5 Things to Watch for in Round 9 of the IPL
What a barnstorming round of football last weekend proved to be with the top two dropping points and Wollongong United well and truly reentering the title race. Woonona also picked up their first points of the season which leaves South Coast United alone at the foot of the table. It’s time to move on to Round 9 and discuss the five things I’ll be keeping an eye on.
1 —Can Bulli turn their form around in a Grand Final replay?
LLDL is Bulli’s record in their last four matches, the club’s longest run without a win since June of 2008 (where they went eight matches without a win). Their latest defeat came at the hands of arch-rivals Wollongong United Bert Bampton Cup on Tuesday night.
For perhaps the first time in Matt Bailey’s fledgling coaching career, he is under considerable pressure. He has three sides breathing down his neck and he won’t have any Cup success to lean back on as he did in 2018. Bulli have a number of players out of form and with niggling injuries. Ben McDonald hasn’t been able to keep himself on the park due to injury and his absence up top has hindered his fellow forwards while the ever-reliable Kenji Takahashi could miss the next six weeks with a knee injury.
This weekend they travel to Wetherall Park to face the side who seemingly stole the Grand Final trophy out of their grasp last September. Of course, that side is Port Kembla who had a strong 3–0 victory over Fernhill in their last league match though rotation led to them going down against District League side Helensburgh in the Cup on Wednesday night.
In saying all this, Bulli still occupy first place on goal difference so it isn’t all doom and gloom for the boys from Balls Paddock. As for Saturday’s match, if I was to pick a winner, I would go with Bulli, however, I am tipping a draw.
2 — Picton vs Woonona in another potential relegation six-pointer
It took them two months to do it, but the Woonona Sharks have finally got on the board by recording a 2–0 win over Corrimal with number 7 Brendan Pattman netting a brace. On Tuesday night, they backed up the three points by progressing to the fourth round of the Bert Bampton Cup thanks to a penalty shootout win over second division side Oak Flats.
On Saturday, the Sharks travel to Hume Oval to face Picton who have lost their last two matches by two goals. Last season, these two sides finished in the bottom two places and on the final day of the season, Woonona went to Picton needing just a point to avoid finishing last only to concede in the 87th minute and lose 1–0.
This won’t be a pretty match, it could easily be another 1–0 either way but my tip sheet reads Picton.
3 — Albion Park need to be wary of the wounded Foxes
Albion Park’s draw with Wollongong Olympic last weekend moved the White Eagles to within a point of top spot. In truth, it was an extremely impressive performance especially defensively with Olympic’s star man Yusuke Ueda barely getting a sniff on goal. They backed up the following day to beat second-tier side Berkeley in the Bert Bampton Cup with Paul Carter taking the opportunity to field a number of fresh faces.
Fernhill sits in eighth position after a 3–0 defeat away to Port Kembla which they followed up with a 2–0 defeat at home to District League outfit Warilla in the Bert Bampton Cup. Despite this, the Foxes have already shown they are capable of springing a surprise so Carter’s side will need to have the guard up because dropping points before taking on Bulli and Wollongong United would be a real blow to any title aspirations.
Albion Park will be without goalkeeper Chris Fuentes who saw red against Olympic, however, they have signed former Cringila goaltend Joel Tinker who is expected to start between the sticks.
4 — Cringila take on Wollongong United in the Macedonian Derby
Crehan Park will host the next edition of arguably the biggest Macedonian Derby in Illawarra football with Cringila taking on Wollongong United. Cringila had a spiriting nil-all draw with table-toppers Bulli last weekend but suffered a 4–1 defeat in the Bert Bampton Cup to Wollongong Olympic four days later.
Wollongong United have returned to form over the last month with five wins in their last six matches in all competitions. That run includes two wins over arch-rivals Bulli including a last-gasp 3–2 win in the Cup on Tuesday night.
Despite Cringila’s awful league returns over recent seasons, they actually have an okay record against United having only lost six of the last ten meetings (half by a single goal). I have my money on United continuing their fine form in this one though it is interesting to consider if they were to win, it may be the first entirely non-Macedonian team to win a Macedonian Derby (in this region at least).
This match will also see Cringila coach Zivko Jovanovski go up against the side he coached during 2017.
5 — After a shock defeat, can Corrimal bounce back?
Corrimal’s winning ways came to an end in Round 7 when they lost to Tarrawanna, however, as I wrote last week I expected them to get back in the winners’ circle in Round 8. That didn’t happen with the Rangers going down 2–0 to Woonona at Ocean Park.
The result leaves Corrimal tied with Port Kembla and Tarrawanna in fifth place which is symbolic of the logjam of sides expected to be still fighting for finals football come Round 22. Corrimal now have Wollongong Olympic and Bulli in two of their next three matches which could see them limping into the second round.
Corrimal coach Rob Jonovski is quietly confident of a positive performance saying, “I think it will be a top game of football with two sides desperate to win. We will be ready come Sunday and obviously, I am hoping we come away with the points.” If the Rangers were to spring an upset win on Sunday, it would be their first league win at Memorial Park this season.
Some positive news out of Memorial Park is the signing of ex-Wollongong Wolves and Kemblawarra Fury utility Sam Matthews.
Update - Matthews hasn't officially been released, however, the deal is still expected to go through.
