For the second time in a week Bulli came from behind to secure a result against one of their biggest rivals in the race for this year’s Illawarra Mercury Premier League. Three goals in fifteen thrilling minutes saw Bulli peg back a two goal deficit and take the three points from last season’s Champions.

The White Eagles seemed to be cruising after goals either side of the break from Yosuke Tashiro and Chris Nathaniel. But with eighteen minutes left Harry Callahan, in for the injured Ben McDonald, got one back, an unlucky Robbie Delbanco headed into his own net for the equaliser and Marcus Beattie nabbed the winner with three minutes remaining.

Bulli coach Matt Bailey paid tribute to his young players after the game: “I thought Albion Park had a really strong first half, so we adjusted a few things at the break and even with a few senior players out, our youth boys came in and got the job done.”

For White Eagles coach Jeff Allport, his side’s second half performance was not acceptable. “We were cruising a bit too much, playing the style of football we like, but you can’t take anything for granted against a side like Bulli, and we did. We opened the door for them and conceded three quick goals.”

Albion Park looked confident on the ball in the first half, dominating possession and creating several chances. Shohei Okuno was teaming up well with new Japanese compatriot Tashiro, while Peter Prandalos and Mitch Delturco pushed forward up the wings.

Corey Horner and Kenji Takahashi looked solid at the back for Bulli, though, with Takahashi brave enough to put in a final tackle inside the box even after being beaten for pace by Tashiro.

Almost half an hour had been played by the time Ryan Emerton’s free kick produced Bryce Daenell’s first save in the White Eagles goal.

As half time approached, the White Eagles pressed forward again. More passing play between Okuno and Tashiro set up Delturco ten yards out, but Yuya Kuwada was good enough to keep the shot out.

With the break just seconds away, Kuwada could not keep out Tashiro’s close range effort, though, after Prandalos had sent in a vicious cross from the left. The lead was all Albion Park deserved and must have made for a buoyant dressing shed at the White Eagles end at the break.

Three minutes into the second half Nathaniel doubled the lead and the White Eagles were soaring. Again it was Okuno and Tashiro who tore open the Bulli defence, and when the ball came free inside the box, Nathaniel was on hand to pounce and drive the ball home for the 2-0 lead.

At first there was no sign of a repeat of Tuesday’s comeback, when Bulli snatched a draw after going 3-0 down to the Fury. Tashiro got a yellow card for going down too easily in search of a penalty and Okuno continued to create magic out of nothing, setting up Delturco whose shot curled just wide of the upright.

But the Bulli machine was just warming up. On the hour mark, Nik Micevski turned and fired a superb shot into the top corner, before seeing the offside flag was raised.

Then it was Callahan on the edge of the area, who was poised to shoot before Delturco got his body in the way.

And in the 72^nd minute, the comeback started.

A long ball through the middle was pumped forward for Dylan Lewis to run onto. Daenell came out of his area to clear, and as the linesman’s flag stayed down, the ball flew out to Callahan who had time to pick his spot in the open goal from the edge of the area.

Suddenly it was the White Eagles who were on the back foot, with Mark Every having to put in a vital tackle to prevent Callahan scoring his second.

The equaliser wasn’t long in coming, though. Guy Knight’s corner floated over everyone and fell to Delbanco who got down low to clear with his head, but instead steered the ball over his own line, with Daenell out of position.

This was the cue for a frenetic last ten minutes, as the White Eagles tried to claw themselves back into it, and Bulli could sense the win was within their reach.

Okuno saw a left foot shot go inches wide, Tashiro came close with yet another effort, but the White Eagles couldn’t find a way through again.

And so it fell to Beattie, who was playing Youth Grade until the start of this season but is now Bulli’s top scorer in the IPL, to smash home the winner with a superb right foot from the edge of the area. With just three minutes remaining, there was no time for Albion Park to respond, and the three points were heading north to Bulli.

Looking ahead to next week’s FFA Cup Round 5 tie at North Epping, Bailey said he was confident his squad could keep up with the pressures of two games a week: “We have to manage it carefully, but we have a quality squad of 19 players and we use every aspect of that squad”.

For Allport, next week’s two matches – Wednesday FFA Cup game in Sydney and Friday against Cringila Lions – can’t come soon enough as he side ‘needs to respond. And we will!”

Albion Park White Eagles – 2 (Toshiro 44’, Nathaniel 48’)

Bulli FC – 3 (Callahan 72’, Delbanco og 78’, Beattie 87’)

Saturday, 14 April 2017 - King Mickey Park, Warilla

Referee: Bobby Mazevski - Assistant referees: Brendon Fotheringham, Lachlan Barker

Albion Park White Eagles: Bryce Daenell, Lee Gilroy (Dylan Wray 80’), Mark Every, Boden Allport, Peter Prandalos, Robbie Delbanco (Darren Jones 81’), Mitch Del Turco, Vaughan Patterson, Yosuke Tashiro, Shohei Okuno, Chris Nathaniel (Hikaru Kawsakiya 88’) (subs not used: Dejan Djukic, Jacob Hufton)

 

Bulli FC: Yuya Kuwada, Scott Best, Kenji Takahashi, Corey Horner, Sam Davies (Khalid Alali 75’), Guy Knight, Ryan Emerton, Marcus Beattie, Harry Callahan (Kyle Jackson 89’), Nik Miceski (Lewis Clements 81’), Dylan Lewis, (subs not used: Jayden Lewis, Alexander Bausch)

Report by Simon Duffin

Photo courtesy of Kiah Hufton