PeopleCare District League Finals Series

First Grade:

Qualifying Final: Helensburgh Thistle FC vs Oak Flats Falcons @ PCYC

Helensburgh finished season on an impressive note, downing top placed Bellambi in a 5-0 rout last weekend. This saw finish six points behind the Rosellas in first and five points ahead of Oak Flats. The Burgh have the best attack in the league, and was undoubtedly because of their clinical front three who have scored 55 out of the 81 goals. Addison Grinham, Brad Watts and Luke Van Zyl will be the ones to look out for in this clash and may look to continue their goal-scoring qualities into the finals series.

As for the Falcons, they have regained their feet in the last two weeks following a slump of form which saw them lose four out of five games. But two wins on the trot has seen them gain some well needed confidence heading into this one. A 5-0 win over Unanderra was followed by a 1-0 victory over University which shows they can play out under pressure in big games; something that is crucial in play-off matches. Hayato Sadamori will be the key player in the Falcons line-up this weekend with the midfielder picking up three goals in these two games that sees him take his overall tally out to nine.

A blockbuster encounter between two sides that never fails to disappoint. Their meetings this year ended with Helensburgh taking out both games – a 2-1 win in round five and a 3-1 win in round 16. This may make it even harder for the Falcons against the dominant Thistle outfit.

Prediction: Helensburgh

 

Elimination Final: Unanderra Hearts vs Thirroul Thunder FC @ Macedonia Park

Unanderra finished their campaign with a huge difference in points compared to their bottom placed finish last year – jumping a whopping 26 points into fourth. Despite this, the Hearts may want to get past their recent drop in form as they have lost their last two games in the league. Their 5-0 loss to Oak Flats in round 21 was followed by a 3-1 loss away to Picton in their last game. Mark Picciolini is their go-to man upfront and will be the one to watch for as the former Coniston man has picked up 15 goals since signing for Unanderra back in round seven.

Thirroul have picked up fifth spot for the second consecutive season and will be looking to make amends for their exit in the finals series this time last year. The Thunder snuck into the final five thanks to an improved second-half of the season that saw them pick up a 24 points out of a possible 36 - only losing one game in this time. Their great run of results saw them jump University - following their 1-0 win in round 21 - into fifth for the first time this season. Angus Nicol was the hero on that occasion and will certainly continue to be a threat as the defensive midfielder has picked up seven goals throughout the campaign – as well as keeping six clean sheets in the process.

The teams first met in round four at Thomas Gibson Park where they couldn’t be separated in a two-all draw but Thirroul got the better of the Hearts second time round when they secured a 1-0 win away from home. This do-or-die clash has the potential to lean either way, but if the Thunder can keep Picciolini at bay, it may see them advance in a tight victory.

Prediction: Thirroul

 

Reserve Grade:

Qualifying Final: Thirroul Thunder FC vs Picton Rangers @ Macedonia Park

In Reserve Grade, Thirroul finished the season in second, on 51 points – six points behind first placed Helensburgh. The Thunder only lost three games all year and have won five of their past six games – three in which were against fellow top five sides. Their attacking capabilities have helped them achieve this feat as they lead the competition in goals scored with 84. Their lead goal-scorer, Oskar Pruks scored 16 goals in 15 appearances, with even a goal in the first grade competition against University in round 10.

This Picton side will be representing their club in their first year back in the District League. Finishing the season on 44 points, a 3-2 loss last weekend against Unanderra was a minor setback as they surged into the finals with four straight wins – where they scored 16 goals in the process. Their target-man up-top is William Macleod, who netted 17 times in 17 occasions this season – ending his overall tally in second place in the running for golden boot.

The games between the sides was most recently decided in the round 16 catch-up round on the August 10^th that saw Picton leave as comfortable 4-0 winners at Thomas Gibson Park – with the previous encounter ending in a two-all draw in round five. This game is shaping up to be a high-scoring affair, but if Thirroul can keep it tight at the back, they may be able to punish the Picton side that has conceded the most amount of goals in the top five, with 44.

Prediction: Thirroul

 

Elimination Final: University FC vs Oak Flats Falcons @ PCYC

University finished their season comfortably in fourth spot. They were three points adrift of Picton and two points ahead of their opponents this weekend. The students have struggled with form in recent weeks, only picking up four points in five games. But unlike the other reserve grade finals sides, their defence was their biggest strength, with the side conceding 24 goals this season – the third best in the league. They have kept nine clean sheets – an equal league best. Their attacking abilities have solely come through captain, Luke Vandenbergh, with the striker netting 10 times in 12 appearances – the most in the team.

As for the Falcons, their two wins on the trot has seen them gain some momentum coming into finals. A win against sixth placed Unanderra in round 21 was followed by a 3-0 win over University. They finished in fifth with 39 points, which is the same position they finished in last year – where they won all three of their games to make it into the grand-final. Michael Wilson topped the Falcons’ goal-scoring charts, scoring 15 in 16 games – he also scored in this fixture last year against Bellambi – so may definitely be the one to watch in this one.

Their last two encounters have ended in both Oak Flats wins. A 2-0 win in round 11, then a 3-0-win last weekend. With their recent run of form lacking, it may be a hard one for the students to get through this one in what should be a tight encounter.

Prediction: Oak Flats

 

Youth Grade:

Qualifying Final: University FC vs Balgownie Rangers @ PCYC

University finished second by just one point in the youth grade competition in 2019, winning 19 of their 22 games to end the season on an impressive 58 points. They have scored a whopping 114 goals which miraculously sees them sit in the second best attack in the league behind Helensburgh. The students have averaged just over two goals a game against top five teams and even put 15 past a depleted Oak Flats line-up last round. There is no doubt that their attack is the quality to look out for, with their striker, Oscar Borschman scoring 24 times in the first 13 games before succumbing to injury after round 14 – winger, Alex Sheargold stepped up to fill the goal-scoring void when he netted a total of 15 in 16 appearances.

As for the Rangers, they also finished their season well above the chasing pack– with a total of 54 points – four points behind their opponents this weekend. Their attack may not be up to the 100 goal standard of Helensburgh and University but they managed to keep 11 clean sheets throughout the season – only conceding 18 goals. But their goals mainly came through striker, Christopher Hollingshead where he scored 23 goals in 15 games- 17 more than the next most in the Balgownie camp.

A heavy-weight youth grade clash for a spot in the preliminary final up for grabs. Balgownie left as 4-1 winners in round one and University got one back on them, winning 2-0 in round 12. An interesting encounter that could go either way but the students may come out firing through their attacking form.

Prediction: University

 

Elimination Final: Thirroul Thunder FC vs Shell Cove FC @ Macedonia Park

The Thunder finished the youth grade season on 37 points, with a + 13 goal differential. They sat inside the top five by four points but are coming off three straight losses heading into the finals. Losing 2-0 to Picton who finished sixth, then losses to University and Balgownie almost saw them slip out of the finals spot but held on thanks to a run of form mid-season - that saw them win five out of six games from round eight. They have a relatively balanced attack with most players getting on scoresheet but its Tyler Ball with 11 goals leading the Thunder pack into the finals.

Shell Cove are a surprise inclusion in the youth grade finals series following their poor start to the campaign. But from rounds six to 14 they went unbeaten, picking up 23 points out of a possible 27 points that saw them push for the finals spot. They’re undefeated in their last four outings too – including a comprehensive 9-1 win over Berkeley last weekend. Alexander Faughlin and Ben Eagleton have led the Cove’s attack, both scoring on 11 occasions. Despite scoring a total of 54 goals, the poor start saw them finish with 51 goals conceded – the most out of any finals series side.

The last two meetings between the sides saw Thirroul leave as comfortable 6-1 winners in round three but the resurgent Cove outfit left as 1-0 victors in round 14. Another interesting match-up in this youth-grade fixture but if the Thunder can capitalise on leaky Cove defence, it may seem them advance in a close game.

Prediction: Thirroul

 

Preview by Nathan Turner, on Twitter @nathanturner23_

File Photo: Dana Guthire