Round Three of the Battlewin Premier League rolls around this weekend, with all twelve premier league sides taking the field across the Central Coast. Two ‘local derby’s’ headline the round three action, with Kanwal Rovers hosting the Woongarrah Wildcats to kick us off on Saturday night, before Gosford City host Wyoming on Sunday in what is sure to be a hotly contested match given the player movement between the two sides this season.
Saturday 6/4:
Kanwal FC vs Woongarrah FC – U/21 3:00pm, RES 5:00pm, Firsts 7:00pm:
Kanwal will be looking to pick up their first points of the 2019 season when they face local rivals Woongarrah at Wadalba Sports Complex on Saturday night. After an opening round 3-2 loss to Southern and Ettalong United that showed plenty of promise, the Bulls backed up with a lacklustre performance against an in-form Terrigal side who dispatched them 4-1 at Pluim Park. Coach Brad Porter said that ‘Terrigal were better in every department’, adding that the result ‘is a wake-up call for us if we want to compete at this level’.
Woongarrah will be looking to extend their unbeaten start to their first season in the Mens Premier League after dispatching East Gosford and The Entrance in the opening two weeks. The Wildcats are spreading the goals across their side well in the opening weeks with Lachlan Jones, Ben Runge, and Kane Woolston all notching up two goals in as many games for the newly promoted side.
Sunday 7/4 – U/21 10:45am, RES 12:45pm, Firsts 2:45pm
Gosford City FC vs Wyoming FC
The second local derby of the weekend sees Gosford City taking on Wyoming FC at Gavenlock oval. Coming off the back of a remarkable performance last weekend in which they managed to salvage a point from a precarious position against Toukley, Gosford City will be looking to build on their performance and secure their first three points of the season. After finding themselves 3-0 down in the first half, Errol Bakers side managed to fight their way back to a 4-3 lead late in the second half, thanks in part to a hat-trick from Jesse Parnell, before Toukley hit back to see the game finish 4 apiece. Baker stated he was a ‘very proud coach’ after seeing his squad fight back from the brink, suggesting that ‘it will take time to get it right and find the consistency needed (but) we are very close’.
Wyoming will be glad to get back out on the park after having their second-round fixture against East Gosford washed out due to the heavy rain experienced last weekend. After going down in their opening match to last season’s Grand Finalists Berkeley Vale 3-0, the Tigers will be looking to secure their first points of the season. With a number of first grade players making the move from Gosford City to Wyoming this season, this match will be one you don’t want to miss!
The Entrance FC vs Berkeley Vale SC
The Entrance will be looking to kick-start their season when they face Berkeley Vale at Bloodtree Oval on Sunday afternoon. After back-to-back defeats to Toukley and Woongarrah in the opening two weeks, The Entrance are in need of a result of some sort to get some points on the board and will face a tough task against an in-form Berkeley Vale side. With only one goal from their opening two fixtures, The Entrance are in need of goals and may find it tough when facing a Wombats side who have only shipped one goal in their opening two fixtures.
Berkeley Vale will be looking to make it three wins from three on Sunday, after notching up victories over Wyoming and Avoca in the opening two weeks. Winger Michael Tawyer and striker Troy Mumford have both been in good form in front of goal throughout the early stages of the competition, bagging two goals each. The Wombats will face a short turn around after this weekend’s match, with a trip to Valentine Sports Park on Wednesday the 10th April to face Marayong FC in their third round FFA Cup match. If they manage to progress, they will then face a mammoth fourth-round test at home to NPL heavyweights APIA Leichhardt Tigers FC.
Killarney SC vs Toukley FC
Killarney have hit the ground running this season and will be looking to nab another win when they face Toukley at Edsaac North on Sunday afternoon. A 6-0 victory over Southern & Ettalong United last weekend proved a good reminder to everyone of their ability as they look to secure a fourth straight premiership this season. Coach Chris Ackerley described the performance as the Terriers best all-round performance in three years, on the back of a brace from Daniel Rodger. Killarney will also be involved in the FFA Cup Fourth-Round, facing a trip to the South Coast to face last season’s St George Premier League Cellar-Dwellers Lugarno FC.
Toukley will face a major test against last season’s premiers, as they look to bounce back after a disappointing result in last weekend’s match with Gosford City. To blow a three-goal lead against a young Gosford City side will have been a major disappointment to coach Ben Nicholls, especially after snatching a win in the first round against The Entrance.
Terrigal United FC vs Southern & Ettalong United FC
Terrigal United come into this weekend’s round-three match up with SEU at Duffy’s Oval with plenty of momentum after convincing victories over Gosford City and Kanwal in the opening weeks. Martyn Griffiths side have been in menacing form, bagging 10 goals in their opening two games, including an opening week hat-trick to Cameron Wilkinson, and three goals across the two games from Ben Flakus. Terrigal will also face a big test in round-four of the FFA Cup, drawing NPL heavyweights Blacktown City in a home tie.
Southern & Ettalong United will be looking to bounce back from last weekend’s heavy defeat to Killarney, however they will face a tough task against an inform Terrigal side. The Lions will be looking for a result of some sort to consolidate their opening weekend victory over Kanwal, and with two winnable games coming up against Wyoming and The Entrance, the match provides a great opportunity to build a solid foundation for the long season ahead.
Avoca FC vs East Gosford FC
Avoca head into Sundays match with the East Gosford Rams at Erina High School on the back of arguably the toughest start in the league, opening the season with back to back fixtures against last season’s grand finalists Killarney and Berkeley Vale. 4-2 and 3-1 losses respectively have left Avoca without a point heading into round three, however they have certainly proven to be competitive in these matches. Mitch Harrison will be looking to continue his goal scoring form, bagging two goals so far this campaign.
East Gosford will be looking to get their season up and running after crashing to a heavy 5-1 opening round defeat at the hands of Woongarrah, before having last weekend’s fixture with Wyoming washed out. The Rams have had a bad run throughout pre-season, with a number of trial matches being cancelled due to poor weather, and their lack of competitive game time showed in the second half of their opening match with Woongarrah. The match this weekend will provide a good indication of where both sides are at as East Gosford look ahead to fixtures against Toukley and Kanwal in the coming weeks.
