The stage is set for the 2026 Illawarra Premier League 1 Grand Finals, following another entertaining week of finals football.
Wetherall Park played host to three must-win clashes that all featured tight results.
Here is the rundown.
First Grade: Wollongong Olympic 1(1) Wollongong United 1(3)
Wollongong United earned their place in the First Grade Grand Final, defeating Wollongong Olympic on penalties at Wetherall Park on Sunday afternoon.
The teams were level at 1-1 heading into extra time, but the game needed penalties to decide a winner, and United took full advantage.
Wollongong United looked to make a start to the match, having found the net within the first ten minutes in their two previous finals appearances.
United were a constant threat for Olympic in the first 15 minutes, especially on the counterattack.
Olympic were also causing problems down the other end and in the 21st minute, defender Nick Littler steered wide from a right-wing cross.
United took the ball down the other end moments later, as Nikolovski rolled an effort wide from the edge of the area.
Olympic threatened twice before the half-hour mark, with Madonis forcing United goalkeeper Tom Alston into a sharp save, before blasting over from a promising position.
United held off Olympic’s pressure and with five regular first-half minutes to play, they took their chance.
Olympic fullback Aaron Baker failed to get sufficient distance on his header back to goalkeeper Michael O’Rourke, leaving Nikolovski lurking over his shoulder to deftly execute a lobbed finish into the goal.
Nikolovski has been the talisman for Wollongong United in the finals series, scoring in the side’s comprehensive win against Helensburgh, before bagging an early winner against Cringila the following week.
This was the attacker’s most pivotal goal yet, giving his team an invaluable lead against the league champions on his old Wetherall Park stomping ground.
United took their slender advantage into halftime.
The team showed further promise after the break, as Jason Zufic and Nav Darjani both came close to doubling the lead.
Olympic remained confident in the game, having snatched a late equaliser against Albion Park White Eagles the previous week.
The pressure told in the 80th minute when Harry Callahan’s free-kick bounced around in the box, before Kyle Jackson reacted fastest to slot the ball into the goal.
Jackson snagged Olympic’s late equaliser in the qualifying final against the White Eagles, demonstrating his knack for a goal again.
Olympic had the momentum in the latter stages, but Madonis couldn’t convert Josh MacDonald’s last-gasp cutback, leaving the teams to contend with extra time.
Extra time proved tight, and there were only a couple of shooting chances, but ultimately penalties would decide a place in the big dance.
Olympic first three penalties proved costly. Alston saved Madonis’ and Vasili Kastoumis’ efforts, while Baker’s penalty didn’t even threaten the goal.
By contrast, United were flawless in their first two penalties from James Stojanovski and Nav Darjani.
Kaito Mukuno’s saved shot only delayed the celebrations as Daniel Geroski emphatically picked out the top right corner to confirm a grand final place for Wollongong United.
United faced a challenging run to the big dance, but they will now have another shot at grand final glory this weekend at Crehan Park against Albion Park White Eagles.
Olympic’s season concludes with back-to-back defeats in the finals series on penalties, having claimed the league championship in dramatic fashion on the final day.
Second Grade: Coniston 2 Wollongong United 1
Coniston will have a shot at claiming the Second Grade title after edging past Wollongong United on Sunday at Wetherall Park.
After a goalless first half, Bowen Spencer’s own goal gave Coniston the lead in the 50th minute, but just five minutes later Adam Vrtkovski squared the ledger for United.
Ty Emerton re-established Coniston’s lead in the 69th minute, with the team holding on to secure their grand final berth against Port Kembla.
Youth Grade: Wollongong United 2 Bulli 0
Wollongong United got their revenge over Bulli for last season’s miraculous grand final victory, producing a 2-0 win against their opponents to earn another shot at the big prize.
Mitchell Despotovski put the league champions in front in the 31st minute, and soon after the hour mark United grabbed a second goal through Joshua Surian.
United will face Cringila Lions in the big dance this weekend.
Tim Gibson
