Two goals in five minutes from Fury forward Matthew McNab were enough to see his side through to Saturday's Fraternity Cup final. In a very tight game, dominated by defences at both ends, Woonona just couldn't find a way through, though the Sharks' performances over the course of this pre-season cup campaign will leave them in good spirits heading into the Illawarra Premier League proper later this month.

McNab looked lively from the outset, picking up a pass from Sam Munro as early as the fifth minute, and flicking the ball just over with the outside of his foot. And it was McNab again who won a free kick moments later, which saw Ryan Suttle put in a cross for McNab himself to head towards the target. Bradley Jardine in the Woonona took that effort easily, but for much of the 90 minutes, it was Woonona's back four that kept Fury out.

Christopher Gibson and Godfrey Franco worked tirelessly, putting in brave tackles, getting bodies in the way and leaping highest to keep out whatever The Fury front line could throw at them. In a format where substitutions could roll over and players could return to the pitch after being substituted, it was significant that The Woonona coach did little to upset the rhythm of his determined and focused back line.

At the other end, Fury's defence performed equally well, especially with injuries forcing coach Luke Maguire to pick an unfamiliar back four, led by captain Alvin Ceccoli. In contrast to the Woonona defenders' repeated heroics, Fury's well organised back line virtually prevented Woonona's forwards from getting a look in. 

The Sharks' first real chance came after 20 minutes when Cameron Banks swung a free kick just wide of the upright. It was the hard-working Caleb Russell who came closest for Woonona in the first half, though. His dipping cross almost beat David Poeira in the Fury goal, though the keeper took the ball at the second attempt.

So the sides went in at half time goalless, with little to choose between them.

There was a hint of goals to come at the start of the second half, though, with chances at both ends.

Suttle won a corner down the right for Fury, from which Munro fired a shot just over.

Down the other end, Valentino Merxhushi won a corner for Woonona, from which Banks won the ball before laying it back to Merxhushi whose shot hit the side netting.

McNab saw a shot fly just wide for Fury before Banks produced the best save of the game from Poeira down at the other end.

The game had opened up at last, but it was Fury that made the most of it. In the 51st minute, Suttle raced to the byline, finally getting in behind the Woonona defence. His perfectly-placed cross found McNab, who had an easy header into the back of the net, giving Jardine no chance.

And five minutes later, the game was effectively sewn up, as for the second time Fury found a way past the Woonona back four. This time Shane Murray lobbed Franco and drove the ball in from the byline, again finding McNab in the perfect spot to steer a right foot shot wide of Jardine.

Woonona never gave up, though. With fresh legs up front from subs Ryan Hunter and Joel Beattie, the Sharks continued to bear down on the Fury backline. But still there was no way through, at one point Beattie twisted and turned for 10 metres before unleashing a fearsome shot, but yet again there was a Fury defender in the way.

As the game wore on, Fury were looking more likely to increase their lead, but the tireless Gibson kept putting in the vital tackle to prevent further efforts on goal.

And right at the death, in possibly the Sharks' best move of the night, Elias Ayoub put Merxhushi through on goal, but the unlucky Woonona midfielder saw his shot fly just wide of the post. There was to be no consolation goal for the Sharks tonight. But this was a game performance boding well for the season ahead.

In McNab, Fury have someone up front who knows where the goal is, and a team behind him which will work to find a way through even the most resolute defence as we saw tonight. Fury's back four worked well this evening, so this will be an even harder team to beat when some of their first choice defenders are fit again.

Kemblawarra Fury – 2 (McNab 51’, 55’)

Woonona FC – 0

Wednesday 9 March 2016

Memorial Park

Referee: Greg Reid

Assistant referees: Aden Crawley, Emma Hayes

Kemblawarra Fury: Poeira, Suttle, Pender, Brown, Murray, Hartas, Ceccoli, McNab, Friedrich, Munro, Mears (subs: Iacovelli, Powell)

Woonona: Jardine, Minch, Gibson, Franco, Besgrove, Morlando, Merxhushi, Ayoub, Banks, Nicol, Russell (subs: Hunter, Beattie, Hutton, Ellul, Beezem)

Report by Simon Duffin

Photo by Pedro Garcia