Championship outlook fine and ‘Dandy’

ILLAWARRA PREMIER LEAGUE

DAVID NAYLOR

DANDALOO'S chances of an IPL three-peat shortened dramatically after round 23 when main challengers Bulli and Dapto slipped up.

The defending champions banged seven goals past a shell-shocked Wollongong United outfit while Dapto (2-1 against Kiama) and Bulli (4-1 against Albion Park White Eagles) recorded shock losses.

Those results have handed Dandaloo (51 points) a six-point lead over Bulli and Dapto with three rounds to play.

At Dandaloo Oval, goals came at regular intervals with Matt O'Shea netting a hat-trick.

Other goals were scored by Anthony Guido (2), Paul Gaffney and Ilija Prenzoski.

Meanwhile, a horror start to the second half saw Bulli lose 4-1 to Albion Park White Eagles at Ball's Paddock in the match of the round.

Bulli dominated the opening half an hour but just could not turn their superiority into goals, twice being denied by diving saves from Whites Eagles' 'keeper Mitchell Blowes.

The visitors weathered the storm and scored against the run of play with a 25m free kick from man of the match, Arthur Diles.

Albion Park held their one-goal advantage until halftime and started the second half on fire, scoring three times in the opening 25 minutes to end the match as a contest.

Goals came through a double to Osagie Ederaro (2) and a penalty to David Graovac.

Rohan Daley scored a late goal that offered no consolation for a Bulli team rocked by a dismal defensive performance.

Meanwhile, Kiama produced arguably the upset of the season when they defeated Dapto 2-1 at Kanahooka Lodge.

Facing IPL oblivion after nearest rival Coniston's shock win in round 22, the Quarriers produced a spirited performance against the competition heavyweights.

Kiama snatched the lead after 15 minutes through James Donlan.

However, the hosts looked to have snatched a point through Ben Bartlett's 89th-minute equaliser.

Kiama scored the winner from the kick off when Josh Price popped up to score.

The Quarriers could again get out of the drop zone when they host Coniston in round 24.

On Friday Coniston scored a routine 3-nil win over cellar-dwellers Kemblawarra.

Cringila moved into the all-important top eight with a gutsy 1-nil win over Picton Rangers at Hume Oval.

Tarrawanna dropped out of the top eight after a disappointing 1-nil loss to port Kembla at Tarrawanna Oval.

Mark Piccolini was on hand to finish a goal-mouth scramble in the dying stages and secure the points for Port Kembla.

Tarrawanna had a golden chance to equalise when Vic Costabile found himself one-on-one with Port 'keeper David Chambers. However, the Port Kembla custodian was good enough to stop Costabile and preserve the visitor's one-goal advantage and the three competition points.

South Coast United defeated Warilla Wanderers 2-nil with a goal in each half at Sir Ian McLennan Park to complete the Illawarra Premier League round.