Battlewin Premier League Preview | Round Five

Monday 22/4: U/21s 10:45am, Reserve Grade 12:45pm, First Grade 2:45pm.

Gosford City FC vs The Entrance FC – Gavenlock Oval 1

Gosford City head into round five still in search of their first win of the season, after suffering another heavy defeat at the hands of Southern and Ettalong United last weekend. In a match of contrasting halves, the Dragons side were extremely competitive in the first period, however, couldn’t sustain the effort over the 90 minutes as they shipped 5 second half goals. The match on Easter Monday could prove a great opportunity to kick-start their season as The Entrance have proven goal shy themselves so far this campaign. Gosford will be looking to top scorer Jesse Parnell to return to goal scoring form, with the young attacker currently on a stretch of two games without a goal after four in his first two matches, including a brilliant hat-trick in the clash with Toukley.

The Entrance suffered a 3-0 defeat at Terrigal United last weekend as they struggled to back up the performance that saw them upset competition favourites Berkeley Vale in round Three. It was another game without a goal for The Entrance, with the side only managing two goals from their opening four matches, both coming from striker Adam Blunden. They will be looking for maximum points from their encounter with the Dragons on Monday afternoon, with difficult fixtures against Southern and Wyoming in the coming weeks.

Berkeley Vale SC vs Killarney District SC – Mingara Club Oval 1

It’s the fixture that everyone has been waiting for as last season’s grand finalists square off for the first time since last year’s decider. Both sides have started the 2019 season in strong form, with Berkeley Vale picking up 9 points from a possible 12, with their only slip-up coming courtesy of The Entrance after a 1-0 loss at Bloodtree Oval in round three. The Wombats managed to dispatch fellow high-flyers Woongarrah last weekend thanks to two goals from Centre Half Damien Lobb, both coming from corner kicks. The match against the Wildcats was the first of a string of four tough fixtures for the Wombats, as they face Toukley next weekend before a huge FFA Cup clash at Pluim Park against NPL powerhouse APIA Leichhardt Tigers FC on Wednesday the 1^st of May.

The ‘Bats will look to be the first club to take points from a Killarney side that has started the new campaign in red hot form, scoring 17 goals in their opening four matches. They did, however, make tough work of their round four win over Kanwal, with a late goal to Tim Knight sealing the points for the Terriers. This match certainly shapes as their biggest test to date, and that is amplified when you consider that the Terriers played out their FFA Cup Fourth Round match on Tuesday night at Valentine Sports Park, the home of Football NSW. A big 7-1 victory, thanks to four goals from striker Daniel Rodger sees them through to face Hazelbrook FC in the fifth round, the side that knocked Central Coast United out in dramatic fashion in round three. Killarney will be hoping that Rodger can continue his goal scoring form on Easter Monday having already netted three goals this season in the league.

Wyoming FC vs Southern & Ettalong United FC – James Browne Oval 1

Wyoming welcome Southern and Ettalong United to James Browne Oval this weekend as they look to make it three wins on the trot after big wins over Gosford City and Avoca in recent weeks. Last weekend’s performance against Avoca was particularly impressive, with Pat Mills netting 6 goals in an emphatic 8-2 victory over the struggling Sharks, sending him to the top of the BPL Golden Boot standings with 7 goals in 4 matches. It has been a great start to life back in the Men’s Premier League for the Tigers, notching two victories from their opening three matches, with a wash-out match against East Gosford still up their sleeve to be played in early May.

The Tigers will certainly face a tougher task on Easter Monday when they meet a Southern side who have been flying under the radar a little, picking up 9 points from a possible 12, with their only loss being a disappointing 6-0 result against Killarney. The return of prolific striker Keith Gumbs has certainly given the Lions a boost as he managed two goals in last weekend’s 5-1 victory over Gosford City. Coach Dale Eggleton appears to have gotten his side playing effective football, as they continue to steadily pick up points in the early stages of the season. Looking ahead, the Lions have matches against The Entrance, Avoca, Berkeley Vale, and East Gosford over the next month as they look to set themselves up for a finals birth come the end of the season.

East Gosford FC vs Kanwal FC – Hylton Moore Oval 1

Hylton Moore Oval hosts East Gosford and Kanwal on Monday afternoon, as both sides look to pick up their first points of the season. The Rams have struggled to get into a rhythm so far this campaign. Narrow 1-0 losses to Avoca and Toukley have left Chris Powell’s side without any points so far this season, although they do still have a wash-out match up their sleeve with Wyoming to be replayed in the coming weeks. The Rams will be particularly disappointed that they couldn’t get a result of some sort against Toukley last weekend after the Gunners were reduced to 10 men early in the second half, however signs of improvement are evident, with Powell insisting his side are improving ‘but couldn’t manage to break them down to get that goal’. The match between the two sides on Easter Monday already shapes as an important clash, with both sides desperate to get some points on the board.

Kanwal will be kicking themselves that they don’t already have points on the board after giving up leads to both Woongarrah and Killarney in recent weeks, with both games being decided extremely late on in the contest. The Bulls have arguably been the unluckiest side in the competition to date, going down 3-2 in three of their four matches to sides expected to be challenging for finals at the end of the year in Southern, Woongarrah, and Killarney. Their other loss, a 4-1 defeat to Terrigal, another side expected to compete strongly this season outlines just how difficult the early season draw has been to Kanwal. The Bulls have certainly shown fight in their early season matches and that can only bode well as they look ahead to what is a much more desirable run of fixtures over the coming month, starting with their Easter Monday clash.

Toukley FC vs Avoca FC – Harry Moore Oval 1

The Gunners head into Easter Mondays clash on the back of a hard-fought 1-0 victory over strugglers East Gosford, a victory that coach Ben Nicholls said ‘should really galvanise the side and lay a strong platform moving forward’. Toukley played much of the second half with 10 men after Josh Hall was given his marching orders in the early minutes of the second period. After four matches the Gunners sit on 7 points as they continue to keep pace with the top four sides, with their only loss coming at the hands of Killarney in round three.

Avoca will be looking to bounce back after last weekend’s humiliating defeat to Wyoming, shipping 8 goals in an 8-2 loss. Coach Neal Hide acknowledged that his side were second best in the contest adding: ‘They were far too good on the day. No excuses from our side’. The Sharks have only managed one victory from their opening four matches, after snatching a 1-0 win over strugglers East Gosford in round three. The loss of two-time reigning player of the year Stu Adams to injury has certainly been felt over the last two weeks, they’ll be hopeful of having him back fit as soon as possible. Mondays match provides a good opportunity for The Sharks to get their season up and running, after already facing competition heavy-weights Killarney and Berkeley Vale in the early stages of the season.

Terrigal United FC vs Woongarrah FC – Duffy’s Oval 1

Terrigal United returned to form with a 3-0 win over The Entrance in Round Four in what will provide Martyn Griffiths side with a major confidence boost ahead of Mondays big clash with Woongarrah. Two goals from the in-form Ben Flakus and one from Josh Menzies, his first for his new club, saw Terrigal secure the three points in last weekends match. The brace from Flakus takes his season tally to 5 from four matches, leaving him second on the golden boot standings. The match-up with the Wildcats this weekend is sure to provide a stern test for Griffiths’ young Terrigal outfit, with the ‘Cats dropping their first points of the season last weekend to beaten grand finalists Berkeley Vale. Looking ahead, Terrigal face a tough run of fixtures. They face the East Gosford Rams in round 6 before a colossal FFA Cup clash with Blacktown City FC on the 1^st of May at Pluim Park, followed by matches against the inform Wyoming and Killarney in the following weeks.

Woongarrah will be looking to bounce back from last weekend’s first loss of the season against Berkeley Vale at Mingara Club Oval. Two goals from Centre Half Damien Lobb settled the contest, as the Wombats became the first side to keep the Wildcats scoreless this campaign. Woongarrah haven’t had trouble finding the net so far this campaign, with Ben Runge, Lachlan Jones and Kane Woolston all netting multiple goals in the opening four weeks of the season, and they’ll be looking to them to provide the breakthrough in what shapes as a tough match-up with Terrigal United. Looking ahead, the Wildcats face matches with Wyoming and Toukley in the coming weeks, rounding out what has been a tough month of fixtures for the BPL newcomers.