The penultimate round of the 2026 Illawarra Premier League 1 did not disappoint, leaving the fight for the title and finals football delicately poised heading into the final weekend of the regular season.
Here is how last weekend’s games played out.
Berkeley Sports 1 Coniston 1
Berkeley secured a last-gasp 1-1 draw with Coniston on Saturday as the promoted side continued their strong finish to the season.
Toby Norval put Coniston in front inside 20 minutes, which looked to be the perfect start for a team targeting a late-season flurry off the back of an upset win against title chasers Wollongong Olympic recently.
The away side seemed set to snatch a narrow victory over their opponents, but in the 85th minute, Keiji Nishikawa restored parity for the Goats. Nishikawa hadn’t found the net for Berkeley up to Round 17, however, the defender has now scored two goals in four games since.
Coniston can’t finish higher than seventh, but there is potential for them to drop as low as ninth if they lose on the final day of the season to South Coast United.
Berkeley could leapfrog Coniston with a win against Shellharbour this weekend, pending a defeat for the 2023 Champions at the same time.
Bulli 2 Tarrawanna Blueys 1
Bulli remained in the hunt for a finals place, edging past Tarrawanna 2-1 on Saturday at Balls Paddock.
It took the hosts just six minutes to take the lead when Mason Elphick picked out Joel Starr in the box with a left-wing cross, where the latter made no mistake with a composed first-time finish.
The Blueys put together a spirited response after falling behind, and came close on a couple of occasions before the break, but they could not find an equaliser heading into the sheds.
Tarrawanna restored parity after the hour through Kade Kinsella, courtesy of an accurate side-footed finish into the bottom left corner from the striker.
Yoshiharu Hirooka was the difference-maker for the home side, expertly bringing the ball down on the edge of the box and deftly looping an effort over Blueys, and former Bulli goalkeeper Jackson Cracknell.
Bulli’s win ensures the team keeps pace with Helensburgh in the battle for fifth position, but they’ll need to beat Port Kembla and hope the Thistle slip up against the Blueys this weekend.
Wollongong United 0 Wollongong Olympic 2
Wollongong Olympic stayed in the fight for the league championship, with a 2-0 win against arch rivals Wollongong United at Macedonia Park.
After a goalless first half, Mitchell Brooker opened the scoring for Olympic just four minutes following the restart with his eighth goal of the season, volleying home from a right-sided cross.
Guy Knight secured the visitors all three points in the 73rd minute, when Rich Goodchild delivered a right-sided corner towards the far post for the captain to send a looping header into the goal.
Olympic’s win ensures the side go into the final day of the season with a chance of claiming the league championship. Only a win will do for Olympic against current leaders Albion Park if they are to lift the league title this weekend.
Wollongong United could snatch third position with a win against Cringila Lions in Round 22.
Shellharbour 0 Helensburgh Thistle 2
Helensburgh remained in fifth position courtesy of two second-half goals against Shellharbour at Barrack Heights Sports Field on Saturday.
Michael McStay made the breakthrough for the Thistle in the 67th minute scoring his 11th goal of the campaign.
Patrick Caruana sealed the deal for the Thistle in the 83rd minute, with a goal just five minutes after coming off the bench.
Victory for Helensburgh against bottom side Tarrawanna Blueys this weekend should guarantee the side their maiden finals appearance since promotion to the top flight in 2023. They currently sit above Bulli in sixth by two goal differential.
Shellharbour face Berkeley on the final day of the season, also only above the bottom-placed Blueys on goal difference.
Port Kembla 2 South Coast United 2
South Coast United came from behind twice to hold Port Kembla to a 2-2 draw on Sunday at Wetherall Park.
The hosts were awarded a penalty midway through the first half, but United goalkeeper Christopher Skara made a top save. The ball was played back out to the penalty spot, where Nic Tomasiello buried a low finish past the South Coast’s shot stopper.
Port took their lead into the sheds, however, just before the hour mark South Coast drew level in spectacular fashion. Anthony Vrlic mazed inside from the left and buried a superb effort into the top right corner.
The home side wasted little time in getting back into the lead, and only five minutes later, Taiga Nakayama executed an outstanding free-kick that nestled in the bottom left corner.
South Coast did not give up in their pursuit of another equaliser, and in the 81st minute, they pounced on a give-away in midfield, with Toranosuke Nakajo slotting the ball into the left of the goal.
The teams had to settle for a point each in a thrilling contest. Port Kembla take on Bulli this weekend, while South Coast face Coniston.
Albion Park White Eagles 2 Cringila Lions 0
Albion Park took another huge step towards the league championship, registering a 2-0 win against an in-form Cringila Lions on Sunday at Terry Reserve.
The teams could not be separated heading into the sheds, but two moments within a couple of minutes after the hour mark of each other changed the game entirely.
Damon Gray opened the scoring for the White Eagles in the 64th minute and only two minutes later, Jayden Makowski doubled the hosts’ advantage.
The side saw out what remained to stay two points clear of Wollongong Olympic at the top of the table.
A point will be enough for Albion Park to claim the league title against Wollongong Olympic this weekend in what shapes up as the game of the round.
Cringila also find themselves in a crucial match-up against Wollongong United, eager to hold onto third place, but a win for United would see them leapfrog their close rivals.
