Sunday 25 August

Bulli FC vs Albion Park White Eagles @ Balls Paddock – 2:30pm

Bulli’s league form showed no signs of rebounding despite a Bert Bampton Cup victory last round, with the side falling 2-1 to Coniston, the side’s fourth straight league loss. Bulli enter the match aiming to keep hold of their eighth-place position, with a loss to the White Eagles and a Coniston win over Port Kembla enough to condemn the side to ninth.

However, their opponents will be aiming to claim a vital win which could prove just enough to secure a second chance in September after the White Eagles moved into second last round thanks to a 3-0 win over Fernhill. Paul Carter’s side sits two points ahead of Corrimal and three points ahead of Wollongong United heading into the final round, but a White Eagles loss could see the side slip to fourth if Corrimal and United pick up wins. However, Albion Park will be hoping their strong away form helps them secure the win, with the side having gone their last eight away games unbeaten – picking up seven wins over the course of that streak.

Bulli do have recent bragging rights over the White Eagles, with a lone Brendan Pattman strike enough to give Bulli a 1-0 win at Terry Reserve in Round 11. However, with Bulli’s season slowing to a stop and Albion Park looking to shift into the next gear, the White Eagles should have enough to nab the three points this time around.

Prediction – Albion Park White Eagles

South Coast United vs Cringila Lions @ Ian McLennan Park – 2:30pm

South Coast United’s reputation as an unbeatable force deepened last round, with the side breaking the double digits in their unbeaten run after a 1-1 draw with finals chasing Woonona. Results elsewhere means Greg Valic’s side have secured their Premier League status heading into the final round of the season but the side cannot finish any higher than tenth, with Cringila the only side a chance of swapping positions with the side. However, South Coast United will be looking to keep their unbeaten streak alive heading into 2020 with a result over the Lions and finish the season as far away from the bottom two as possible.

Meanwhile the equation for Cringila is extremely simple after the side failed to escape the relegation battle last round thanks to a 1-0 loss to Wollongong United. For the Lions to assure they avoid relegation, they need to grab a victory over SCU. A draw is also likely to be enough to keep Stuart Beedie’s side above the last-placed Fernhill thanks to the Lions ten-goal advantage over the Foxes. However, a loss to SCU could see the side slip behind the Foxes if Fernhill grab a win over the high-flying Corrimal.

Cringila claimed all three points when these two sides last faced in Round 11, with the Lions running out to a 4-2 win at Crehan Park in what was the last match South Coast United lost before their current unbeaten run. This time around, the consistency of Greg Valic’s men should be enough to see them over the line but the work Cringila did earlier in the season should be just enough to see them stave off last place.

Prediction – South Coast United

Wollongong Olympic vs Wollongong United @ PCYC – 2:30pm

Wollongong Olympic proved they were not taking things easy last round despite having already wrapped up the title, flying out to a huge 5-0 win over Port Kembla at PCYC. George Antoniou’s side will have the first week of finals off regardless of the result, but the side will be looking to break the 50-point barrier with victory and finish their season with as big a winning margin as possible.

However, Wollongong United will be out to claim a second chance in the finals campaign with a victory after the side moved within three points of second place after a 1-0 win over Cringila last round. United sit one point behind third-placed Corrimal and three points behind second-placed Albion Park, with a United win potentially being enough to grant them their first top-three finish since 2015. A defeat could also mean the side finishes in fifth if Tarrawanna beat Woonona, but the side will be out to ensure their path to the championship runs as smoothly as possible with a final day victory.

Wollongong Olympic claimed all three points the last time these sides faced off in Round 11, with goals from John Martinoski and Yusuke Ueda helping Olympic to a 2-1 win at Macedonia Park. With this match promising to be another close affair, Olympic’s home advantage might prove just enough to edge them over the line.

Prediction – Wollongong Olympic

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

It is do or die for Fernhill after the side fell 3-0 to Albion Park White Eagles last round at Terry Reserve. Anything less than a win for Bruce Tilt’s side will confirm the side’s place at the bottom of the ladder and relegation if the District League champions Bellambi are approved for promotion. However, a Foxes win might just be enough to keep the side up, but their status will depend on the result between South Coast United and Cringila, with a Lions win or draw likely to kill off any chance of Fernhill overtaking Cringila. The Foxes have only claimed five points in the second half of the season however, meaning it might be time for the footballing gods to provide a miracle to the Fernhill faithful.

However, Corrimal will be out to secure a September safety net with victory over the Foxes, with the side’s 3-1 loss to Tarrawanna last round leaving the Rangers in danger of falling out of the top three. Rob Jonoski’s side sits one point ahead of fourth-placed Wollongong United heading into the final round and while a win will secure the side a top-three finish and a second chance come finals, a loss could see the side slip to fourth and into the sudden-death hell of September.

The previous encounter between the two sides was a walkover for the Rangers in Round 11, with Corrimal’s Van Elia picking up a hat-trick alongside goals from Lukas Stergiou and Daniel Carreno in a 5-0 thumping of the Foxes at Memorial Park. While the result may not be as big this time around, Corrimal should be able to see off the Foxes and condemn Fernhill to last place as a result.

Prediction – Corrimal Rangers

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

Tarrawanna gave themselves a huge boost for the final round of the campaign last round with a 3-1 win over Corrimal at Memorial Park, pushing the Blueys ahead of their final matchday opponents and into the top five once more. It is a straightforward task for Peter Willis’ side – grab a draw or better and the Blueys will be making the finals. However, Tarrawanna will need to hope they get the better side of their recent stuttering form – with the Blueys winning three and losing two in their last five clashes – if they are to see off a determined Sharks outfit.

Meanwhile, Woonona blew a huge chance to put themselves in the driver’s seat for the last finals spot last round, being held to a 1-1 draw with South Coast United at Ocean Park. Dan McGoldrick’s side are now left needing to beat Tarrawanna if the Sharks want to make their first Premier League finals series in more than two decades. The Sharks have been in strong form in the back half of the campaign – losing only three games out of ten – but the side will need to produce something special to see off the Blueys and book themselves the final spot in September.

Woonona claimed the three points back in Round 11 when these sides last met, with Jesse French and Jarred Morley goals helping the Sharks past the Blueys in a 2-1 win at Ocean Park. However, with a finals place on the line for both sides, a tight draw could be on the cards here – which is a result Tarrawanna will happily take into September.

Prediction – Draw

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

Port Kembla’s season appears to be crashing to a close, with the side falling to a 5-0 defeat at the hands of Wollongong Olympic at PCYC last round. The side cannot do better or worse than their current seventh place position, with the side having nothing to play for heading into the final round other than for bragging rights. Port Kembla will be keen to reduce their recent defensive issues in the final fixture, with the side shipping 16 goals in their last four fixtures while scoring just four.

Coniston on the other hand have something slight to play for heading into the final round, with the side’s 2-1 win over Bulli putting them within two points of last season’s champions. A win for Jeff Allport’s side could be enough to push Coniston past Bulli and into eighth place, a fine finish for their first season back in the Premier League. The side has already secured a top ten finish – sitting four points ahead of tenth-placed South Coast United – but the side will be looking to end their season on a high with victory.

Neither side nabbed the three points when these two sides last clashed in Round 11, with goals from Coniston’s Dinko Terzic and Port Kembla’s Jayden Salucci cancelling each other out in a 1-1 draw at JJ Kelly Park. While this match should prove to be another tight encounter, the fact Coniston has a small sliver of something to play for might prove to be just enough to push them over the line in this one.

Prediction – Coniston FC

Preview by Cal Behrendt, on Twitter @CalBehrendt

 

File Photo: Kiah Hufton