U20s – Sunday 8 September

Bulli FC (2^nd) vs Albion Park White Eagles (5^th) @ JJ Kelly Park – 10am

Both Bulli and Albion Park will be fighting to continue their season as they face off in the Minor Semi-Final at JJ Kelly Park.

Bulli saw their chance to progress to the Major semi quashed by third-placed Fernhill last week, with the side falling to a 2-0 defeat in the Qualifying Final. The defeat compounds a poor run of form for the second-place finishers, with the side now winning only one match in their last five games. Bulli will need to light a fire under themselves if they are to keep their season afloat, with the side looking to established goalscorers such as Dylan Hogan and Kane Dorrian (7 goals in 18 games each) if the side are to claim victory.

Meanwhile Albion Park will be hoping to keep the ball rolling after sending fourth-placed Coniston packing in the Elimination Final, with a Chris Ristevski goal sending the side to the second week of September in a 1-0 victory. The win was the White Eagles’ third win in their last five clashes and the side will be hoping to keep that form rolling into the Minor semi. Albion Park will no doubt be looking to the services of Ristevski to once again grab them a victory, but the side will be hopeful they can continue their march towards the Grand Final.

Bulli have the bragging rights heading into the match, with the side powering to a 6-0 victory in Round 11, but a 1-1 draw in the final round of the campaign will give the White Eagles some hope of nabbing a result. With Bulli stuttering hard in recent weeks, this might be a perfect chance for the White Eagles to keep their late charge towards championship glory on track.

Prediction – Albion Park White Eagles

Wollongong United (1^st) vs Fernhill FC (3^rd) @ Tarrawanna Oval – 10am

The first spot in the U20s Grand Final will be up for grabs when Wollongong United take on Fernhill in the Major Semi-Final.

Wollongong United enter the match off the back of a week off, with the side resting after claiming the league title by a massive 12-point margin. United have been in red-hot form in the back-half of the campaign, running with a 14-game unbeaten streak in the league in a run that has seen the side lose only one game since mid-May – the Youth Cup final against Tarrawanna. The side will cause issues for Fernhill’s backline thanks to their strong firepower up top, with Anthony Krsteski and James Sekuloski picking up 33 league goals between them this season, but the side’s defence will also need to be on top form if they are to book a spot in the big dance but with only 14 league goals conceded all campaign, the side is looking dangerous heading into the clash.

Meanwhile Fernhill dispatched Bulli to book their spot in the Major semi, with goals from Liam Chilton and Daniel Darocha securing the side a 2-0 victory at Balls Paddock. The win keeps a strong run of form bubbling for the Foxes, who have now won their last four matches, but the side will need to produce a top-drawer effort to knock off the top-placed United. Fernhill will undoubtedly be looking to some of their players who have gained crucial first-team squad experience throughout the season, with players like Nathan Cupitt, Thomas Potts and Liam Chilton needing to show their skills to help push the Foxes over the line.

Surprisingly, Fernhill is the only side Wollongong United do not have a winning record against this season, with both games playing out in a 1-1 draw in Round 7 and Round 18. While the Foxes will be keen to keep this record running, Wollongong United’s strength and desire to punch a ticket to the Grand Final should prove just enough to get the side over the line.

Prediction – Wollongong United

 

U23s – Sunday 8 September

Corrimal Rangers (3^rd) vs Albion Park White Eagles (4^th) @ JJ Kelly Park – 12:15pm

Corrimal and Albion Park will be battling to remain in the hunt for the Championship when they face off in the Minor Semi-Final.

Corrimal were unable to claw back from a strong Tarrawanna start last week, with the Rangers falling to a 2-1 defeat at Tarrawanna Oval. The Rangers have now lost two matches in a row and with a third loss proving fatal to their championship chances, the side needs to quickly snap out of their recent struggles if they are to keep themselves in the hunt. The Rangers have a wealth of options they can call upon for the clash, but the side will likely cast an eye towards some of their more established starters, including Christian Saffioti (12 goals in 21 games) and Adam Galanti (21 games) to lead the side in what will prove to be a huge clash.

Meanwhile Albion Park kept their season afloat in dramatic fashion last week, needing extra-time to see off Coniston in a tight Elimination Final. A Sean Kennedy double sandwiched a goal from Jayden Graovac as the White Eagles ensured all three of their sides would progress to the second week of September. The win was the White Eagles’ first in four matches, with the side now looking to keep that momentum going into the clash with the Rangers. With Corrimal one of the top scoring sides in the division, the White Eagles will need to hope their backline - led by Jacob Hufton in goals (20 games) and including the likes of Jordan Warren (22 games) in defence – are up to the task to shut down a strong Corrimal front-line.

Both sides have nabbed a win over the other this campaign, with Albion Park cruising to a 4-1 win in Round 6 and the Rangers claiming a 2-1 win in Round 17, but with a chance to head to the third week of September on the line, Corrimal’s desire to potentially book a re-match with Tarrawanna in the Preliminary Final might prove just enough to get them over the line in what promises to be a very close encounter.

Prediction – Corrimal Rangers

Wollongong United (1^st) vs Tarrawanna Blueys (2^nd) @ Tarrawanna Oval – 12:15pm

A ticket to the U23s Grand Final is on the line when Wollongong United and Tarrawanna clash in the Major Semi-Final.

Wollongong United enter the match with the benefit of a week off, claiming top spot on the league ladder by six points over the Blueys in a season which saw the side lose only two games. The side has been on fire in the back-half of the season, with the side winning their last nine matches, scoring 50 goals in the process and conceding only three. United’s fantastic goal-scoring record can be attributed to a standout season from top scorer Nick High, whose 34 goals in 21 games is by far and away the best return by any striker in the division. However, United also have established goal scorers in Elisseo Chiodi (16 goals in 19 games) and Daniel Carella (9 goals in 20 games), showing the side will prove a tough ask for the Blueys to keep out.

Meanwhile, Tarrawanna kept their march towards the title on course last week, with early goals from Caleb Grace and Tyson Black helping the Blueys to a 2-1 win over Corrimal in the Qualifying Final. The Blueys snapped a two-match losing streak with the victory, with the side now looking to fully come out of the other side of their small puddle of poor form by being the first side to punch a ticket to the Grand Final. Tarrawanna have used an extremely deep squad for their U23 campaign, but the side will most likely look towards their more established players to get them over the line, with Joel Perry (20 games) and Toby Drain (22 games) likely to be crucial to their side’s chances.

The Blueys are one of only three sides to get a point off Wollongong United during the league campaign, with the side nabbing a 2-2 draw in Round 6. However, United came back from that draw to push past Tarrawanna 1-0 in Round 17 and while this match should be another tight affair, Wollongong United’s strong form should prove just enough to send the side to the decider.

Prediction – Wollongong United

 

First Grade – Sunday 8 September

Wollongong Olympic (1^st) vs Corrimal Rangers (3^rd) @ JJ Kelly Park – 2:30pm

Wollongong Olympic and Corrimal Rangers will go head-to-head for the first spot in the 2019 Illawarra Mercury Premier League Grand Final when they face in the Major Semi-Final.

Wollongong Olympic have the benefit of the week off after the side claimed their first league title since 1994 in the final weeks of the campaign. However, George Antoniou’s side will be weary that the rest did not throw off the side’s form, with Olympic having claimed wins in their last four encounters. Olympic will have some tough decisions ahead of them regarding their starting XI as they look to put as strong a side on the field as possible, but players like Yusuke Ueda (18 goals in 22 games) and Mark Every (20 games) will most likely be locks for the side.

Corrimal, on the other hand, will be looking to head to their first Grand Final since 1973 with a victory over Olympic on Sunday after the side dispatched Albion Park White Eagles 2-0 in the Qualifying Final. It was goals from Tim Wylie and Van Elia which booked the side their ticket in the Major semi, with Rob Jonoski’s side continuing their momentum for another week. However, while it will be a big challenge for the Rangers to get past Olympic, the side more than has the talent to do it – with players like Ben Zucco in the midfield and Nic Loe in between the sticks – the Rangers could prove to be a vital banana peel in Olympic’s quest for the championship.

Wollongong Olympic hold a slight advantage heading into the encounter – with Corrimal’s 1-0 win over Olympic in Round 4 erased by Olympic’s 2-0 win in Round 15 and their 2-0 win in the Bert Bampton Cup Quarterfinal. While this match will most likely go right down to the wire, Olympic’s week off might prove to be just enough to see the side through to the decider.

Prediction – Wollongong Olympic

Albion Park White Eagles (2^nd) vs Tarrawanna Blueys (5^th) @ Tarrawanna Oval – 2:30pm

Albion Park and Tarrawanna will be hoping to keep their ship on the path towards championship glory when they face off in the Minor Semi-Final.

Albion Park’s finals campaign got off to a less than stellar start last week, with the side falling to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Corrimal Rangers in the Qualifying Final. Paul Carter’s side saw their streak of three wins end as a result and the side are now looking down the barrel of elimination, with a loss to the Blueys ending their campaign at the same stage as they exited last season. The White Eagles will need strong performances all round to ensure victory, with Carter most likely looking to players like Joel Beattie (11 goals in 22 games) and Naomichi Araki (22 games) to fire the side into the Preliminary Final.

Meanwhile the Blueys will be hoping to keep their rollercoaster of a season running with victory, after the side required penalties to oust Wollongong United in the Elimination Final. Peter Willis’ side will be hoping the drain of extra-time won’t affect the side as they seek a ticket to the Preliminary Final, with players like Ben Learmonth (13 games) and Christian Cabo (7 games) potentially needing to make the step up to reduce any fatigue issues, but the Blueys will certainly hope another deep dive from players like Mitchell Ferraro (21 games) and captain Rick Goodchild (22 games) will give the Blueys just enough to get the side over the line.

Both sides have claimed solid wins over the other during the league campaign, with a 5-0 Blueys thumping in Round 9 rubbed out by a 4-1 White Eagles victory in Round 20. However, with both sides looking to keep their ship afloat, this match could easily go down to the lottery that is the penalty spot and this time, the Blueys’ luck might just run out.

Prediction – Albion Park White Eagles

 

Preview by Cal Behrendt, on Twitter @CalBehrendt

File Photo: Kiah Hufton