Tarrawanna coach Peter Willis insists the League Championship title race is not an immediate focus for the Blueys as they attempt to edge even closer to the top of the competition this weekend.
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A seven match unbeaten run has propelled Tarrawanna up to fourth spot on the ladder and just five points off pacesetters Wollongong Olympic and Bulli.
They’ll get the chance to close the gap even further to the leaders when they host Bulli at Tarrawanna Oval on Saturday afternoon.
It shapes as one of the Blueys’ most important matches this season, but Willis watered down talk of a title assault.
“It’s the old cliche that we just take each game as it comes. We just have to win our games and see where it takes us,” he said.
“Every game we are out to win and we only have to worry about ourselves. If we start worrying about other people that’s where you come unstuck.”
Tarrawanna have taken 19 of a possible 21 points from their past seven matches to highlight their credentials as an Illawarra Premier League force this season.
Willis felt his team’s watertight defence was the key contributor to that impressive run. The Blueys have conceded just two goals while scoring 13 in their past seven games.
“We are keeping a lot of clean sheets at the moment and if you are doing that, you are giving yourself a better chance to score,” Willis said.
“We are very dogged in what we do. We are persistent in the way that we keep playing the way we want to play.
“Last week we didn’t score in the first half but at half time, nothing changed. We kept going and we wear teams down a little bit in that sense.
“Everyone is working well as a unit which always helps.”
Bulli inflicted one of Tarrawanna’s two losses earlier this season when they beat the Blueys 2-1 in round three.
“We played well that way to be honest and a lack of concentration cost us a goal,” Willis said.
“They were playing well at the time and are a good side.
“They are a good passing side.
“They are similar to us, in that they have a lot of young guys in the team and they are doing well.
“I don’t think they have had too many injuries so that has helped them great deal.”
The Blueys clash is one of two matches which feature top-five clubs on the weekend.
On Sunday, fifth-placed Port Kembla will play host to Olympic at Wetherall Park.
The match will coincide with the Zebras annual Pizza Day.
“We hoping for a great turnout especially playing a great club like Olympic,” Port president Emilio Salucci said.
In Saturday’s other matches, Wollongong United face Picton Rangers at Macedonia Park, Woonona host Cringila Lions at Ocean Park and Albion Park White Eagles meet South Coast United at Terry Reserve.
On Sunday, third-placed Kemblawarra Fury host Corrimal Rangers at Macedonia Park.
