Bulli travelled to Crehan Park on Saturday hoping to consolidate second position on the ladder, and came away with an emphatic five goals to nil victory over a disappointing Cringila Lions side.

The visitors started the better of the two sides and the Lions were put on notice as early as the 2nd minute when youngster, Dylan Lewis volleyed over from close range after meeting a Ryan Emerton corner from the left side of the park.

Two minutes later, the score board attendant started his work, when a sweet cross from Lewis (operating down the right flank) was met by Julian Minutillo, whose firm header, at the far post, found the back of the net with Crini Keeper, Brynley Richards having no chance.

Eight minutes later, the lead was doubled when Lewis once again got the better of his marker and provided another pin point cross (low and hard) across the face of goal and this time Ryan Emerton provided a deft touch with his right foot at the near post with his shot finding the far corner. 

Playing their normal 4-3-3 possession based style of play, Bulli were creating all sorts of problems for the home side who were finding it difficult to get a foothold in the game during the opening period and when they did get the ball Cringila failed to hold control before turning the ball over.
When they did advance forward shots on goal were few and far between and they were generally from distance which failed to trouble the Bulli Custodian, Yuya Kuwata to any great effect.

Cringila's best moment of the first half (29') fell to Daniel Atkins. Atkins had played a neat interchange of passes with Mikel Awad in centre-field before firing in a great shot from 25metres which flew just wide. 

Seven minutes prior to the interval, Lewis's great work up to this point was rewarded when he got his name on the scoresheet. Receiving the ball wide on the right, some terrific footwork allowed the lanky winger to make some space for himself and he headed for goal. Lewis then played a quick one/two with Minutillo on the edge of the penalty area. Lewis was now through on goal and when faced with the on-rushing Richards, he calmly slotted the ball past the keeper to provide Bulli with a three goal buffer.

Based on the first half performance, it was hard to see the home side getting back into the game and within 13 minutes of the re-start the score had blown out to zero-five with the three points parcelled up for a marauding Bulli.

Lewis and Minutillo both recorded 'doubles' when firstly, Lewis scored from the penalty spot (55') after a penalty had been awarded for a hand ball offence. Then three minutes later, Minutillo finished with aplomb from 12 metres after receiving a lovely 25metre penetrating pass from Sam Davies.

The score might have been worse for the Lions if Ben McDonald had been able to better direct a pin-point cross from Minutillo which McDonald latched onto six yards out on 78 minutes. Frustratingly, his volley sailed over the cross bar.

This was a methodical performance from Bulli to say the the least and after the game Coach Ben Smith was happy to get the job done with a five-nil scoreline. He said it was important to start the game well and his charges certainly did just that.

However, he was disappointed with some of the execution across the park especially in transition. In coming games, he will be looking for his players to react better/quicker when the 'ball breaks down'.

Without getting the opportunity to speak with Cringila Coach, Jason Higgs, he would have to be disappointed with this performance. From an outsider looking in, there was not a great deal of enthusiasm or intensity in the side which failed to apply any great pressure 'on the ball' when the opposition had control.

After recording back to back victories recently, prior to conceding 11 goals in the past two outings, it goes without saying that they need to tighten up defensively to ensure the club stays away from the 'drop'zone'.

 

Match Stats

 

Cringila Lions 0 

Bulli 5 (Dylan Lewis 38' 55'pen, Julian Minutillo 4' 58', Ryan Emerton 12')

 

John Crehan Park, Cringila

 

Referee: Adam Naylor 

Assistant Referees: Ryan O'Sullivan & Thomas Kentta

 

Cringila Lions: Brynley Richards, James Eldred (Michael Stojanoski 81'), Jarryd King, Caius Don, Joel Craig, Todd Sparks, Mikel Awad, Daniel Atkins, Hironori Kobayashi (Jonathon Liddle), Daniel Vasilevski (Jacob Martin 81'), Esali Ali. 

Subs not Used: Andrew Sousa.

Yellow Card: Todd Sparks 16', Caius Don 68'

Red Card: Todd Sparks 82'

 

Bulli: Yuya Kuwata, Aaron Baker, Kenji Takahashi, Guy Knight, Lewis Clements, James Kerr (Matthew Naylor 68'), Sam Davies (Daniel Carreno 88'), Ryan Emerton, Ben McDonald, Dylan Lewis (Jared Fish 68'), Julian Minutillo.

Subs not Used: Kyle Jackson, Joao Oliveira

Yellow Cards: P.Guido 30', M.Yilmaz 87'.

 

By David Naylor

Photo: Pedro Garcia (archive)