Neither Bulli nor Kemblawarra were able to claim a victory at Balls Paddock on Thursday, with missed opportunities from both teams leading to a nil-all draw.

Both teams looked to be in control and certain to score at various points in the match, but the margin of advantage was so small that neither team were able to assert themselves for very long.

Kemblawarra Fury lived up to their name from the outset, attacking the ball fiercely in their defensive half and moving swiftly in counter-attack. By contrast, Bulli looked to establish control and patience in attack, using the mid-field as their attacking platform.

The first half was a real showcase as to the style of play that each team would be looking to take forward in the season, but neither team seemed able to force their opposition to play the game they wanted them to.

The early momentum seemed to belong to Bulli, who controlled most of the possession and established their attacking shape within the first twenty.

But Kemblawarra, using what limited possession they were able to gain in that time, were able to create dangerous opportunities from unstructured plays, rushing their counter-attack and creating havoc for the Bulli backs.

The initial composure that Bulli enjoyed, seemed to fray toward the end of the first half, as Kemblawarra began to find some attacking shape of their own despite Bulli’s Tobin Zoomers provided some sterling efforts in the mid-field. A number of close misses from Kemblawarra showed that it was still anyone’s game at the beginning of the second half.

The tension of the first half was ratcheted up significantly in the second, with scoring opportunities all over the park and furious competition for the ball. David Hartas started to find some space for Kemblawarra in a series of dangerous attacking runs on Bulli’s goal, but Bulli managed to withstand the mounting pressure with some outstanding defensive efforts in their back half.

With the clock counting down, both teams were desperate for any kind of advantage from the whistle.

The final ten minutes provided a dramatic summary of the match, with goals by both teams disallowed for offside infringements, fuelling the rising tempers both on the pitch and on the sideline. Poeira saved the day for Kemblawarra with a tremendous save from a Bulli free kick, and moments later Kemblawarra received a free kick themselves, fended off admirably by Kuwata.

The frustration of the impending draw brought the teams to blows late in the second half, certainly demonstrating the passion with which they played, and the close competition between them in this match will serve as a tantalising preview in any future match-ups between them this year.

Kemblawarra Fury – 0

Bulli FC – 0

Thursday, 24^th of March

Balls Paddock

Kemblawarra – Poeira, Sang Ho, Rhodes, Lyons, Hartos, Iacovelli, Ceccoli, McNab, Murray, Munro, Zufic (Shields, Suttle, Sama, Brown)

Bulli – Kuwata, Naylor, Best, Knight, Burleigh, Kerr, Zoomers, Davies, McDonald, Lewis, Minutillo, Oliveira (Fish, Clements, Takahashi, Emerton)