DISTRICT LEAGUE – ROUND 4 PREVIEW

Even after three rounds, the league table is starting to take on a familiar shape with most of the favourites rising to the top. Helensburgh Thistle still lead the way although Oak Flats have shown that their Round 1 win over Warilla was no fluke as they too have a 100% record. Two big games stand out this week with possible early dress rehearsals for the finals series.

MATCH(S) OF THE ROUND

OAK FLATS FALCONS v HELENSBURGH THISTLE @ Keith Bond Oval, Saturday 16 April @ 3.00pm

The only two teams with a perfect record meet for the first time this year. Oak Flats look to have surprised a few people with their start to the season but the reality is that the signs were there in the preseason cup. They have shown that they will be difficult to break down this year and with a few handy players up front, they may just be our leagues very own Leicester City story. Coach Martin Madden seems to have his chargers playing with confidence however they face a stern test in Helensburgh this week.

The Burgh have been one of the form teams in the District League competition and were made to work hard for their win last week against a resurgent Kiama. A late goal to Chris Russell saw them get the points. They have found the net 11 times already in just three games however it will be interesting to see how they go against one of the best defences in the league.

Oak Flats won this corresponding fixture last year 1-0. This one is harder to pick than a broken nose and as such I will sit on the fence with this one and pick a draw (1-1).

CORRIMAL RANGERS v WARILLA WANDERERS @ Memorial Park, Sunday 17 April @ 3.00pm

What a game to round off Round 4 with two sides that have developed quite a rivalry over the last few years. These two teams are also going into this game in good form after they both had stuttering starts in Round 1.

Corrimal Rangers backed up their 8-1 trouncing of Wests Illawarra to score three unanswered goals at Balgownie last week. They have one of the most formidable set of attacking options brimming with Premier League experience. They have scored 11 goals in their last two games and holding Corrimal scoreless will be quite a challenge.

Warilla have made some astute signings over the last couple of weeks to further strengthen their squad. One in particular is former White Eagle -Bojan Caric, who scored twice in last weeks 2-0 win over Berkeley Sports. Experienced coach - Barney King, has just started getting the Warilla juggernaut rolling and they face another early test this week.

These two sides won a game each last year during their match up series and whilst I expect a close game, I don’t expect this game to be scoreless. I think Corrimal are set for a bumper year and my prediction is that they will overcome Warilla 3-1 at home.

BERKELEY SPORTS v UNIVERSITY FC @ Berkeley Sportsground, Saturday 16 April @ 3.00pm

In other games this weekend, two sides that over the years have pushed for playoff spots find themselves at the wrong end of the table in the early rounds. This bodes as an important game for these clubs as a defeat only extends the gap between them and the rest of the pack.

After a good start to the season last year, Berkeley Sports have been in somewhat of a free fall having won just two of their last eleven games and it seems at this stage at least that things haven’t quite improved with a solitary point to show for their efforts in 2016 so far. Of more concern perhaps is the fact that they have only managed to score one goal so far and that came in Round 1.

University FC look to have blown a tyre in the early part of the season as they had a reasonably strong pre-season campaign which just hasn’t yet flowed onto the regular season. In saying that, they have played three of the top five teams in what has been a difficult run of games. The concern for coach Brendan Fotheringham will be just how they how lost these opening games. Defensive lapses have been a feature of University’s defence so far so it will be interesting to see how they go against Berkeley’s stuttering offence.

I do expect University to bounce back this week extending Berkeley’s miserable league form. The books 2-0 I think.

KIAMA QUARRIERS v WESTS ILLAWARRA @ Kiama Leisure Centre, Saturday 16 April @3.00pm

Kiama have shown enough already to suggest that they will be challenging for a playoff spot come Round 22. The difference seems to be a more balanced team where they have been quite consistent. Coach James Spence has managed to blend some youngsters with his experienced players. They will look to take some of the positives out of their narrow 2-1 loss at Helensburgh over the weekend to their game against Wests Illawarra.

Speaking of Wests Illawarra, they seemed to pick themselves up after their 8-1 mauling two weeks ago at Corrimal however they were still on the wrong end of a 1-0 loss to Fernhill last week. Coach Arthur Kinnas did a good job motivating his players for last week’s clash in which they showed great spirit but just lacked that bit of luck. They face another challenge this week and will buoyed by their performance last week as they look to get their season rolling. A loss here even at this stage of the year I think will see the club finish outside the top five.

I am expecting a low scoring affair with Kiama at home getting up possibly 1-0.

FERNHILL FC v BALGOWNIE RANGERS @ Ray Robinson Field, Saturday 16 April @ 3.00pm

After picking up two draws in the opening Rounds of the season, Fernhill broke through for their first win of the regular season with a gritty 1-0 win over Wests Illawarra. It wasn’t pretty but not all wins are. Coach Dan McGoldrick would be reasonably satisfied at Fernhill’s unbeaten start particularly given the opposition they have played however; he would be expecting nothing less than three points this week against an inconsistent Balgownie side.

Balgownie have been a bit of a Jeckle and Hyde side this year already having smashed Berkeley 5-0 in Round 2 and having 3-0 losses either side of that. It is hard to pick which side is turning up this week although they can ill-afford a scrappy performance against a resolute Fernhill side who are just starting to get rolling.

I think Fernhill will beat Balgownie by two goals just as they did in their corresponding fixture last year.

THIRROUL THUNDER v BELLAMBI @ Thomas Gibson Park, Saturday 16 April @ 3.00pm

Thirroul put in a solid performance last week beating University 4-1 and they will be looking to carry that momentum into and past this week as they face an out of sorts Bellambi who are yet to register any points yet. Luke Mittwollen and Ryan Latini have been solid for the club so far this year and these two got themselves on the scoresheet last week. Coach Garth Bowley will be looking for nothing less than three points this week if his team is to mount any serious threat to the competition.

Since being relegated, Bellambi have gone through a rebuilding phase however they will be keen to get themselves off the mark before teams start to pull too far away. There have been some signs that this team is capable of getting results but for coach Greg Smart, the key is consistency. They just haven’t yet been able to put together a solid 90 minutes.

I see Thirroul having too much pace and firepower in this one. Thirroul by two.