MATCH OF THE ROUND
Port Kembla drew with Bulli 2-2 @ Wetherall Park
Inside the opening minutes, a ball over the top from Alexander Price found Joel Starr, who volleyed over the bar.
Moments later, Kota Kakinuma controlled well inside the box and drove an effort that saw Ben McGinnes cover his goal well.
On the quarter-hour mark, a wicked cross from Taylan Skurtevski on the left came too quickly from Sandy Lowcock, who had trouble controlling the ball right in front of the goal.
Midway through the half, Starr had a golden chance to open the scoring when a cross from the left saw him unmarked on the far post. His volley slammed into the side netting.
Bulli drew first blood on 27 minutes when a neat ball from Jack Deale in midfield picked out Lewis Grimshaw, who took a touch and slipped it past Blake Coad from close range.
Port Kembla hit back 12 minutes later. A mazy run through midfield by Nicolas Tomasiello found Taiga Nakayama on the right side of the box. He cut inside and rifled a left-footed effort which ricocheted in off the near post.
On the hour, Jordan Prentoski weaved through Bulli’s defence, driving towards the goal. He was one-on-one with McGinness, with the goalkeeper pulling off a strong one-handed save to deny the striker.
Moments later, Ben McDonald turned on his defender and fired a shot off balance over the bar from just seven yards out.
On 64 minutes, a Port Kembla corner was not dealt with well. The ball bouncing around the box. Prentoski pouncing on the loose ball with a volley that beat McGinness all ends up.
The lead lasted less than two minutes as Grimshaw latched onto a long ball. His half volley beat Coad on the near post.
Neither side was able to find another goal, with the best and final chance falling to McDonald in the dying minutes. He was unable to turn in a cutback pass from Starr inside the box.
The stalemate doesn’t particularly help either side, although with other results this week, Port Kembla slip to 11th place. They will visit Helensburgh this week.
Bulli will feel they missed a chance to creep a little further up the ladder in what is a congested mid-table leaderboard. They host Olympic this weekend.
Coniston defeated South Coast United 4-3 @ JJ Kelly Park
Coniston prevailed in a see-saw battle at JJ Kelly Park on Saturday. South Coast led three times but somehow managed to lose the game.
The match started at a fast pace, and the signs of a high-scoring affair were there early when Anthony Vrlic scored his seventh goal of the season on seven minutes.
This was cancelled out seconds later when almost from the kick off Cameron Morgan netted for Coniston.
On 26 minutes, South Coast won a penalty which was duly converted by Joshua Keremelevski, who has scored from three of his last four matches.
Both sides continued to attack in an end-to-end game.
Morgan pounced on the hour to level the scores; however, Luke Simac responded with a well-taken goal just five minutes later as South Coast edged back in front for the third time.
Coniston continued to fight, and Toby Norval’s goal on 73 minutes drew the home side level.
In an incredible turnaround and a great show of character, Norval found a winner just 10 minutes from time as Coniston found a way to win this game.
The win puts Coniston right back in the mix in a congested mid-table, whilst South Coast, despite getting just a point from their last two games, hangs onto fifth spot.
South Coast hosts a fired-up and in-form APWE this weekend, whilst Coniston will be looking to make it back-to-back wins, having not done that since the opening two rounds.
Tarrawanna Blueys defeated Helensburgh Thistle 2-1 @ Tarrawanna Oval
After a turbulent start to the season, the Blueys are showing some fight. They held off Helensburgh to record just their second win of the season.
The Blueys made a fast start with Zac Mazevski, who recently returned to the club, finding the back of the net inside the opening five minutes.
He doubled Tarrawanna’s lead just before the break with a well-taken goal. It’s only the second time this season the Blueys have scored more than once in a match, and it came at a great time.
Helensburgh piled on the pressure in the second half with the Blueys hanging tough.
Louis Connell’s goal midway through the second half made for an exciting and nervy finish.
Burgh were unable to find an equalising goal as the Blueys recorded an important win. Whilst it is not enough to lift them off the bottom of the table, they now find themselves a win away from getting out of the cellar.
They face an all-important game with Shellharbour FC this weekend. On the flip side, after an outstanding start to the season, Helensburgh have only picked up one point from their last four matches; however, they maintain fourth place. Thistle will be looking to get back into the winners circle as they host Port Kembla.
Shellharbour FC defeated Berkeley Sports 2-1 @ Berkeley Sportsground
Shellharbour notched up their second win of the season with a come from behind win at Berkeley Sports on Saturday.
William Provino capitalised on some sloppy defending as he smashed home a loose ball from close range to give the home side the lead on 34 minutes.
On the hour, Berkeley failed to deal with a free kick from the right. They had several chances to clear the ball. It fell nicely to Niko Kalamvokis, who cut inside and fired a shot through a crowd of players that found the inside of the near post.
Just two minutes later, Shellharbour broke quickly down the right. The ball crossed into the box. Aleksandar Duckinoski, firing a shot on goal from six yards out, saw Blake Horton make a save with his legs. The ball bounced straight up, with the lurking Danil Romanov pouncing on the loose ball to head in from close range.
The win sets up an intriguing matchup against Tarrawanna this weekend. Berkeley on the other hand head up the road in the derby match against Wollongong United.
Wollongong United v Cringila Lions @ Macedonia Park (Washed Out)
Albion Park WE v Wollongong Olympic @ Terry Reserve (Washed Out)
