The WGC Cranes District League Competition gets underway this Easter Weekend across three grades and it is now time to get down to the 'nitty gritty' after the 'huffing and puffing of an arduous pre-season.

All coaches will tell you how important it is to get off to a good start to the 2016 campaign and the need to instill a winning mentality is imperative if sides are looking to be involved in the in the Season Ending Final Series.

For some, there is the bigger prize of Promotion to the Premier League to contend with and in this 2016 version there is no doubt that Corrimal Rangers will start hot favourites to take out this coveted crown especially on the back of their Pre-Season form coupled with the fact that they have established a formidable group of players with a wealth of Premier League experience.

In a reduced competition (22 Rounds), there is now the possibility of Relegation to Community League Division One for those at the lower end of the table when the month of August rocks around.

Let the Fun, Excitement & Drama Begin!

 

Friday, March 25

Balgownie Rangers v Thirroul FC @ Judy Masters Oval 3pm KO

Referee: Nicholas Ryan

After finishing a lowly 12th in 2015, Balgownie Rangers will be one of those clubs looking to get off to a better start this time around. The Rangers form in the pre-season has been mixed with just the one win in the Frat Cup but they were soundly beaten three goals to nil by Oak Flats Falcons in the Bampton Cup on the weekend.
Coach Jamie Dummett believes his side is better equipped going into the new season but unless he finds a quick fix to his Goal Keeping issues this could turn out to be another tough campaign.

Thirroul finished 4th last season and despite loosing a big number of players from the 2015 Roster in the lower grades, the bulk of the first grade side has been retained but will have a younger feel about it (Avg Age 22). That's not a bad thing and Coach Garth Bowley is very confident that The Thunder will be very hard to beat on any given Match Day across the Board.
Bowley indicated that matches against 'Bally' are always tough and is expecting nothing different on 'Opening Day'. Thirroul go into the match on the back of a one-nil loss to Kiama in Round One of the Bampton Cup but their was not a lot between the two sides in that one.

Tip: Thirroul FC

 

Bellambi v Kiama Quarriers @ Elizabeth Park 3pm KO

Referee: Nathan Wotton

Bellambi begin their 'rebuilding' campaign with the visit of Kiama to the Aviary on Friday. The Rosellas have been decimated in the off-season with the loss of a full first grade side relegated from the IPL last season.

However, Coach Greg Smart, is confident that the club will Rise from the Ashes and produce three competitive sides in 2016. It may take a little time for his 'new' team to gel based on their pre-season form and their elimination from the Bampton Cup last Saturday by UOW FC (1-3).

Kiama make the trip north and will be buoyed by their success over Thirroul in the knockout fixture last time out. After finishing 11th in 2015, Coach James Spence is well aware that his side needs to get off to a good start in an effort to avoid a repeat of last season's effort.
Spence is also very conscious that his side needs to improve dramatically from a defensive point of view (2nd worst defensive record in 2015), so keeping a clean sheet against Thirroul would have been seen as a positive start.

Tip: Kiama Quarriers

 

Fernhill v Corrimal Rangers @ Ray Robinson Field 3pm KO

Referee: Aden Crawley

In what could well be the match of the round in District League this Holiday Weekend, what better way to start the season than with a local Derby.
Fernhill Coach, Daniel McGoldrick is very upbeat now that the pre-season has finished and is very happy with the squad that has been assembled at Ray Robinson for this assault on the D/L Premiership. The Foxes just missed out on a finals berth last year but the 2nd year coach is very confident that his charges can go one better this time around and make the Top 5.
After a mixed Frat Cup campaign (1W, 1D, 1L), Fernhill progressed to the next round of the Cup, after a very tight two goals to one victory over Wests Illawarra with Ben Moerman scoring the winner with virtually the last kick of the game.
McGoldrick has recognised his team's first up opponent as the Benchmark for the new season but believes if his charges can match Corrimal with their enthusiasm for the full 90 minutes then they are a chance of getting something from the game.

Corrimal Rangers commence their pursuit of 'The Promised Land' after an almost flawless Pre-Season Campaign resulting in victory over Wests Illawarra by two goals to nil in the Frat Cup Final two weeks ago and backed it up with a solid three goals to nil victory over Berkeley Sports in Round One of the Bampton Cup.
The only blemish was a loss to Wests in the Group Stage of the Frat Cup but this was quickly erased by the result in the Final.
Has as been well publicised, the Rangers have assembled a very experienced side with a lot of quality players coming on board for what should be on paper be a massive opportunity for promotion to Premier League at season's end.
They have quality players all over the Park with arguably the Best Goalkeeper (Mitchell Blowes) in the Area at one end but it is the pointy end of the Park where they have loads of firepower with the Picciolini Brothers (Mark & Luke), Dominic Magill & Save Treneski with goals written all over them.

The biggest task for Coaches, Tony Dulevski & Yani Sekuloskicould well be keeping egos in check especially if they get a couple of setbacks but as Sekuloski points out if they take nothing for granted and take the season one game at time, week in week out, then this does not come into the equation.

Tip: Corrimal Rangers

 

UOW FC v Helensburgh Thistle @ Kooloobong Oval 3pm KO

Referee: Ryan O'Sullivan

Brendon Fotheringham is the new man in charge at Kooloobong Oval having taken over from David Boscoscuro who was in charge when Uni finished 8th last season. With the nucleus of last season's first grade side back on board, Fotheringham is confident that the Students can look forward to a top half finish.
UOW were beaten in the semi-finals of the Frat Cup by the odd goal in a seven goal thriller against Wests Illawarra before continuing their good early season form with a comfortable three goals to one win over Bellambi in the Cup last week.

Fotheringham will need to find a replacement for one of his goalscorers from that game with Anthony Gigliottibeing suspended after bent sent off eight minutes from time. The new coach has mentioned that there is some good old fashioned rivalry between the two clubs with Thistle Coach Brod Crighton having been a previous Coach of UOW.

Helensburgh were also a beaten semi-finalist in the Frat Cup, losing out to eventual winners, Corrimal Rangers. Some of that good form was carried forward to last Saturday but unfortunately there was a Cup exit at the hands of Warilla Wanderers in a five goal thriller.
The pleasing aspect for Crighton from that game was the Burgh showing some terrific spirit in fighting back from a half time two goal deficit to draw level with 30 minutes left in the game but weren't able to find a winner.
Nathan Mucci could be the 'go to' man for Helensburgh this season after scoring both goals against the Wanderers.
After finishing 3rd in 2015, the Thistles have lost 4 or 5 experienced players from last year's squad but Brod is happy with this season's outfit and will have a competitive side on the park each week which he believes will provide the side with a top five finish.
Looking at this week's fixture he adds that Uni took six points from the Burgh last season and he is hell bent on making sure there is no repeat performance this time around.

Tip: Draw

 

Saturday March 26

Warilla Wanderers v Oak Flats Falcons @ King Mickey Park 3pm KO

Referee: Mick Agim

Another local derby,this time in the South, to kick start the 2016 shootout. These fixtures are always tight affairs and this promises to be no different.

A Barney King coached side is always very competitive and this 2016 version will be in keeping with previous teams. King has bulit another strong squad of players which is sure to be in 'the reckoning' come the end of August. In fact, he is confident that this outfit has a 'promotion' look about it.
Paul Gaffney will make a re-appearance in the District League and his guile in the middle of the park could just provide the Wanderers with a cutting edge which the likes of Chad Keating, Luke Greathead & Colin Walker should prosper from. The Wanderers had a great hit-out in the cup against Helensburgh and progressing into the next round should provide them with the tonic to commence their League campaign in a positive fashion.
King said that games against their neighbours are always tough, and with their opponents having a new coach & new players this derby should be no different.

Marty Madden is the new Coach at the Falcons having taken over from Michael Garcia who has moved into a new role at South Coast Wolves in the off season.
Oak Flats finished 7th in 2015 and with the nucleus of last season's squad being retained & and the addition of a few new players, there is an air of confidence around Keith Bond Oval which could see the Falcons playing finals football at season's end.
After going through the Frat Cup undefeated, Oak Flats had a comfortable three goal victory over Balgownie Rangers in the Cup with the Murdzevski twins getting on the score sheet along with Daniel Petrolo.
Madden is looking forward to the Derby which he says are usually torrid affairs. He is quick to point out that Warilla have had the wood on the Falcons in recent times and wants nothing more that to turn that record around and get his new club's season off to the perfect start.

Tip: Warilla Wanderers

 

Wests Illawarra v Berkeley Sports @ Unanderra Oval 3pm KO
Referee: Nicholas Ryan

In the other Saturday game, Wests Illawarra will lock horns with Berkeley Sports with both clubs having new coaches in charge for the new season.
Successful Youth Grade Coach, Arthur Kinnas has taken over the mantle at Wests after the departure of Steven Dimitrievski to an Assistant Coaching Role at Wollongongong United.
Kinnas has had a bit of a dream start to the position with his young side finishing runners up to Corrimal Rangers in the Frat Cup Final. The Rookie Coach has implemented a Youth Policy at the Club and has wasted no time in providing former Youth Grade players with a taste of first team football.
With an average age of 23, Kinnas his setting his sights high and his of the firm belief that if his young side can get off to a good start in the Competition, a top 5 finish is not out of the question.
Wests were a bit unlucky last week against Fernhill in the Bampton Cup and after going behind early in the first half, his side fought back well in the second period, looked like finishing over the top of the Foxes after equalising but got caught out with a sucker punch at the death.
Kinnas says he hasn't seen much of Berkeley in the pre-season and like most games this season 'he will take it as it comes'.

Paul Mears is the man in the hot seat at Berkeley Sports having taken over the reigns from Jason Higgs who moved onto Cringila Lions in the off season.

In his first season in charge, Mears has no high expectations at the club and would settle for a mid-table finish come the end of 22 rounds. The side enjoyed two wins in the Frat Cup but were beaten by title favourites Corrimal Rangers, three goals to nil in the Bampton Cup last time out.

The Rookie Coach is expecting a hard game against his Round One opponents, realises they will be up against a young side so it is important that they match the youthful exhuberance and then some if they are to come out on top.

Tip: Wests Illawarra

 

David Naylor