PeopleCare District League Round 19 Preview

Shell Cove FC vs Oak Flats Falcons @ Barrack Heights Sports Field

The Cove came out with a solid performance to only go down 1-0 to league-leaders Bellambi at Elizabeth Park last Saturday. This followed a 4-1 win over Kiama and will be looking to jump Balgownie into ninth should they win this weekend. Last time they played the Falcons ended in a narrow 2-1 loss, something they could take into the game in search for the three points.

The Falcons got back to winning ways with a 3-1 win over Warilla at Keith Bond Oval. A brace to former South Coast Flame forward Bojan Caric led them to a comfortable win which keeps their slim title hopes alive. The two goals take his overall tally for the season up to nine, the most at the club and will definitely be looking to continue his goal-scoring form against the Shell Cove defensive line that has conceded 46 goals this season.

With a bit of a local bragging rights on the line here could mean a very high intensity game and with the drive to keep their run of form going into finals, the Falcons should come out stronger.

Prediction: Oak Flats

 

Balgownie Rangers vs Berkeley Sports FC @ Judy Masters Oval

The Rangers fell out to a resurgent Picton side 4-2 last Saturday. Second half goals from Matthew McCoy and Jackson Dummett couldn’t help them to a win as they slipped 10 points adrift of Picton who are in seventh. This marks their fifth loss in six games as they still sit in ninth place, 10 points behind where they were this time last year. This may change this weekend however as they take on bottom-placed Berkeley who are still without a win.

The Goats went down to University last weekend 2-0. This is the first time in just over a month where they haven’t conceded three or more goals but may need to match their opposition in attack this weekend should they wish to grab their first three points of the campaign. There is definitely potential to grab that here as last time they played the Rangers it ended in a one-all draw- with the Goats unlucky to take the win as they conceded in the dying stages.

Although the Rangers have lost five of their last six games, three of those were 1-0 losses- all coming against top five sides. With a strong showing of defence in recent weeks, this should be enough to help them over the line in this one.

Prediction: Balgownie

 

Helensburgh Thistle vs University FC @ Rex Jackson Oval

The Thistle may have made it harder to grab the title after their two-all draw with Thirroul last Saturday. Last time out against the students saw league top-scorer Adison Grinham score four as they surged out to a 6-2 win at Kooloobong Oval. The draw sees them slip their narrow gap back down to six points behind Bellambi at the top of the table, but with the Thistle still yet to play them on the reverse fixture, it could mean they are still in the hunt for top spot. Brad Boardman’s men will certainly look at their attacking capabilities to drive to a win here with the side scoring on 15 occasions in their last four outings.

As for the students, their 2-0 win over Berkeley on the weekend couldn’t be backed up with a mid-week win over Unanderra as the side lost 2-0 to the Hearts on Wednesday night. A brace to captain Doug Woodiwiss on Saturday sees him take his tally up to 10 for the season- which is the most at the club. The win saw them push their lead over Thirroul on the ladder back out to three points but with a game in hand over the Thunder could be crucial when they play Picton in the catch-up game on August 10.

Following the mid-week fixture, tired legs could make it hard for the students with the tough away fixture up to the Burgh which could be what the Thistle need to take out the win.

Prediction: Helensburgh

 

Picton Rangers vs Kiama Quarriers FC @ Hume Oval

The Bushpigs continue their push the finals in the last stretch of the season when they accounted for Balgownie, 4-2 away from home last round. Picton had four separate goal-scorers in the win, including one from their top scorer, Benjamin Baxter, who takes his total to six goals in as many games. The Bushpigs will be relying on their goal-scoring ability to get them through this one as they have averaged 2.8 goals a game in their last six outings.

Whereas for Kiama, their defensive form may need to improve as they fell to an onslaught of goals from Unanderra last round, going down 7-2. This makes it two months since their last win- where they’ve only picked up one point in this time. On average, the Quarriers have conceded approximately 3.9 goals per game, compared to 2.4 goals a game this time last year.

Last time the teams met it ended in a 5-1 win for the Bushpigs back in round eight. It shouldn’t be any different this time either, as Picton will be able to ride their attacking form to keep their finals hopes alive.

Prediction: Picton

 

Warilla Wanderers vs Thirroul Thunder FC @ King Mickey Park

The Wanderers slumped to their third straight defeat, with their last win coming back in round 11 against Kiama. Adrian Montelbano’s solo second-half goal was a mere consolation as they conceded three in the first half to go down 3-1 to Oak Flats. Their last three games they have conceded three goals in each, something they may need to work on if they wish to get past Thirroul this weekend. There are some positive signs in the Wanderers camp as the last time the the teams met, they left with a 2-1 win back in round eight.

The Thunder take their unbeaten run out to six games when they took a point away from Helensburgh in a two-all draw at Thomas Gibson Park last weekend. This is the sixth time they’ve picked up a point against top five teams, also keeping two clean sheets in the process. A win here could see them become level on points with University should the students go down to Helensburgh.

Thirroul’s ability to play out big games should be able to get them to a much needed three points in this one.

Prediction: Thirroul

 

Unanderra Hearts vs Bellambi FC @ Unanderra Oval

The Hearts are coming off an impressive week, first a 7-2 win away to Kiama on Saturday and then a 2-0 win over University on Wednesday night pushes them to just one win away from a guaranteed finals spot. The Hearts are coming off the back of three straight wins and will be relying on in-form Mark Picciolini as he took his tally up to 15 goals in 10 games- an impressive statistic since joining the club in May. Four first-half goals against Kiama followed by a penalty against University makes him the one to watch in this encounter.

As for Bellambi, they extended their lead at the top of the table to six points following their 1-0 win over Shell Cove and Helensburgh’s draw with Thirroul- which is the biggest margin it’s been all year. Chris Cevenini’s late winner for the Rosellas snatched the victory over the Cove. A win here could kill off the Hearts hopes of a third-placed finish but a loss could mean they would give Thistle a lifeline at the title- who they still need to play in the last game of the season.

With one hand virtually on the trophy, Bellambi should have the desire to drive to the three points in this one.

Prediction: Bellambi

 

Preview by Nathan Turner, on Twitter @nathanturner23_

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