Illawarra Premier League Season 2023

FIXTURES AND RESULTS

THE FINALS SERIES

GRAND FINAL

The GF is between Cringila Lions v Coniston FC on a warm spring afternoon with a light northerly wind blowing down the ground.

Cono fans welcome their team on the field.

Cringila Lions launch an early aerial attack.

Takayuki Kayano shadows Peter Simonoski.

Michael Mendes attacks Coniston down the left wing.

Mendes fires the ball into the goal zone.

Kaydin Harrison deflects the ball from the goal.

Anthony Krsteski fires the rebound goalward.

Krsteski fires the rebounded rebound back at goal again.

Harrison’s triple-save keeps the score at 0-0.

Tobias Norval goes down just outside the box.

The Cringila walls does its job. The score remains 0-0.

Michael Mendes crosses from the left flank.

Harrison under pressure plucks the ball out of the air.

Harrison holds the ball tightly to make the save. 0-0.

Nikola Ristevski punches the ball over the bar.

Lukas Stergiou defends the Lions counter.

Ristevski pushes the shot onto the crossbar.

The header from the rebound narrowly misses. 0-0.

The Lions are unable to break through the Coniston defence.

Harrison Taranto is brought down from behind.

Lions fans rev-up in support of their team.

Lions are almost caught on the break as they surge forward for an equalizer.

Full Time : Cringila Lions 0 Coniston FC 1

ELIMINATION FINAL

The Elimination Final is between Albion Park White Eagles and Coniston FC. The winner will play Cringila Lions in the Grand Final next week.

Kaydin Harrison thwarts White Eagles early attack on goal.

Christopher Nathaniel breaks up the Coniston FC attack.

Jason Zufic launches the Cono counter-attack.

The cut-back as Coniston FC mount pressure on the White Eagles defensive line.

End-to-end action. Wille dribbles inside .

Kaydin Harrison safe hands commands the Cono six-yard zone.

Matthew Floro is through and slots the ball into the net.

Coniston FC defend against the aerial threat.

Brendan Fordham with a defensive header.

Halftime: Albion Park White Eagles 0 Coniston FC 0.

Hayden Durose saves under pressure from Takayuki Kayano.

No compromise challenges for possession.

Cassidy Tanddo makes a last-ditch block.

Taiga Kitajima is brought on to sharpen the White Eagles attack.

Harrison with a brave save preventing Wille scoring on the quick counter.

Brendan Griffin shoots from the edge of the penalty box.

Daniel Loe drives the ball across the keeper.

Cono fans celebrate the late breakthrough.

Full Time: Albion Park White Eagles 0 Coniston FC 1.

Coniston FC will meet Cringila Lions in the Grand Final nest week.

MAJOR SEMIFINAL

Albion Park White Eagles play Cringila Lions in the Major Semifinal. The winner goes into the Grand Final while the loser will play Coniston FC next weekend.

Morgan latches onto a cross and belts the ball into the net.

Goal! White Eagles take the lead after just 4′.

Liam Wille breaks down the inside right.

Wille crosses to Morgan who shoots with a first time drive.

The Lions attack down the right looking to peg back the lead.

White Eagles header stops Anthony Krsteski reaching the ball.

Stefan Dimoski surges down the right flank.

Krsteski battles with Renji Shimizu in the White Eagles box.

Krsteski is down in the box. No penalty.

White Eagles go tight on Ekoue D’almeida.

Wille with another attempt. White Eagles pepper the Lions goal.

The referee checks that Peter Simonoski has put the ball correctly on the spot.

Simonoski sinks the penalty with aplomb.

White Eagles defend the break with three at the back.

Full time: Albion Park White Eagles 2 Cringila Lions 3.

Cringila Lions secure their Grand Final place. Albion Park White Eagles will face off with Coniston FC in the Elimination Final next week.

Elimination Semifinal

Wollongong Olympic take on Coniston FC in the Elimination Semifinal. The winner plays the loser between White Eagles and Cringila Lions tomorrow afternoon.

Teams enter the field for the do-or-die clash.

Nick Littler intercepts the ball down the right wing.

Kaydin Harrison smothers Rick Goodchild’s shot.

Jake Morlando and Yuto Sugiura in battle.

Goodchild turns and sends the ball to Sugiura.

Kaydin Harrison pluck the cross out of the air under pressure form Christopher Price.

Tobias Norval is in-and-out around the box as Olympic sit-in deep under Cono pressure.

Jason Zufic and Sugiura in a struggle for the ball.

Cono celebrate Samuel Matthews’ goal. 1-1 in the 38′.

The raven looks over the Halftime break: Olympic 1 Cono 1.

Zufic on a Cono attack early into the Second Half.

Cono defence holds under Olympic pressure.

Harrison saves another attempt on goal by Olympic.

Cono celebrates the Norval goal in the 75′.

Coniston move into the Elimination Final next weekend.

The Elimination Round is between Coniston FC and Bulli FC 1901 in this sudden death round.

Underway. Coniston defence wins the ball outside their area.

Kyle Jackson sets up a Bulli 1901 attack.

Coniston use their pace on the counter down the right.

Jake Morlando in battle with Lachlan Bryce.

Tobias Norval breaks through down the left.

Yuki Hashimoto attacks Cono down the right.

Kayano fires one into the Bulli penalty zone.

Cassidy Tanddo belts the ball in from the right wing.

Bulli 1901 start the second half with an all out attack.

Jarvis Paterson blasts the ball into the net.

Christopher Arditti in a one-on-one with Braeden Kludass.

Full time: Coniston FC 3 Bulli FC 1901 1.

Cono progress. Bulli 1901 are eliminated.

ROUND 22

The final round and four teams are vying for a Final Series spot. Cringila Lions FC play Bulli 1901 FC at home having already qualified for the 2 v 3 spot. Bulli 1901 however need a win to guarantee a spot in the Finals Series otherwise they will depend on other results. All games in the last round are played simultaneously to ensure there is no prior advantage.

Players take to the field in a must win for Bulli 1901.

Bulli 1901 are immediately on the attack.

Miguel Clarino sets up an attack into the final third.

Peter Simonoski has his penalty claim turned down.

Simonoski’s shot flashes just outside the upright.

Lewis Grimshaw drives down the inside left.

Grimshaw shot across the keeper is saved by Nikola Ristevski.

Deakin Brownlee belts the rebound back in.

Harrison Taranto drives a rocket into the net from outside the penalty area. Lions draw level 1-1 (32′).

Halftime: Cringila Lions 2 Bulli 1901 1.

Anthony Krsteski flick off the corner makes it 3-1 in the 72′.

Jarvis Paterson closes the scoreline to 3-2 in the 92′.

The game ends Lions 3 Bulli 1901 2. Bulli scape into the Finals Series due to Wollongong United losing to Albions Park White Eagles.

ROUND 21

The penultimate round -the premiership goes to Albion Park White Eagles who continue their winning ways by defeating Coniston FC at home. Bulli 1901 FC win and move back into the Top Five. Wollongong United sit just outside the Top Five and need a win. A loss would see them in 6th spot with only one round left. For Wollongong Olympic a win will put them in 2nd position with the prize of a double nibble at the cherry in the Finals Series.

Wollongong United in a huddle before the start of the game. They need to win to stay in the Top Five.

Jake Charlston prevents the Olympic header back into the six-yard zone.

The Olympic defence allow no room for the Yamada turn.

Harry Callahan drives directly through the centre.

Cristofer Fuentes holds the near-post cross-shot.

David Hartas passes the ball centrally on the counter.

United bring the ball down the right flank.

Tynan Diaz is down in the box. No penalty.

A Joshua Alcorn header puts Olympic in front in the 26′.

Wollongong Olympic 1 Wollongong United 0 (26′)

Olympic continue to control the ball and attack.

Fuentes clears up at the back for Olympic.

Olympic players appeal for the handball.

The United wall does its job. The score remains 1-0.

Diaz makes it Olympic 2 United 1 from the penalty spot in the 64′.

Solid defence ensures that Olympic move into 2nd Place and United into 6th Place.

Full Time: Wollongong Olympic 2 Wollongong United 0.

ROUND 20

Wollongong United need to win the rest of their games if they are to ensure progression to the Finals Series. Bulli 1901 are just three points behind them in Sixth Place. South Coast United who seem eternally tied to second from bottom are out of relegation danger because Bellambi Rosellas who have had a very disappointing season are already relegated.

Underway. Martin Joseski pushes the ball wide in a South Coast build-up.

Danny Lazarevski clears the ball out of defence for United.

United stop the right-wing attack. Foul.

United control the early play in the middle of the park.

Jason Bleakley punches the United cross to safety.

Under South Coast pressure United defence scramble the ball away.

Plenty of well-timed tackles go in by both sides.

It is a high-paced counter-attacking game.

Bleakley saves at the other end for South Coast.

Bleakley punches in the end-to-end game.

Halftime: Wollongong United 0 South Coast United 0.

Yamada celebrates the break-through goal.

Wollongong United 1 South Coast United 0 (74′).

ROUND 19

The Tarrawanna Blueys play Bulli FC 1901 in the Battle of the North. Bulli 1901 are relying on results going their way to make the Finals Series whilst the Blueys are out of contention and well above Bellambi Rosellas who sit in the relegation spot at the foot of the table. The weather is cool with a light southerly breeze.

Matthew Naylor receives a Guard of Honour for recognition of his contributions to the Blueys.

Adam Rodriguez is bravely down to nullify the Bulli 1901 break down the leftwing.

Lewis Grimshaw is down on the edge of the penalty area. A direct is awarded to Bulli 1901.

Blueys counter. The ball drops on and bounces off the crossbar back into play.

The Blueys launch an attack through midfield.

Daniel Chapman clears the ball from the defensive lines to start a Blueys attack.

Kyle Jackson pressures the Blueys defence.

Rodriguez saves the Bulli 1901 shot across the keeper. 0-1.

Bulli 1901 continue the press and tackle.

Logan Mathie is on the ball as the halftime whistle blows.

The ball curls into the top left-hand corner.

Full-time: Tarrawanna Blueys 1 Bulli FC 1901 3.

ROUND 18

Bulli FC 1901 are in crunch moment. They need points to stay in touch with the Top Five. Their opponent Albion Park White Eagles FC are flying high on the table. A win for the White Eagles would almost certainly be the Premiership title bar a catastrophic end in the final rounds of the season.