Week Two of the Final Series and with three sides eliminated after the playing of the Quarter Finals in mid-week, this Saturday provides the opportunity for three teams to book their spots at the Big Dance at WIN Stadium on Saturday September 24.

Three sides will live to fight another day whilst for the other three teams it will be a case of season over.

Let's have a look at the schedule for Saturday and you can make your own mind up on the outcomes.

 

Saturday 10th September

Tarrawanna Oval, Tarrawanna

First Grade - KO 2.30pm Elimination Semi Final

Fernhill v Balgownie Rangers - Referee Blake Herbert

The Foxes come into this fixture after suffering a four goals to two loss against Warilla Wanderers in an entertaining quarter final on Tuesday night.
In a game which was end to end throughout, mumerous goal scoring opportunities were created by both sides but it was the Wanderers who made the most of theirs.

Balgownie on the other hand were involved in a very even contest with with Thirroul FC before prevailing in extra time when Nicholas Morgan scored with a terrific strike from a direct free kick on 116 minutes.

During the competition proper Fernhill got the better of Balgownie on both occasions but semi final football is a very different beast and can be a great leveller this time of year which is not lost on Fernhill Coach, Daniel McGoldrick. When I spoke with Daniel, he was quick to point out that the two games earlier in the year were quite close affairs and he is expecting this semi final to be a tough contest.

McGoldrick was obviously disappointed to lose to Warilla the other night but was philisophical about it when he said his side failed to take their chances and made too many mistakes which the Wanderers capatalised on. He was under no illusion that if his side failed to improve in these two areas they could be in for a bit of a struggle against what should be a committed Balgownie side.

On top of that he has lost two key players, Dale White (interstate committment) and Andy Keep (interstate work) but has confidence with the depth within the club to be able to cover for the abscences.

From Jamie Dummett's (Balgownie Coach) point of view, given that they only got into the Final Series virtually with the last kick of the regular season, the Magpies have got nothing to lose in this one. It is case of one game at a time for his charges because 'anything can happen at this time of the year'.

The fact that Bally haven't beaten Fernhill this year doesn't concern them as proven on Tuesday night having lost both previous matches to Thirroul. Dummett believes that Fernhill are well structured particularly defensively and he rates their Keeper, Akira Tatsubayashi very highly.

Tip: Fernhill

 

Reserve Grade - KO 12.15pm Grand Final Qualifier Semi Final

Thirroul FC v Fernhill - Referee Michael Kusi-Appauh

Thirroul come into this fixture as League Champions and the luxury (or is it?) of having the weekend off whilst Fernhill had a good win over Warilla Wanderers (2-0) on Wednesday night with Andrew Breslin scoring both goals, to earn the right for a shot at a spot in the Grand Final.

During the competition proper, Thirroul won both encounters, the last one in round 21 but by the barest of margins on both occasions (3-2 & 1-0) so this points to a another close match here.

However, Fernhill's resources could be a bit stretched over the three grades with a number of players unavailable due to work & wedding committments and Breslin could find himself playing first grade to fill a void there.

There is a lot of firepower in both these teams with over 150 goals scored between them in the Regular season. Oscar Pruks with 16 goals was the main man up front for the Thunder whilst Breslin was the offensive weapon for the Foxes with his contribution of 24 goals.

Let's hope there are plenty of goals in this one although the two defences were very strong during the season and could possibly nullify the attacking element in the game.

Tip:Thirroul FC

 

Youth Grade - KO 10.00am Grand Final Qualifier Semi Final

Helensburgh Thistle v Fernhill -Referee Michael Bell

Helensburgh as League Champions should be nice and fresh for this latest match up with Fernhill who won there way through to this Grand Final Qualifier on the back of a good three goals to one victory over Wests Illawarra on Tuesday night.

The Thistle do appear to have the wood on Fernhill having beaten them twice (1-0 & 4-2) during the competition with the last victory coming three weeks ago.

Both teams are not shy in front of goal with over 170 goals between them in the competition proper with Reece McAlpine & Bradley Watts with 15 apiece leading the way for the Burgh whilst Cody Jones chipped in with 24 for Fernhill although he didn't play in the win over Wests the other night.

Tip: Helensburgh Thistle

 

Wetherall Park, Primbee

First Grade - KO 2.30pm Grand Final Qualifier Semi Final

Corrimal Rangers v Warilla Wanderers -Referee Tony Bosevski

The big one on Saturday, with a spot in the Grand Final up for grabs, brings together the sides that finished 1st and 2nd on the table with Corrimal finishing as League Champions, nine points clear of today's opponents.

The difference between the two sides quite clearly was the fact that the Rangers were able to win both League Games when they faced off ironically by the same score-line (3-2).

Today the slate is rubbed clean in this mini-competition with a different prize at stake and with Corrimal proving to be vulnerable given their surprise last round loss to Kiama, denying the Rangers an 'undefeated season', Warilla might fancy their chances that they could in fact improve on their impressive five Grand Final appearances in the six seasons that Coach Barney King has been at the helm prior to this one.

It has been quite some time that a John Fleming coached side appeared in a Grand Final but with the experience that he brings to the game and the fact that Corrimal has enjoyed such a good season, I expect that this game should be quite an exciting contest with an added bit of spice about it.

Warilla carried their fine form in the second half half of the season into Tuesday nights semi final with Fernhill, running out winners by four goals to two in a see sawing fixture.

Neither side has had trouble in front of goal in 2016 but this one could be decided by the team which performs the better defensively on this occasion. 

Given what's at stake, one expects this to be a very tight affair with not a lot between the two sides on paper and could well be a preview of what to expect on Grand Final Day.

Tip: Corrimal Rangers (just)

 

Reserve Grade - KO 12.15pm Elimination Semi Final

Warilla Wanderers v Oak Flats Falcons - Referee Nick Ryan

Warilla Wanderers were beaten by two goals to nil by Fernhill on Wednesday night and will now need to re-group to keep their season alive when they take on Oak Flats who were two goals (Blake Crandell & David Kiss) to one victors over Corrimal Rangers in this eliminator. There are no second chances for the loser of this one.

Warilla won both matches  by the odd goal in each, against the Falcons during the season but they were real early in the piece (Rds 1 & 12) so you probably can't use those as any form guide.

Oak Flats did sneak into the Final Series in a winner take all game against Balgownie Rangers in Round 22 and have been in good form prior to this one with four wins in the last five matches whilst Warilla have won three in the same period of time.

Another close game expected here with the losers to put up their feet for 2016 whilst for the winner there will be one last chance to play at WIN Stadium in a couple of weeks.

Tip: Warilla Wanderers

 

Youth Grade - KO 10.00am Elimination Semi Final

Thirroul FC v Wests Illawarra - Referee Aden Crawley

Thirroul enter this eliminator on the back of a three goals (Robert Gyngell 2, Jarred Walter) to two victory over Warilla Wanderers scoring all three goals in the first half before inviting the Wanderers back into the contest with two late goals.

Wests on the other hand were beaten three goals to one by Fernhill and will be hoping to bounce back into form here to stay in the hunt for a date with destiny in a couple of weeks.

Have said that, Wests do bring the best form into the fixture have won four of there last five games (including Tuesday night) and accounted for Thirroul (3 wins from 5) in Round 22 in a resounding four goals to one victory. The other game between the two sides ended in a three all draw back in Round 11.

As mentioned previously, past results between the two during the season more often than not count for nothing when it comes to Finals Football. You are only as good as your next game with everything on the line when it comes to do or die matches such as this one.

These two teams scored a massive 180 goals between them in the 22 rounds of competition so this semi final does have the smell of goals about it. Ryan Sutcliffe (Thirroul FC ) and Aidan Gallo (Wests) both scored 18 for their respective clubs so look out for these two poachers although both players came up empty on Tuesday night.

One thing for sure, this semi final should not end up scoreless.

Tip: Wests Illawarra (to keep the dream alive for DD)

 

Report by David Naylor

Photo courtesy of Pedro Garcia (library image)