Round 5 saw plenty more action with 25 goals scored across the six matches. Late drama, penalties and send-offs all part of a thrilling round. Let’s take a closer look at the games.
Cringila Lions 2 – 3 Wollongong Olympic @ Crehan Park
On Friday night, Cringila Lions charged home but were unable to overcome a three-goal start as Wollongong Olympic bounced back after last week’s shock loss.
Defender Nicholas Littler chimed in to get Olympic on the board midway through the first half. Littler now has three goals in four League games.
Aaron Baker doubled their lead after 32 minutes with a well-taken goal before Jason Madonis looked to have sealed the result just two minutes after the restart.
Cringila were given a lifeline on 56 minutes when they won a penalty. The reliable Peter Simonoski stepped up and converted, giving the hosts a glimmer of hope.
The Lions pushed hard as the game wore on. They pulled another goal back in the dying minutes through youngster and substitute Issac Kostovski, who finished well, but it was of no avail as time ran out. The loss, their third straight.
Cringila will be looking to arrest the slide as they host Berkeley Sports next Friday night, with Olympic away to Port Kembla.
Berkeley Sports 0 – 3 Bulli FC @ Berkeley Sportsground
The goats couldn’t quite emulate last week’s heroics as they were humbled 3-0 at home to a rampant Bulli, who themselves were coming off midweek success in the Australia Cup.
Bulli’s fluent football had Berkeley Sports on the back foot for much of the first half as neither side was able to get the breakthrough.
Bulli were finally rewarded on 56 minutes when Zac McLaren was on hand on the far post to bury a loose ball from a corner kick.
Just five minutes later, Ben McDonald received a ball from the left. He drove towards goal before firing a low shot that Mitchell O’Neill got a hand to; however, the pace of the shot saw the ball trickle in at the far post. Just like that, Bulli were two up.
The visitors sealed the result on 85 minutes when they won a penalty. The reliable McDonald stepped up, disposing of the penalty in style as Bulli got themselves back on the winners’ list.
The win sees Bulli leap Berkeley on the competition ladder.
Berkeley Sports face Cringila Lions on Friday night, whilst Bulli are set to host the high-flying Helensburgh at Balls Paddock.
Wollongong United 4 – 1 South Coast United @ Macedonia Park
Wollongong United made light work of South Coast United on Saturday.
Kyah Jovanovski got the home side off to a perfect start after he ran onto a Mason Versi through ball inside three minutes. Jovanovski poking past Christpher Skara from just inside the box.
Wollongong United doubled their lead on 35 minutes when Jovanovski again got on the end of a through ball. This time, he was forced wide; however, he settled before crossing to Sam Matthews, who volleyed home from close range.
Just ten minutes after the restart, Matthews grabbed a brace. A fast break and cross from the left was poorly dealt with by the South Coast defence, with Matthews needing two bites to finally finish the opportunity.
On 68 minutes, Wollongong United were awarded a penalty. Daniel Geroski’s penalty effort was feeble with Skara comfortably getting down and saving the spot kick.
Almost immediately, a long ball was not dealt with by Wollongong United, and a foul ensued, with South Coast United themselves getting a penalty. Vincent Fedele slotting just out of Tom Alston’s reach as the visitors pulled a goal back.
The home side put the finishing touch to a strong performance when, on 80 minutes, a corner from the right was only partially cleared to Jordan Nikolovski, who crashed his half volley against the crossbar. Jovanovski was on hand to head the rebound into an empty goal, rounding the scoring at 4-1.
The win extending their lead at the top of the table to four points. Wollongong United will be looking to continue their perfect start to the season as they host Shellharbour FC next week.
South Coast United host what could be a pivotal match against Tarrawarra Blueys next week.
Tarrawanna Blueys 1 – 1 Coniston FC @ Tarrawanna Oval
With two sides struggling for form, it was perhaps fitting that the points were shared.
Neither side was really able to take firm control of the game early as the teams went into the break scoreless.
Tarrawanna scored just their second goal of the year inside 60 seconds after the restart when Anton Radice-Jones won possession on the half way before slipping a nice ball through for Salieu Kamara who still had work to do on the left hand side. He used his pace to beat the defender before calmly tucking the ball under Kaydin Harrison.
Toby Norval rescued a point for Coniston following a corner kick that was whipped in and not dealt with by Tarrawanna. He nodded home the equaliser from close range.
Despite the late desperation, neither side was able to add to the scoreline as both teams would perhaps be grateful to have got something out of the game.
For Tarrawanna, this was their first point of the season, and they face South Coast United this week as they look to get off the bottom of the ladder.
With the bleeding partially stopped, Coniston face off with Albion Park White Eagles this week as they look to kick start their campaign.
Shellharbour FC 2 – 2 Port Kembla @ Barrack Heights Sportsground
These two sides played out an entertaining and dramatic draw with late goals adding to a fiery game.
Lanky striker – Daniel Romanov scored his seventh goal from just five appearances inside the opening minute, giving the home side the perfect start.
Both sides traded chances in what was an open game. Port Kembla levelled the scores on 35 minutes through Sandy Lowcock, who grabbed his third of the season as he has regained his scoring touch for his former club.
The game was getting heated as both sides were desperately looking for a winner.
When Kota Kakinuma banged home on 85 minutes, it looked like Port Kembla would be getting their third straight league victory; however, Shellharbour’s Yugo Miyazaki managed to grab an unlikely equaliser deep into injury time.
Both sides would be considering themselves unlucky not to be going home with all three points.
Shellharbour FC would be buoyed by their effort; however, they face off with Wollongong United this week in a match that has ramifications at both ends of the table.
Port Kembla would be hoping to keep pace as they tackle Wollongong Olympic at home next week.
Helensburgh Thistle 3 – 3 Albion Park W.E. @ Rex Jackson Oval
We saw another thrilling match this week at Helensburgh, with the Eagles leaving it very late to steal a point.
Helensburgh have proven themselves to be a real contender this season and are more than holding their own in what has been their best season so far in PL1.
With that said, Damon Gray got the visitors off to a perfect start in the 13th minute with a smart move across the edge of the penalty area, before he unleashed a powerful finish into the bottom corner to put the Eagles ahead.
With chances at both ends, the Eagles held the lead till the break.
Less than ten minutes after the restart, Ethan Lehn was somehow allowed to head home uncontested from a corner kick to level the scores.
In what may have been a turning point, Nathan Milgate was sent off for a challenge that gifted Helensburgh a penalty kick on 65 minutes. Daniel Loe’s first penalty was saved; however, it was determined that Cristofer Fuentes came off his line too early, allowing Loe to make the necessary adjustments to convert the second attempt.
A goal and player down, the Eagles showed great heart as just five minutes later, Damon Gray gained possession from a long clearance kick from Fuentes. He calmly slotted the ball neatly past Luke Morgan to equalise.
Albion Park fans were still celebrating the goal when Jonty Busch incredibly put Helensburgh ahead just a minute later after capitalising on a defensive error.
With a mountain of stoppages, the Eagles used every second of that to steal a point with virtually the last kick of the game. Helensburgh were adjudged to have handled the ball, gifting a penalty kick. Gray showed his experience calmly potting the penalty, thus ending what was a crazy game of football all square.
Helensburgh remain in second spot and unbeaten as they play Bulli – away, whilst the Eagles will be looking to keep their perfect record at Terry Reserve, going when they host Coniston FC.
