Helensburgh Thistle 4 (Kade Kinsella 52’, Peter Turrall 59’, Blake Currey 69’, Caleb Browne 81’) Kiama Quarriers 0
Helensburgh put on a dominant display with four separate goalscorers in a 4-0 rout of Kiama at Rex Jackson Park.
The hosts dropped their first set of points since round three following a two-all draw with Unanderra on Tuesday night whereas Kiama slumped to their seventh straight loss, going down to Thirroul.
After a goalless opening stanza, the Thistle blitzed out to 4-0 score line with four second-half goals.
Kade Kinsella scored his sixth of the campaign in the 52nd minute before Peter Turrall netted seven minutes later to push the Burgh up by two.
In the 69th minute, Blake Currey’s strike made it 3-0 and substitute Caleb Browne rounded off the result with a goal off the bench.
The Thistle’s win keeps them in the race for top spot, sitting level on points with Shell Cove and four points behind Unanderra.
They are back at Rex Jackson Park again next weekend where they host local rivals Thirroul.
Kiama are on a quick turnaround following the loss to the Thistle, travelling to Ian McLennan Park on Tuesday night to take on University.
University picked up a crucial three points in a tough contest against Balgownie at Judy Masters Oval on Saturday afternoon.
Both sides were coming off the back of consecutive losses, looking to turn their poor form around.
Neither side penetrated the defensive lines in the opening stanza before a Ryan Sinclair half-volley sprung the game into life, putting the students ahead in the 48th minute.
Balgownie didn’t take long to level things up as Zachary Craw finished below the goalkeeper to make it 1-1.
Reigning Neville Arrowsmith Medalist Douglas Woodiwiss stepped up to the spot just minutes later, powering his penalty into the roof of the net to secure the win for his side.
The Students edge closer to the top five, sitting in seventh spot behind Warilla and Oak Flats by two points, with a game in hand.
Balgownie slump to their third straight 2-1 defeat in a row and will look to turn their momentum around with a trip to Picton next Saturday.
University play their round seven catch-up game with Kiama at Ian McLennan Park on Tuesday night before hosting another grudge match against Warilla.
Fernhill Foxes 3 (Mitch Turner 12’, Daniel Djukic 52’, Jordan Hughes 69’) Berkeley Sports 0
Fernhill continued their fine run of form in recent weeks with a comfortable 3-0 win over Berkeley on Saturday afternoon.
The Foxes enjoyed a 3-0 win over reigning champions Oak Flats last time out and Berkeley narrowly went down to Warilla, 1-0.
The home side got out to a flyer, netting through Mitchell Turner in the 13th minute to give Dale White’s men an early lead.
Daniel Djukic added another just after half-time before Jordan Hughes confirmed the three points 20 minutes from time.
It was a crucial victory for Fernhill as they jumped both Oak Flats and Warilla into fourth spots following the results this weekend.
The Goats remain unchanged in 11th spot as they host Oak Flats next weekend.
Round 11 action for the Foxes is a tough one, taking on Shell Cove away from home.
Thirroul Thunder 1 (Daniel Arthur PENALTY 90’) Oak Flats Falcons 1 (Daniel Munilla 90+3’)
The points were shared in dramatic fashion late on in a fiery contest at Thomas Gibson Park.
The Thunder were looking to build on their 2-1 win over Kiama and Oak Flats bounced back from a 3-0 defeat to Fernhill with a 2-1 win against Balgownie on Tuesday night.
It was an arm-wrest of a matchup at the same ground where Oak Flats won the District League title in 2020 and the game looked to finish goalless heading into stoppages.
Thirroul captain Daniel Arthur converted his penalty after he was fouled in the box to all but snatch the three points from the Falcons.
However, Mark Vinton’s men found their equaliser in the dying stages when Daniel Munilla finished from close range to ensure each side went home with a point.
The Falcons move level on points with Warilla in equal fifth and play Berkeley at Berkeley Sports and Social club next Saturday.
Thirroul fall to eighth spot following University’s win and will take on Helensburgh in round 11.
Unanderra Hearts 3 (Jonathon Liddle 70’, Mark Picciolini 77’, 90+3’) Picton Rangers 2 (Christian Cevenini 15’, Brandon Lee 79’)
Unanderra and Picton continued their recent rivalry with a five-goal thriller at Unanderra Oval on Saturday afternoon.
The Hearts backed up their 3-1 win over University with a two-all draw with Helensburgh midweek whereas Picton went down to the Thistle, 2-0.
The last time these sides met was the 2020 preliminary final where the Hearts came away as 7-3 winners after extra time.
Veteran Christian Cevinini powered the visitors into the lead in the 15th minute where they would take that advantage into the break.
Two quickfire goals from substitute Jonathon Liddle in the 70th minute and Mark Picciolini in the 77th minute turned the game in the way of the Hearts.
The game took another twist when Brandon Lee hit back for the Rangers just two minutes later to make it two a-piece.
With the game looking to be ending as a draw, Picciolini bagged his 13th- and his most important- goal of the campaign to grab his side the win at the death.
Unanderra travel south next weekend to play bottom-placed Kiama and Picton return home to face Balgownie in the battle of the Rangers.
Warilla Wanderers 1 (Nikola Rusic OWN GOAL 13’) Shell Cove 3 (Shayne Ardle 18’, Tommy Markovski 22’, Paul Lee 45’)
Shell Cove picked up their seventh win of the campaign with a 3-1 victory over Warilla at King Mickey Park on Sunday afternoon.
The Cove were coming off a last gasp win over Balgownie and Warilla grabbed their fifth win of the year over Berkeley.
The hosts got out to a flying start when they forced Nikola Rusic into an own goal in the 13th minute.
This seemed to spark something for the Cove, netting twice in a matter of minutes through Shayne Ardle and Tommy Markovski.
Current league top scorer Mimi Yaldo watched the game from the stands due to suspension but it was his replacement Paul Lee that put his side up by two right on the stroke of half-time.
There were no more goals for the remainder of the game as Shell Cove keep pace with Unanderra at the top of the table whereas the loss for Warilla see them hanging into fifth position on goal difference.
Shell Cove return to Barrack Heights Sportsfield to face Fernhill as Warilla travel to Kooloobong Oval to play University.
Review by Nathan Turner, @nathanturner23_
Photo by Rob Bosevski
