The Illawarra Mercury Premier League’s top two sides remain locked together on points and goal difference after Kemblawarra Fury and Bulli fought out an entertaining 2-2 draw at Albert Butler Memorial Park on Monday afternoon. This was the second draw between the IPL frontrunners in 2016, leaving all of us guessing which of them might take the crown at the end of the regular season. The result leaves third placed Wollongong Olympic snapping at the leaders’ heels after their win at rivals Wollongong United this weekend.

Bulli started strongly and took the lead through Ryan Emerton, but the Fury came back with two goals from Sam Munro, before Dylan Lewis equalised with six minutes remaining.

With 34 goals between five of the players on the pitch already this season, the chances of a repeat of Round 1’s 0-0 draw were slim. And within three minutes, one of those leading scorers – Dylan Lewis - had already declared his intentions with a thunderous strike against the crossbar.

Bulli were looking the hungrier in the early stages, giving Fury players little time on the ball. Robbie Shields was dispossessed on the half way line by Jim Kerr, who made a 20 yard run before being fouled by Shields trying to make amends. Emerton stepped up to take the free kick and managed to slide it neatly into the bottom corner past the wall and way beyond the reach of David Poeira in the Fury goal. It was just deserts for Bulli’s lively start.

The Fury were quick to respond, though, and six minutes later they equalised. Fabian Iacovelli began the move down the left and launched the ball into the area, where it was cleared only as far as Munro, waiting just outside the box. He swerved a sweet right foot shot into the top corner, giving Yuya Kuwada no chance in the Bulli goal.

One of the interesting battles in the early stages was Bulli central defender Kenji Takahashi up against Fury centre forward Matthew McNab. For the most part, Takahashi got the better of the contest and read the game perfectly. But Munro found a way through with a long ball from half way, giving McNab a chance to show his speed. He beat the defender and angled his shot goalwards, with Kuwada just getting a touch to push it away for a corner.

As the first half drew to a close, it was the Fury who looked more likely to score again. Shields this time beat Takahashi for pace and earned a free kick in a dangerous spot just 25 yards out, but this time the free kick was an easy take for Kuwada, and the sides could go into the break at 1-1.

Bulli again came out of the starting blocks for the second half looking the livelier. Sam Davies set up Julian Minutillo down the left and the Bulli winger raced in on goal before Lachlan O’Connor got back to make a timely tackle preventing Minutillo from pulling the trigger.

Ten minutes into the second half, though, it was the Fury who took the lead from a perfectly-worked set-piece.

Iacovelli won a corner down the left side. Shane Murray sent the ball over, looking for Brenton Rhodes beyond the far post. His header found Alvin Ceccoli on the edge of the area. The Fury captain launched the ball into the six yard box where substitute Cameron Morgan headed it on to Munro who had the simplest of headers from two yards out. If they’d practiced this in training, they got the execution spot-on.

Bulli were not finished yet, though. Just past the hour mark, good work from Kerr and Minutillo created a perfect opportunity for Ben McDonald who was five yards out and in front of goal. The Bulli centre forward doesn’t normal miss from there, but he mistimed his shot and seemed to hit more turf than ball, making an easy take for Poeira.

Shortly afterwards, McDonald went off, replaced by Jared Fish, with Dylan Lewis moving into the centre of attack. Lewis had had a quiet second half down the right, but he quickly had an impact in his new role, beating two defenders to set up Minutillo, but Poeira was quick enough again to gather cleanly.

But it was Lewis who had the last laugh, latching onto an Emerton through ball in the 84^th minute, beating the defenders for pace and striking the back of the net with a superb finish to equalise.

The goal galvanised Bulli for the last five minutes and they very nearly won it.

In the last minute of normal time, Fish played the ball in from the right for Minutillo, who beat his marker but then fired his shot inches over the bar, with Bulli fans thinking at first their team had nicked a winner. Lewis had one more effort in time added on, trying a dramatic scissors kick from ten yards out, but the ball flew across the face of the goal and he was forced to settle for the draw – a fair result on the day.

Bulli go into Round 13 leading by virtue of goals scored. Next up for them is Albion Park White Eagles, who are challenging for a top five spot after a win this weekend.

For the Fury, it’s a return match against Cringila Lions, who ran them so close in Round 2, but have faded in recent weeks.

 

Kemblawarra Fury – 2 (Munro 29’, 57’)

Bulli FC – 2 (Emerton 23’, Lewis 84’)

Monday 13 June 2016 - Albert Butler Memorial Park

Referee: Steve Bozic

Assistant referees: Joel May, Stuart Bell

Kemblawarra Fury: David Poeira, Lachlan O’Connor, Shane Murray, Shane Lyons, Brenton Rhodes, David Hartas, Fabian Iacovelli, Alvin Ceccoli, Matthew McNab (Cameron Morgan 55’), Robbie Shields, Sam Munro (subs not used: Josh Mears, Kyle Senior, David Zufic)

Bulli FC: Yuya Kuwada, Aaron Baker, Scott Best, Kenji Takahashi, Guy Knight, Jim Kerr, Sam Davies, Ryan Emerton, Dylan Lewis, Ben McDonald (Jared Fish 74’), Julian Minutillo (subs not used: Lewis Clements, Corey Horner, Matt Naylor, Joao Oliveira-Woolmer)

Report by Simon Duffin

Photo: Pedro Garcia (archive)