Picton Rangers FC faced off against Bulli FC in Round 1 of the Fraternity cup on Sunday at Tarrawanna Oval. A top 5 finish for both teams last year in the Illawarra Mercury Premier League promised an intriguing encounter.

Neither team held possession for very long in the opening few minutes until Bulli started to push forward and create some half chances. Ben McDonald started up front for Bulli and he was given the first chance of the game, scuffing a right footed shot which lobbed over the crossbar.

Bulli began the game with some fresh faces, brought up from their Youth Grade side and they were keen to make an impact. Marcus Beattie made an immediate impression with his pace with the ball and his hunger to win the ball when he didn’t have it. In the 20^th Minute, Beattie picked the ball up just inside Picton's half and using his pace beat two Ranger's players down the left edge and made it to the goal-line in which Picton's keeper Bradley Jones got down low and smothered the ball away. A very promising start from Bulli and a worrying beginning for Picton.

Bulli held possession for long stints in the first half dominating the ball however they failed to penetrate the solid defence of the Rangers. The stubborn Picton defence held out Bulli, stopping Bulli form any clear-cut chance in the first half. The Rangers however seemed content to soak up the pressure where they failed to muster up even a half chance in the first half. This led Bulli and Picton to a draw at the break.

The second half began with Bulli exploding out of the blocks, with quick pace and penetrating balls, they broke down the Picton defence early in the second half. It took just three minutes in the second half when Bulli's striker Ben McDonald turned provider. He chipped the ball from the right hand side of the 18 yard box into the path of Lewis Clements, who had no trouble burying the ball into the back of the net from 6 yards out with a strong header across the goalkeeper.

A quick succession of corners exploited the Picton defence providing Bulli with an opportunity to further their advantage. Ben McDonald thought he had doubled the advantage after a wonderful cross from Ryan Emerton saw McDonald head the ball towards goal however Picton’s Joshua Maiolo cleared the ball off the line according to the officials.

Bulli would have their reward from their relentless attacks on the Rangers in the 45^th minute, when a flick on, off the head of Emerton found Guy Knight and he punished the slow reacting defence with a shot fired with his laces just inside the area, beating the Picton keeper who could do nothing about it.

Bulli however continued to punish Picton's sloppy defence when a gorgeous through ball from the midfield put Emerton into space down the left hand touch line, turning back onto his right foot Emerton then clipped a ball in which found the head of McDonald, who punished Picton further.

The brightest point in Picton's second half was some wonderful goalkeeping by Bradley Jones. A one on one save from close range against Bulli's Dylan Lewis, saw the keeper save Picton from an embarrassing score line.

Bulli closed out the game in cruise control, providing no more then a few half chances with Picton not able to form any sort of attacking display. The confidence of Bulli will be sky high going into the season and as for Picton, this was their first official hit out and they would be hoping to build on that performance.

The win puts Bulli on top of their group with the crucial group match against Olympic to look forward to next week whilst Picton will be looking to create more chances next week against Woonona Sharks.

 

Sunday 19^th of February- Tarrawanna Oval

Picton Rangers F.C. 0

Bulli F.C. 3 (L.Clements 37', G.Knight 45', B.McDonald 49')  

 

Picton Rangers F.C

B.Jones, B.Realph, D.Nicol, D.Goodhew, K.Mitchell, M.Hall, J.Maiolo, M.Tesoriero, D.Morley, R.Lloyd, S.Miranda

Substitutes

C.Sheerin, W.McLeod, L.Storkleg, L O'Bree

Bulli F.C.

J.Lewis, K.jackson, S.Best, C.Horner, L.Clements, A.Gamble, D.Lewis, G.Knight, B.McDonald, H.Callahan, M.Beattie

Substitutes

R.Emerton, N.Miceski, J.Lozenkovski, K.Takahashi, Y.Kuwada

 

Referee: Bobby Mazevski

Assistants: Caleb Blanch and Ryan O’Sullivan

 

Report by Liam Emerton

Photo by Pedro Garcia