Dapto Dandaloo Fury booked their place in the 2014 Grand Final with a come from behind 2-1 win over Port Kembla at Crehan Park on Sunday.

Shaun McRae scored a stunning solo-effort in the second half to earn the win for the Fury after Noel Spencer’s penalty cancelled out Mitchell Scazzariello’s opener for Port.

Dapto Dandaloo will face League Champions Bulli in the decider next weekend and the Fury will take confidence from the Final win.

“We’ll take character from this, the two wins we’ve had in the finals series we’ve come from behind so obviously next week we want to get on the front foot early,” said Fury player-coach Noel Spencer.

“We only got a couple of chances today and we scored two so we’ll take a lot of positives out of today and move onto next week.

“It was pleasing to hold them out because they have some experienced players that have been around the track.

“We live to fight another day. I’m just really delighted for the boys; grand finals is what it’s about.”

In one of the most entertaining games of the season both sides had early chances to hit the lead in an end-to-end affair.

Dapto Dandaloo pressed the Port goal with Shaun McRae and Fabian Lacovelli putting David Poiera to work early on but it was Port Kembla who struck first in the 28^th minute.

Matthew Tesoriero made a good move down the right and swung in a great ball to the near post where Scazzariello was on hand to bury the ball first time for the 1-0 lead.

The Fury had a chance to draw level five minutes later when Shane Lyons blasted a shot from the edge of the area just wide of the Port goal.

The equaliser came for Dapto Dandaloo just before the half time whistle when Matthew Werakso brought down Chris Bush inside the area.

Spencer stepped up to calmly slot the penalty and bring the sides level at the half.

The second half opened with a period of good football from Port but it was the Fury that found the go-ahead goal in the 57^th minute.

McRae picked up the ball wide left of the box and went on a bewitching run through the Port defence and across goal before lashing the ball into the bottom corner.

Port had a fantastic opportunity to get back into the game with 15 minutes remaining when Will Mobbs was gifted a free header inside the area but couldn’t direct it on target.

A tight finish had Port frenetically pushing for an equaliser but it wasn’t to be as the Fury defence held solid to seal the win.

“All credit to the Fury, it was a tight game and they took their chance,” said Port boss Stuart Beedie.

“Try as we might we just couldn’t really fathom a really good chance in the second half.

“I thought we were having our best spell when we conceded; it’s a funny game football but that’s how it is.

“On another day we could’ve won 2-1 but when it’s that close and tight that’s how it can go.”

The Fury will take confidence from the win and will need it if they hope to overcome a resilient Bulli side next weekend.

2-1	Dapto Dandaloo Fury	Port Kembla
Goals:	N. Spencer (42’); S. McRae (57’).	M. Scazzariello (28’).
Bookings:	W. Oostendorp (y).	M. Werakso (y)

 

Referee: Bobby Mazevski

 

Julian Keith

FSC Reporter