Unpredictability continues to be a theme of the Illawarra Premier League 1, following another set of dramatic results in Round 16.
Here is how last weekend’s action played out.
Match of the Round: Coniston 2 Tarrawanna Blueys 1
Coniston edged past Tarrawanna 2-1 on Saturday, registering a crucial win in their bid for finals football.
The opening minutes proved to be a tense battle, with neither side able to get consistent control of the ball.
Coniston nearly grabbed an early lead 15 minutes in when Norval went through one-on-one with Blueys goalkeeper Jackson Cracknell.
The midfielder saw his first effort saved before lashing the rebound into the wrong side of the side netting.
The home side made the most of this momentum and opened the scoring in the 28th minute when a right-sided delivery fell Sebastian Capozucchi’s way, who blasted the ball home.
Less than two minutes later, Tarrawanna restored parity in spectacular fashion.
Kade Kinsella flicked the ball over his defender on the right edge of the box, before firing an outstanding volley into the goal.
Coniston sought to re-establish their lead in the 35th minute.
Norval headed back across goal from a set-piece where Tarrawanna defender Samuel Starcic inadvertently headed goalwards, prompting Cracknell into a top save.
Three minutes later, the Blueys would have gone in front but for retreating Coniston defender Ned Glasgow clearing the ball from bouncing towards the goal.
The teams went into the sheds level, courtesy of that quick fire double around the half-hour mark.
The game continued to be tight in the second half, but the decisive moment came just nine minutes after the restart.
Norval’s curling left-sided corner met Cameron Morgan, who steered an accurate header inside the near post.
Both teams fought hard to get some control in the match as it wore on, with opportunities rare.
In the 71st minute, Kieran Kuzmanoski broke in behind down the left, but skewed his effort well wide for Coniston.
As the minutes ticked away, Coniston looked to hold on to what they had, with Tarrawanna gaining more territory.
The home side warded off a late flurry of attacking effort from their opponents to claim a big win.
The victory ends a four-game winless run for the side, and provides some much-needed momentum for their late season push.
Albion Park White Eagles 3 Helensburgh Thistle 2
Albion Park continued their title charge, getting up in a thrilling, late 3-2 victory against Helensburgh on Saturday afternoon.
The game burst into life around the hour mark after a goalless first half, with plenty of late twists and turns.
Defender James Baldacchio put the White Eagles in front in the 63rd minute, but Charlie Jones levelled the scores 12 minutes later.
With 10 regular minutes to play, Matthew Floro restored the home side’s lead, and five minutes later, the attacker scored again to extend their advantage.
Louis Connell scored in the 90th minute to put the home crowd on notice, but Albion Park held on to register their third win in a row.
South Coast United 1 Wollongong United 3
Wollongong United overcame an early scare to down South Coast United 3-1 on Saturday evening.
The visitors had been on a tough three-game losing run heading into their clash with a rejuvenated South Coast, and despite a good start, conceded first.
In-form striker Josh Keremelevski buried his 16th goal of the season in the 19th minute, but Wollongong United wasted no time in turning the scoreline around.
An own goal from Luke Simac in the 27th minute was followed by Josh Galevski’s first goal of the year less than a couple of minutes later to give Wollongong United a halftime advantage.
An early second half penalty miss from Wollongong United didn’t matter in the end, with Nav Darjani’s goal just after the hour mark sealing the victory for reigning league champions.
Bulli 0 Berkeley 0
Bulli and Berkeley were forced to share the points as they played out a 0-0 stalemate on Saturday afternoon.
Berkeley nearly opened the scoring midway through the half when Christopher Hollingshead broke in behind the Bulli backline, but Daniel Collison produced a superb save to deny him.
Bulli returned fire on the half-hour mark as Deakin Peterson powered an effort wide of the left post from the edge of the box.
In the 39th minute, the hosts showed promise again, with Lewis Grimshaw’s left-sided cross headed wide by Ben McDonald.
The teams could not be separated as they went into halftime level.
Bulli continued to threaten and four minutes after the break Grimshaw burst down the left again, this time shooting from a tight angle, but Goats goalkeeper Blake Horton made an important save.
Grimshaw was at it again soon after the hour mark, taking aim from the right of the box, but Horton was equal to it again.
The home side could have snatched the points right at the death.
A right-wing corner came to Grimshaw in the middle of the box, who drove an effort towards the bottom right corner, but Berkeley’s Keiji Nishikawa blocked it on the line.
The Goats held on for a valuable point at Balls Paddock.
The draw ensures both teams remain on the periphery of the battle for finals football.
Port Kembla 1 Shellharbour 1
Port Kembla played out a 1-1 draw with Shellharbour in an important match at the bottom of the table on Sunday.
Kota Kanikuma gave the home side the lead in the 35th minute, with his second goal in as many games, which saw them go into halftime in front.
Hristopher Neskovski equalised for Shellharbour around the hour point, to see the teams take a point each.
Neskovski has had a bright start to life at Shellharbour, with two goals in his first three games.
The point ensures Port Kembla remain in 10th, five points ahead of Shellharbour, while extending their advantage to six points ahead of Tarrawanna in last position.
Wollongong Olympic 1 Cringila Lions 0
Wollongong Olympic edged past Cringila Lions 1-0 to maintain their place at the top of the table.
The Lions have found their feet in recent weeks and had eyes on upsetting the league leaders.
A tense first half concluded with the deadlock still to be broken.
Yasukawa Masato scored the winner for Olympic in the 67th minute, keeping the side at the top of the table for another week.
Olympic has been in strong form lately, and is now unbeaten in their last seven matches, losing just once in their last 12 outings.
