, with the side only conceding four goals in their previous six league matches.

Wollongong United strolled to victory the last time these two sides faced off back in Round 4, with a Hikaru Kawasakiya brace and a Matthew McNab strike helping the side to a 3-0 win at Ocean Park. While Woonona have stepped up in recent weeks, Wollongong United will be under pressure to grab a vital result and return to the top five, and the desire to end their winless streak might give them just enough drive to get them over the line in what should be a close encounter.

Prediction – Wollongong United

Preview by Cal Behrendt, on Twitter @CalBehrendt

File Photo