Kemblawarra Fury travelled to Balls Paddock for the rescheduled round 12 match originally set to be played at Macedonia Park. The Fury knew a win would draw them level with Bulli and Wollongong Olympic at the top of the league. A Bulli win would move them two points clear of Olympic but their last outing was an unconvincing 1-0 win over Fernhill in the Bert Bampton Cup.

The opening exchanges were fitting of a title decider, with the intensity typified by Ben McDonald receiving a booking for a late challenge within the opening two minutes. The first big opportunity came in the 17th minute when Matthew Mcnab worked enough space on the edge of the area to get a shot away which forced Bulli goalkeeper Yuya Kuwata into action, pushing the ball over the bar.

On the half hour mark, Kuwata was called into action again. Sam Matthews turned to goal on the edge of the Bulli box and rifled a shot aimed for the top left corner, the Japanese shot-stopper was up to the task producing a spectacular one-handed save to force the ball over the bar.

In the 35th minute, Bulli broke the deadlock. Fury played in a corner which was cleared to Dylan Lewis in the middle of his defensive half. Lewis laid the ball off for Marcus Beattie who surged down the middle of the field, leaving the Fury defenders in his wake. Beattie carried the ball to within 20 metres of the Fury goal before unleashing a thunderous strike which found the inside of the far-side netting. An incredible solo goal for the youngster who now has 9 goals in 12 matches.

With five minutes until the interval, Bulli had an attacking free kick within a few metres of the left corner flag. Ryan Emerton played in a low cross which found the head of Corey Horner at the near post, the ball whizzed across the crowded six-yard box and narrowly went wide of the far post.

Bulli held their one goal lead going into halftime. Bulli boss, Matt Bailey would have been delighted with his side’s efforts in a match of such high intensity while the man in the opposite dugout, Luke McGuire would have been aware he had the ability in his squad to overturn the deficit.

Within three minutes of the restart, Bulli doubled their advantage. A poor clearance from Steven Wright found Sam Davies to the right of the area. The midfielder lofted a ball in for the back post where a queue of Bulli attackers were lined up to head the ball. It was McDonald who pulled rank to thump the ball past an abandoned Daniel Arcaba. It was proving to be a luckless debut for the ex-Wolves under 20s goalkeeper who had little chance of denying either of the Bulli goals.

In the 57th minute, Bulli had a glorious chance to put the game to bed and reinstate their outright lead at the top of the table. McDonald worked the ball down the right wing and cut in for strike partner Dylan Lewis in the middle of the Fury box. The noted goalscorer had no defenders within a couple of metres and just Arcaba to beat but he fumbled his effort which trickled to the right before being cleared by a grateful Fury defender. The Bulli crowd left gasping at the immensity of the miss.

With 20 minutes remaining the tempo was slowly beginning to fade. McGuire acted by shifting to a back three and pushing Mcnab up front alongside Anthony Proia. In the 77th minute, the gamble paid dividends as Mcnab found space on the edge of the Bulli box and slammed a low drive across Kuwata and into the bottom left corner. The goal setting up an enticing final ten minutes.

In the 82nd minute, there was a scramble in the Bulli box with the ball eventually bobbling to Mcnab who tumbled an effort into the bottom left corner to pull the Fury level.

Mcnab had become unplayable and with four minutes to go, he came within inches of a hat-trick. He darted into the right of the Bulli box, riding the oncoming challenges before smashing the ball against the crossbar from a tight angle.

Despite a horrendous final quarter of an hour, Bulli nearly came away with the three points when McDonald went one on one with Arcaba. The striker tried to blast the ball between the keeper and the near post but the teenager spread his body and produced a superb block to secure his side a 2-2 draw.

Kemblawarra Fury had "done a Bulli" with comparisons being made with the round one clash between these two sides when Bulli came from three goals down to earn a draw. The result puts the Fury three points behind the top two with a game in hand and after the match, McGuire discussed his side's late comeback, “I don’t think there was anyone in the ground… that thought we could turn it around so it was a tremendous effort in the second half."

McGuire struggled to come up with enough superlatives to describe the performance of his new number one who had only been registered with the club in the previous 24 hours, “I thought he was outstanding today… he was fantastic in every way, shape and form.”

The Fury have a short turnaround with a trip to Cringila on Friday night, a win by four goals or more will put them ahead of Bulli and Olympic on goal difference.

The result means Bulli move back into top spot on goal difference but given their lead with 13 minutes remaining it is a match which can only be seen as two points dropped. After the match, Bailey lamented his side’s missed opportunities, “We had a third and a fourth good chance to close the game out and when you don’t close those chances out you’re always liable to concede against a well-organised Fury side.”

Bulli will next be in action on Saturday at home to local rivals Woonona. The ‘I won this fixture 7-0 in round two and the Bulli faithful will be expecting a similar result against the rock-bottom Sharks.

 

Click this link to listen to the post match interviews with the two coaches - https://soundcloud.com/dylanarvela/post-match-interviews-after-bulli-draw-with-kemblawarra-fury

 

Bulli FC - 2 (Beattie 35’, McDonald 48’)

Kemblawarra Fury - 2 (Mcnab 77’, 82)

 

Wednesday the 14th of June, 2017 at Balls Paddock, Woonona

 

Bulli FC - Yuya Kuwata, Corey Horner, Kenji Takahashi, Lewis Clements, Scott Best, Ryan Emerton, Guy Knight, Sam Davies, Marcus Beattie, Dylan Lewis and Ben McDonald

 

Subs - Andy Gamble, Kyle Jackson (on for McDonald), Harry Callahan (on for Lewis), Daniel Carreno and Jayden Lewis

 

Coach - Matt Bailey

 

Kemblawarra Fury - Daniel Arcaba, Steven Wright, David Hartas, Alvin Ceccoli, Shane Murray, Sam Munro, Sam Matthews, Lachlan O’Connor, Kazuto Kyshida, Anthony Proia and Matthew Mcnab

 

Subs - Robbie Shields, Fabian Iacovelli (on for Wright), Van Elia (on for Matthews), Liam Unicomb and David Zufic

 

Coach - Luke McGuire

 

Referee - Andrew Naylor

 

Assistant Referees - Brendon Fotheringham and Keelum Harrison

 

Report by Dylan Arvela, on Twitter @dylanarvela