Illawarra Credit Union District League Grand Final Qualifier

Shell Cove FC vs Picton Rangers

Memorial Park

Kick-off: Saturday, 2:30pm

Referee: Lachlan Keevers

League Champions Shell Cove take on Picton in this weekend’s Grand Final Qualifyer at Memorial Park.

The Cove were soundly beaten 5-0 by Warilla in their semi-final last weekend and head coach Rob Mihailov faces a tough task of getting his players in the mindset for finals football.           

“Finals football is a different game all-together, you throw coaching out the window and it’s all about heart, grit and determination,” said Mihailov.

“It’s a challenge for any coach when you wrap up the League Championship so early to get all the players into the right mindset for finals football and to know that the job isn’t done yet. 

“This is probably the toughest position we’ve been in all year, I took some risks last week and it didn’t come off.

“We have a lot of injuries but that’s a good opportunity for some of the players that have been standing by for us all year.

“If the boys go out there and they want it then they’ll get it.”

Shell Cove go into the match with as many as six of their starting 11 out and are a long time removed from when they wrapped up the League Championship with three weeks remaining in the regular season.

Meanwhile, Picton enjoyed a comfortable 3-0 win over Corrimal last weekend and carry the advantage of underdogs into the game.

During the season when the two sides met Shell Cove ran out winners on both occasions with 2-1 and 3-2 wins.

The games have always been high scoring, competitive affairs with the clubs finishing as the top two scoring teams in the competition this season.

“We’re expecting nothing short of what they’ve dished up both times we played them this season,” said Picton boss Brett Morley.

“They usually come all guns blazing for us and I’m sure they will again so we’ll have to be right on our metal to compete.

“They’re League Champions and it’s going to be an awfully tough one so I think it will come down to who takes their chances on the day.

“They didn’t finish that many points clear at the top because they’re mugs, they’re a damn good football side.

“The mood in our camp is good, all the boys are keen and excited for another crack at Shell Cove.”

Rangers carry their own injury concerns into the game with a few players feeling the effects of a long season.

The winner will go on to face finals specialists Warilla Wanderers in the Grand Final in a week’s time. 

 

Julian Keith 

FSC Reporter