Avoca v Terrigal
Local derby between Avoca and Terrigal meets this Sunday for their second instalment in 2025, with massive relegation implications on the line for both sides who currently occupy the bottom spots on the MPL ladder.
After Terrigal’s 3-0 victory over Wyoming last weekend, and Avoca recording their biggest defeat of the season against Berkeley Vale, these two teams swapped places on the ladder as the Sharks are now in last, while the O’lads are in ninth, one point ahead of their rivals.
When these two sides met back in round 5, the fixture that was originally supposed to be played at Duffy’s Oval was moved to Bloodtree Oval on a wet and wild Sunday afternoon.
That fixture saw Mitch Harrison’s Avoca take a 2-0 lead thanks to a slow start from the opposition. Terrigal got themselves back into the contest thanks to a penalty and almost found an equaliser late in the game.
However, it was Avoca’s day who scored late and recorded a 3-1 victory, a first of the year at that time for the Sharks.
Harrison reflected on that contest ahead of their rematch, “I don’t think either team can take too much stock out of what happened last time we played.”
“The weather was chaotic and prevented both teams from playing their preferred style, resulting in a scrappy game that we ended up edging.”
Avoca’s only other victory so far this season came two weeks ago when they welcomed Ourimbah to Fagan Park.
Having lost to Ourimbah the previous week 2-1, Avoca righted their wrongs and were crowned 1-0 winners in front of a home crowd, taking all three vital points in their first clean sheet of 2025.
Despite being in a relegation battle for a second straight season, Harrison is adamant this squad isn’t feeling any duress. “We’re not feeling too much pressure. We were relegated last year and knew coming back to the Premier League at short notice was always going to be tough.”
“Our goals this year are all about progression as individuals and as a squad, and I still believe we can achieve that. Terrigal have been one of the competition’s leading sides for a few years now, so I’d imagine they’d be far less comfortable in a relegation fight than us.”
With so much already on the line, you have even more tension heading into the fixture as neither side likes to lose against their local rivals, and a result for either side could make all the difference between relegation and playing MPL football next season.
Harrison lays out the game plan his side will enter Sunday with as they look to record a sweep of victories in the ‘battle of the beaches’ derby in 2025.
“Both teams always step up for this fixture. It’s always a really tough and intense game with a lot of feeling from both sides. After we beat them round 1, I’m sure Piercey will have them fired up.”
“It’s simple for us, we have to outwork them in every department on the weekend. If we all do the work, our quality will shine through.”
Terrigal search for back-to-back victories for the first time this season as they look for some breathing space from the bottom of the ladder.
Hosting their ‘Old Boy’s Day’ at Duffy’s Oval last weekend, Ryan Pearce and his men put together one of their best performances this season as they defeated Wyoming for a second time this year.
Terrigal will look to take that momentum and confidence into this week’s derby as a victory will put them four points ahead of the guaranteed relegation zone.
Reflecting on their loss earlier in the season to Avoca, Pearce stated, “That was a tough loss for us to take.”
“We were wasteful in front of goal, and when pushing for the equaliser late in the game, we copped the third, which was a knockout blow. I expect it to be a battle, both teams making up the bottom two on the ladder and desperate to win.”
Also questioned if his squad is feeling any pressure at this stage of the season and their current placing on the ladder, Pearce voiced, “We haven’t shied away from the disappointing place we’re in, but there is only one way out and that’s to win games.”
“My boys need to keep believing in their ability to compete at a higher level that we have shown this season. We have great patches where we are very competitive against good teams, but complacency and dumb decisions have crucified us at crucial stages of games.”
Terrigal received a boost to their line-up last weekend as player-coach Ryan Pearce returned from injury for the O’lads and played a crucial role in their 3-0 victory.
Pearce, who had been through all the high and lows of this club in recent years, added some much-needed experience to this young squad along with captain Max Vegter, who brings a wealth of knowledge to this Terrigal side and will play an instrumental part in their success this weekend.
Pearce breaks down what he is anticipating from the opposition on Sunday as well as the keys to victory for his side.
“Being a derby, I expect physicality and effort to be at the forefront for both teams. It’s always a lively crowd, so every player will be giving their all.”
“If we can show up with the same attitude and work ethic as last week and build off that performance, we will do well.”
All Round 14 Fixtures –
