ILLAWARRA MERCURY PREMIER LEAGUE – ROUND 20 PREVIEW

Saturday 3 August

Bulli FC vs Wollongong Olympic @ Balls Paddock – 2:30pm

Bulli’s hunt for the finals took a huge blow last round, with the side falling to a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Wollongong United at Macedonia Park on Saturday. The loss leaves Matt Bailey’s side seven points adrift of fifth-placed United, with Bulli now needing a minor miracle to make the finals and defend their Championship. A win against the league-leaders is essential for their finals hopes to remain alive – anything less and their campaign will be destined for a lower half finish.

Meanwhile Wollongong Olympic took one more step towards claiming their first league title since 1994, picking up a 2-0 win at bottom of the table Fernhill to maintain the side’s five-point lead at the top of the table and become the first side to mathematically secure themselves a spot in the finals. George Antoniou’s side could claim the title with a win against Bulli and a Corrimal loss to South Coast United, but the side will content to maintain their strong form heading into the final weeks of the campaign.

Neither side was able to secure all three points when these two sides faced back in Round 9, with a goal from Bulli’s Ben McDonald cancelled out by a Julian Minutillo strike in a 1-1 draw at PCYC. While Bulli will put up a strong fight against their title rivals from last season, Olympic should have just enough push to nab all three points and potentially the title.

Prediction – Wollongong Olympic

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

Cringila were unable to take advantage against a ten-man Port Kembla side last round, drawing 0-0 at Crehan Park on Sunday. Stuart Beedie’s side remain in 11^th despite the result, with the Lions sitting a point behind South Coast United but five points ahead of bottom side Fernhill. A Cringila win could potentially secure their Premier League status for 2020 if Fernhill are unable to get over Coniston but a loss could see the side be in real danger of dropping down if the Foxes are able to nab all three points. Cringila will be very keen to turn around their lagging form, with the side picking up only four points out of a possible 15 in their last five games and a match against a stuttering Sharks could be a great opportunity to help keep the Lions up.

Woonona, on the other hand, will be keen to return to the top five after their 1-0 loss to Corrimal Rangers on Sunday saw the side slip behind Tarrawanna and Wollongong United. Dan McGoldrick’s side now sits one point outside the top five and could overtake the Blueys and United with a win and other results falling their way, but a loss to the Lions could see the Sharks finals’ hunt hanging by a thread. With the Sharks also at the disadvantage of a negative goal differential, Woonona will need to pull out all the stops to ensure their campaign continues into September.

Woonona claimed all three points the last time these two sides faced back in Round 9, with a Luke McCosker strike securing a 1-0 win for the Sharks in what was Cringila coach Stuart Beedie’s first game in charge of the club. With both sides in stuttering form as of late, Woonona’s desire to push back into the top five might be just enough to get them over the line in what should be a tight encounter.

Prediction – Woonona FC

Tarrawanna Blueys vs Albion Park White Eagles @ Tarrawanna Oval – 2:30pm

Tarrawanna nabbed a vital three points last round, pushing past Coniston in a 3-1 victory that ensures the Blueys remain in the top five for another week. Peter Willis’ side sits in fourth on the ladder – two points behind third-placed Albion Park White Eagles and one point ahead of fifth-placed Wollongong United – and a win for the Blueys will see them move into third but a loss could see the side slide out of the top five. However, the Blueys will be confident of their recent form, with the side aiming for their third straight league win – a solid run of form heading into the business end of the campaign.

Meanwhile Albion Park will be looking to return to winning ways after the side all but ruled themselves out of title contention thanks to a 1-1 draw with South Coast United on Saturday. Paul Carter’s side are mathematically still in the hunt – the side sits eight points behind leaders Wollongong Olympic – but with three sides below them all within four points of the White Eagles, securing a finals spot will be top of the list for Carter’s squad. Albion Park will be able to lock up a finals spot with a win and losses from Woonona and Port Kembla but a loss could see the side slip as low as fifth. However, the White Eagles will be able to take solace in the fact the side has gone five games unbeaten – one of the longest current streaks in the league.

Albion Park will be out for revenge after the sides’ last encounter with the Blueys, with a Ben Spruce brace and individual goals from Stephen Lloyd, Rick Goodchild and Cody Waller helping Tarrawanna fire to a 5-0 win in Round 9. While Cody Waller has now swapped over to the White Eagles, the result this time around should be significantly closer as neither side wants to give up ground in the race for the finals. That being said however, Albion Park’s recent unbeaten run might just give them the edge in a potentially close encounter.

Prediction – Albion Park White Eagles

South Coast United vs Corrimal Rangers @ Ian McLennan Park – 6:30pm

South Coast United kept their unbeaten streak running last round, holding Albion Park White Eagles to a 1-1 draw at Terry Reserve on Saturday, with Greg Valic’s men now having avoided defeat for the last eight matches. Despite their fantastic run, the side is still in threat of relegation heading into the final three rounds of the season, with the side six points ahead of bottom-side Fernhill. If the Foxes fail to get over Coniston then a draw or better will ensure SCU’s Premier League status for another season but a Foxes win will mean SCU will be within three points of bottom spot if they fail to grab anything against Corrimal.

But the Rangers will be gunning for their own goals when they line up against SCU – with their 1-0 win over Woonona last round keeping Corrimal in the title hunt. While Rob Jonoski’s side sits five points behind league leaders Wollongong Olympic, the gap could be cut to two points with a win and an Olympic loss to Bulli. However, a loss for Corrimal could confirm Olympic’s crown, meaning a result for the Rangers is vital if they want to take the title race to the final two rounds.

It was the Rangers who claimed all three points the last time these sides faced off back in Round 9 – with goals from Tomoki Wada and Tim Wylie sending Corrimal to a 2-0 win – and while South Coast United will prove a huge banana peel for the side considering SCU’s recent unbeaten run, the Rangers should have just enough quality to see off SCU and keep themselves in the title race.

Prediction – Corrimal Rangers

Sunday 4 August

Fernhill FC vs Coniston FC @ Ray Robinson Field – 2:30pm

It is crunch time for Fernhill, with the side hanging on to their Premier League status by the skin of their teeth after a 2-0 loss to league leaders Wollongong Olympic on Saturday. The Foxes now sit five points behind eleventh-placed Cringila and need a win over Coniston to keep themselves in the relegation battle – with a draw or loss confirming their bottom-place finish if the Lions and South Coast United grab victories. Bruce Tilt’s men might need a minor miracle to get over Coniston however, with the side’s winless streak now standing at ten matches.

Meanwhile Coniston’s hopes of a dream return to the Premier League finals was quashed last round, with a 3-1 loss to Tarrawanna – confirming the side will not be making the finals in their first season back in the league. Despite the loss last round, Coniston have secured safety after Fernhill failed to pick up three points so for Jeff Allport’s men, it is a case of finishing the season on as high a note as possible, starting with a win over Fernhill which would snap the side’s four game losing streak.

Interestingly, it was Fernhill who nabbed the win the last time these sides faced off back in Round 9, with goals from Shinsei Tanaka and Jeremy Kemp helping the Foxes to a 2-1 win at JJ Kelly Park – their most recent victory as of writing. While Fernhill need a win to keep their hopes alive, Coniston should be able to gain revenge against the Foxes and snap their recent poor form.

Prediction – Coniston FC

Port Kembla FC vs Wollongong United @ Wetherall Park – 2:30pm

Port Kembla were unable to take a big step towards finals football last round, with the side being held by Cringila Lions in a 0-0 draw at Crehan Park on Sunday. The result leaves the side three points off fifth-placed Wollongong United and a large Port Kembla victory over United could see the side leapfrog them and Woonona and return to the top five. However, a loss to United would cripple their finals’ chances – potentially falling as many as six points off the finals pace. Port Kembla are in relatively solid form heading into the fixture, with the side unbeaten in four matches but a win against a fellow finals rival is essential if they want to continue their campaign into September.

Meanwhile Wollongong United celebrated a return to the top five last round, with the side picking up a 3-0 win over Bulli on Saturday – pushing them past Woonona and into the top five for the first time since Round 11. A win for United could see the side overtake Tarrawanna in fourth but a defeat could see the side slip back out of the top five if Woonona grabs a win over Cringila or Port Kembla wins by more than four goals. However, United are in solid form heading into the fixture, picking up three wins from their last four games as the side continues a late season charge for the finals.

It was Wollongong United who claimed all three points when these sides faced back in Round 9, with James O’Rourke, Billy Tsovolos and Stevan Ilic all finding the back of the net for United in a 3-1 win over Port Kembla at Macedonia Park. With a spot in the top five on the line for both sides, Wollongong United’s recent form might be just enough to push them over the line here.

Prediction – Wollongong United

Preview by Cal Behrendt, on Twitter @CalBehrendt