Woonona Sharks FC-1, University of Wollongong FC-1 @Ocean Park
Stalemate as the league heats up with only six points between fifth and second place on the ladder.
Woonona were not going to be a pushover in the game as they had an opportunity to cut the gap between them down to two points.
The Sharks doubled down with their pressure on the visitors and put them on the back foot with an opening goal in the 25th minute.
Fiona Leafe shook her opposition with her goal to make it 1-0 to the hosts.
An early goal meant Wollongong weren’t out completely as they went into the break still with another half to spare.
The whistle blew for the second half, and both teams were gunning for a triumph.
Unfortunately for Woonona, their underdog story fell short with an equalising goal scored by Sophie Boyd.
Her goal in the 65th minute was a heartbreaker for the home side.
Last-minute changes from both sides were not enough to sway the result around, and thus the match ended in a hard-fought draw.
Woonona can cause even more drama in the top-four battle as they have an away fixture against Bulli in the next round.
University has one of their biggest games of the season against third-place Shoalhaven.
Both are tied on the same points on the ladder.
A loss for Wollongong would mean them losing their place, which they have kept for the majority of the season.
Coniston FC-0, Shoalhaven FC-1 @JJ Kelly Park
End-to-end match ends with a late strike at the death as Shoalhaven emerge as winners.
Coniston were hosts of the fixture and had the upper hand with the home advantage.
Shoalhaven, however, arrived with the intention to reclaim a win over their opposition, who beat them in their prior match against each other.
The game became more tense as the first half closed at 0-0.
Everything was to play for in the second half of the game.
Chances came by, but neither side could strike the winning blow; that was until the 82nd minute in the closing stages, when Sami Wilkie delivered the goods with her finish for Shoalhaven.
The eight remaining minutes were not enough for Coniston to ruin the party for the visiting side.
Shoalhaven travel home with a win.
Coniston won’t be too excited for their next fixture as they take on Shellharbour but remain with the home advantage again.
A game that Shoalhaven have been waiting for: a home game against the University of Wollongong.
A match in which Shoalhaven have the opportunity to knock University off their second-place perch.
By Thomas Panayiotou
