Joey Lavalle's strike from the edge of the box, as Corrimal battle to clear their lines in the opening exchanges, sent Olympic ahead, before John Martinoski caught Rangers on the break in the 68^th minute, sealing a 2-nil win.

As a result Olympic are now seven points clear at the top of the standings, with seven games remaining, after Albion Park held on to beat a fast-finishing Coniston 2-1.

But coach George Antoniou is determined to temper any title talk in July.

"We just can't get too far ahead," Antoniou said.

"It was great to get the early goal, they had to come at us then and it also opened up some opportunities for us.

"Of course, it's great to be in our position, we all knew it was a big game and Corrimal are very good. But all we can worry about now is a tricky game against Woonona, who are also playing well this season.

Antoniou acknowledged their shock loss to Cringila earlier in the campaign shows the league's unpredictability.

"We dropped those points against Cringila and it showed how hard it is to win games, so we're not thinking too far down the track just yet," he said.

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The victory over Corrimal keeps their hopes of a treble alive, with a semi-final date coming against Tarrawanna on July 17, having beaten the Rangers 2-nil in the quarters.

It came as there was another dramatic shift in the relegation battle on Saturday.

Cringila outlasted Fernhill 1-nil at Crehan Park, sending the Foxes shuffling towards the trap door, after South Coast United sealed a thrilling 2-1 win over Port Kembla.

United trailed early on, but had the advantage by half-time, thanks to a double to Chris Smith.

Coach Greg Valic praised South Coast's "ugly" determination.

"Yes, it was a lot of defending, yes it was difficult, yes it was ugly but its three points and that's what we need right now," he told Football South Coast. "The playing group has been fantastic in the past month, we're starting to pick up results and we're starting to build a little bit of resilience... as long as we keep performing and grinding out these results, then fingers crossed we can do enough."

Cringila have now picked up 13 of the last 18 points, their extraordinary mid-season revival continuing with a 1-nil win over Fernhill on Saturday.

It takes them five clear of the Foxes at the bottom of the ladder.

Wollongong United not have two catch-up games, after the clash with Woonona was postponed due to the state of the pitch, while Bulli and Tarrawanna drew 1-all.

Wollongong Olympic's title chase with seven rounds remaining

R16 v Woonona (A), R17 v South Coast United (H), R18 v Tarrawanna (A), R19 v Fernhill (H), R20 v Bulli (A), R21 Port Kembla (H), R22 v Wollongong United (H).

Cringila have now picked up 13 of the last 18 points, their extraordinary mid-season revival continuing with a 1-nil win over Fernhill on Saturday.

Round 15

WOLLONGONG OLYMPIC 2 d CORRIMAL 0, BULLI 1 drew with TARRAWANNA 1, CRINGILA 1 d FERNHILL 0, SOUTH COAST UNITED 2 d PORT KEMBLA 1, ALBION PARK 2 d CONISTON 1, WOLLONGONG UNITED v WOONONA postponed.

Ladder: Wollongong Olympic 35 (+18), Albion Park 28 (+10), Corrimal 27 (+19), Tarrawanna 25 (+11), Woonona 23 (-5), Wollongong United 20 (5), Bulli 20 (0), Port Kembla 20 (-1), Coniston 18 (+2), Cringila 14 (-16), South Coast United 10 (-20), Fernhill 9 (-23).

It takes them five clear of the Foxes at the bottom of the ladder.

Wollongong United not have two catch-up games, after the clash with Woonona was postponed due to the state of the pitch, while Bulli and Tarrawanna drew 1-all.

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