The first week of the finals series in the Illawarra Premier League 1 provided some tight contests, blow-outs and plenty of goals as the stakes went up a notch.
Here is how it played out across the weekend.
Qualifying Final First Grade: Albion Park White Eagles 1 Cringila Lions 0
Albion Park ground out a 1-0 win against Cringila Lions in a close-fought battle at Tarrawanna Oval on Saturday.
The White Eagles played a confident first half, getting several good shots away, with Cringila goalkeeper Nikola Ristevski called into action to keep the scores level.
Despite Albion Park’s pressure, the teams went into the sheds with the deadlock still to be broken.
Cringila made a fast start to the second half, and were inches away from taking the lead early on.
The contest became cagey as it wore on, with one goal looking to be enough to win it.
In the 77th minute, Sam Alston sprinted down the right wing and delivered a ball to the back post for Zander Alston, who made no mistake to give Albion Park the lead.
The White Eagles fought off a late Cringila offensive, including a crucial goal-line clearance from Nathan Millgate, to claim the win.
Albion Park will take on Wollongong Olympic this week for a spot in the grand final.
Olympic edged out the White Eagles to the league title on the final day, setting up a hotly contested clash this time around.
Elimination Final First Grade: Wollongong United 5 Helensburgh Thistle 2
A relentless Wollongong United beat Helensburgh 5-2 after extra time on Sunday in a hard-fought encounter at Macedonia Park.
The Thistle targeted a fast start with some urgent pressing. Within the first two minutes, Charlie Jones tested Tom Alston’s glove work, firing a powerful effort from a tight angle in the left of the box, but the United goalkeeper was equal to it.
Despite Helensburgh’s positive start, it was United who struck first in the ninth minute. Jordan Nikolovski executed an outstanding touch and volleyed finish inside the box to give the side some early joy.
It didn’t take long for Helensburgh to respond. Three minutes after the Thistle conceded, Ethan Lehn drifted inside from the right and picked out the far side of the goal to rally the travelling Helensburgh.
The chances continued to flow, and in the 16th minute, United’s James Stojanovski lined up a strike from range that whistled over the bar.
Moments later, United came even closer through Jason Zufic who blasted an effort from inside the box that prompted a superb stop from Thistle goalkeeper Luke Morgan.
In the 22nd minute, Daniel Geroski did well to maze his way into the left of the box and drive a shot towards the near post, forcing Morgan into a low save.
United’s good play paid off four minutes later, when Stojanovski’s right-sided free-kick met Kyah Jovanovski at the far post, who powered a header into the goal from a narrow angle.
The teams soon tightened up at the back, with no further goal action heading into halftime.
The Thistle came out firing for the second half as they sought a swift route back into the game, but some desperate defending kept the visitors at bay.
United worked their way back up the pitch, and in the 57th minute, Nikolovski rolled a shot wide from the left edge of the box, with a series of other opportunities for the side coming close.
Helensburgh did not give up, and equalised with 10 regular minutes to play. Charlie Jones set off down the left and slipped a smart finish inside the near post.
In the 88th minute, United almost restored their lead when Jovanovski steered his header from a corner goalwards, but Morgan produced another top save.
At the end of regular time, the teams could not be separated with the scores locked at 2-2, so the game went to extra time.
Both teams targeted space in wide areas, as legs began to tire, but there were few clear cut chances in the first half of extra time.
Just before the midway point of extra time, United hit the front for the third time in the game. Yosuke Akiyama brought the ball down in the box and hit a low shot past Morgan to give the hosts the lead yet again.
United sealed the deal in the 111th minute, when substitute Sam Matthews’ header from a right-wing cross nestled in the left of the goal.
With only a seconds to spare, United added further gloss to their win through another of their substitutes Nav Darjani, who raced in on goal and slotted a right-footed finish past Morgan.
Helensburgh’s unprecedented season came to an end in the first week of finals, after the side made the top flight final series for the first time in their history in 2026.
Wollongong United will tackle Cringila this weekend, with an opportunity to continue their finals run.
Qualifying Final Second Grade: Bulli 2 Coniston 4
Coniston will have a shot at making the big dance next week, defeating Bulli 4-2 in a dramatic extra time win at Tarrawanna Oval on Saturday.
Two late first half goals courtesy of Orlando Zapata and an outstanding solo run from James Jovanovski, had Coniston cruising heading into the final 15 minutes.
Jake Almond halved the deficit for Bulli in the 78th minute, before Flynn Martin coolly tucked away a late penalty, sending the game to extra time.
Orlando Zapata restored Coniston’s lead just four minutes after the restart, followed by Gabriel Zapata’s goal five minutes later to finish off the contest.
Coniston face Wollongong United, while Bulli play Albion Park in the next round.
Elimination Final Second Grade: Cringila Lions 2 Wollongong United 3
Wollongong United progressed through to a chance at the big dance on Sunday at Macedonia Park, with a 3-2 win against Cringila Lions.
Antonio Sansone gave United lead just seven minutes, but only two minutes later, Yoan Ciugureanu equalised for Cringila.
Jarrod Lasala re-established United’s lead midway through the half, before Shotaro Iwamoto restored parity on the stroke of halftime.
Mitchell Despotovski scored the winner from the penalty spot in the 63rd minute to secure United’s clash with Coniston this week.
Qualifying Final Youth Grade: Cringila 1 Bulli 0
Cringila earned their shot at making the grand final following a 1-0 win against Bulli on Sunday at Macedonia Park.
Axl Hornby scored the winner for the Lions only four minutes into the second half.
Cringila face Wollongong United this week, with Bulli fighting to keep their grand final chances alive against Albion Park White Eagles.
Elimination Final Youth Grade: Albion Park White Eagles 5 Tarrawanna Blueys 0
Albion Park stormed to a 5-0 win against Tarrawanna on Saturday at Tarrawanna Oval and continued their run in the finals series.
Lukas Galic gave the White Eagles a late first half lead, but soon doubled their advantage after halftime.
Jackson added a third goal in the 58th minute, followed by Dylan Griffiths’ effort in the 71st minute to make it four.
Luka Radisavljevic made it five in the 84th minute to round out an impressive outing for Albion Park.
The side will take on Bulli next week, with Tarrawanna now eliminated from the competition.
