The Illawarra Men’s Premier League 2 got off to a thrilling start in an eagerly-awaited Round 1 as the goals flew in around the ground.
Here is how it all played out.
Match of the Round: Thirroul Thunder 1 Balgownie Rangers 3
A strong second half from Balgownie saw the side down Thirroul 3-1 in our match of the round.
The visitors came into this game without star attacker Alex Galbraith, who was ruled out for an extended period just last week.
It was Thirroul who had the better of the game in the first half, showing sharp pressing to snatch the ball in good areas, but they failed to capitalise and find a goal before the break.
Just seven minutes into the second half, the Rangers snatched the lead. Jackson Dummett eventually latched onto a ball in behind, which went beyond Thunder goalkeeper Matt Wardle, allowing a simple tap-in for the striker.
It got better for the side in the 67th minute when they were awarded a penalty. Brodie O’Neill stepped up for Balgownie and slotted the ball low past Wardle.
Thirroul put up a spirited response after falling two goals behind, with the home team eager to find a route back into the game.
Around the 75-minute mark, the Thunder were awarded a penalty of their own. Tyler Ball took responsibility, but saw his strike towards the right of the goal saved well by Cayden Wellsmore in the Balgownie goal.
Just moments later, Thirroul’s goalscorer got his revenge, as he placed the ball home from a central position inside the box to halve the deficit.
Despite Thirroul’s hard work to get back into the game, it slipped away in the 89th minute when O’Neill’s left-sided corner met Bailey Napier, who blasted a shot in from close range.
Balgownie coach Justin Potter said he was delighted with the result after a sluggish first half and a generally long pre-season.
“I have never won here, to be honest. As a player or a coach,” Potter said.
“In the first half, we were very average, and we were lucky to stay in the game.
“In the second half, we got back to playing more like we have been during pre-season, so I was pretty happy with the second half.”
Fernhill 5 Gerringong Breakers 1
Fernhill started their season in emphatic fashion, with a commanding 5-1 victory over Gerringong.
Despite the Breakers taking the lead midway through the half, courtesy of Rhyley Foenander, just five minutes later, the hosts restored parity through Lachlan Pattman.
A quickfire double at the start of the second half through Pattman’s second and Mattias Passlack put Fernhill 3-1 up.
Defender Kasey Kulcsar was sent off for Gerringong soon after the hour mark, and Daniel Djukic quickly took advantage to get off the mark for 2026 for the Foxes.
Owen Browne’s own goal late on added further gloss to a comprehensive Fernhill win.
Unanderra Hearts 1 Shoalhaven 2
Shoalhaven edged past Unanderra to secure three points in their first game of the year.
After a goalless first half, Josh Hawker opened the scoring for Shoalhaven just four minutes in. The visitors worked the ball through the middle of the pitch before a fortunate deflection fell into Hawker’s path, who bundled the ball in off the crossbar.
The hosts restored parity in the 64th minute, when a right-sided cross was cleared into the path of Elisseo Chiodi on the edge of the box, where he fired an effort into the goal.
It was Hawker who proved the hero for Shoalhaven, notching his brace with seven regular minutes to play. Shoalhaven moved the ball into the right of the box, and a cross was drilled in towards Hawker to tap home the winner.
The Hearts had plenty of chances for a second goal, including a waved-away penalty shout and a disallowed goal, but the away side got over the line in the end.
Picton Rangers 4 University of Wollongong 1
Picton produced an impressive 4-1 win over UOW, starting their campaign in the best possible way with three points.
Jayden Russell and Jarred Morley scored in quick succession before the 20th minute to give the hosts a confident lead heading into the sheds.
Morley grabbed his second of the game in the 77th minute, before Josh Mazurkiewicz added a fourth goal nine minutes later.
Kentaro Arai scored a late consolation for the away side in an otherwise difficult start to the season.
Dandaloo 0 Oak Flats Falcons 4
Oak Flats made an outstanding return to the second division of Illawarra football, downing new side Dandaloo 4-0.
Sami Benten opened the scoring for the away side within 10 minutes on his official league debut for the Falcons, which gave them a slender advantage at halftime.
Joel Palermo scored seven minutes after the break, before Julian Minutillo added another goal just after the hour mark.
Benten made it a brace in the dying embers of the clash to add the final gloss on a commanding victory.
