ALL OR NOTHING IN PENULTIMATE WEEKEND OF PREMEIRSHIP FOOTBALL

It is a case of ‘Last Chance Saloon’ for all sides in this weekend’s Grand Qualifiers as they battle for the right to play at WIN Stadium in the 2015 Season Deciders on September 27/28.

Premier League

This week’s encounters take place at Crehan Park on Sunday with Bulli and Wollongong United locking horns in the First Grade Final with the winner taking on Dapto Dandaloo a week later.

Results between the two sides in 2015, having met three times, suggest that this match should be an even contest with the two sides having a win each and the other match drawn.
Having said that, Bulli scored a meritorious victory in the major semi-final against United seven days ago by two goals to nil, playing the majority of the game with ten men after a send-off which should give them confidence going into this return fixture.

Bulli would have been disappointed with their three-nil loss to Dapto Dandaloo in the Grand Final Qualifier last Sunday whilst United would be buoyant after their four goals to one success over Albion Park WE in the sudden death final albeit after extra time to earn them this re-match and a shot at glory.

Ben McDonald is the go to man for Bulli and his 25 goals in the regular season is a terrific effort from a player that leads the attack well for his side. On the other hand United do not have a stand out goal scorer with a number of players contributing during the season but we can expect Matt Floro and Johnny Martinoski to figure prominently even though both came off the bench to score in last week’s win over the White Eagles.

The key to this fixture could well be which defence comes out on top and United might have the edge in this department having conceded a miserly 23 goals during the competition proper.

It is difficult to pick a winner in this one with the game highly likely to go down to the wire. If Bulli can convert some of the half chances into goals (fell down in this area against the Fury last week) they could earn themselves another opportunity to pick up some silverware on the Big Stage on Grand Final weekend.

Kick Off 2.30pm

In the Youth Grade fixture, League Runners-Up Dapto Dandaloo will face off against Port Kembla who has made their way to this play-off fixture from 5^th spot.
The Fury was unlucky to get beaten by Bulli last Sunday conceding the only goal of the game in the dying moments whilst Port Kembla blasted five goals past APWE in the second half of their sudden death encounter.

This might be a Bridge too far for Port and I expect the Fury to win this one and with it the right for another encounter with Bulli in the season decider.

Kick Off 12.15pm

District League

This week’s Grand Final Qualifiers are set down for Terry Reserve on Saturday.

After losing a very tight Grand Final encounter against Corrimal Rangers last time out, League Champions, Picton Rangers will take on Helensburgh Thistle with the winner going into the Grand Final.
Helensburgh Thistle, by contrast were reasonably comfortable in their three goals to one victory over Warilla Wanderers and their run of form late in the season has been very impressive.

Interestingly, the Rangers form in the back end of a wonderful season, in which they went 22 rounds undefeated, has fallen away with four losses in the last five games including last week’s loss to Corrimal.

With so much at stake and everything to play for, this should be a very good game with both sides having a lot of experience in their respective teams and form of late should not be an issue.

The key to this battle could well be decided in the mid-field and whoever gets on top in this department could go a long way to determining the outcome. Aiden Matthews is the standout for the Rangers in this area of the field but he and his colleagues will need to make sure that Monty Pfrengle and Andrew Paine are kept in check to give them the momentum.

During the season proper Picton got the better of the Burgh on both occasions scoring eight goals and conceding nil in the process. However, these games were played early in the piece (Rds 2 & 15) and will count for nothing come kick off time

Tough one to pick but inclined to go with League Champions which will give them a chance at the ‘Double’.

Kick Off 2.30pm

In the early games, Picton Rangers (4^th) and Helensburgh Thistle (3^rd) will also play in the Reserve Grade Final (KO 12.15pm) whilst the Thistle’s Youth Grade side (4^th) (big day for the Burgh) tackle League Champions, Corrimal Rangers to commence the day’s proceedings at KO 10am.