Table toppers, Bulli travelled to Macedonia Park for the Round 16 clash against Wollongong United. The home side suffered a major setback in Round 15, going down 2-0 to South Coast United but a 5-2 win in the Bert Bampton Cup over Kemblawarra Fury midweek showed them at their blistering best. As for Bulli, they also had a win in the Cup, however, their victory was an unconvincing 4-2 win over District League side University.

The home side slightly edged the opening exchanges with the first big chance coming in the 10th minute when Zac McLaren played Taka Noji through on goal but he could only hit the outside of the right side netting.

Bulli had their first major opportunity when Ryan Emerton played a long ball for Dylan Lewis to run on to but the striker could not get the ball under his full control. His tame first shot was blocked before his second was eventually recovered by Sam Nastic in the United goal.

A majority of the opening half was played in the middle third of the field but Lewis had another massive opportunity two minutes from halftime when he got onto another long ball, this time he was able to control his shot but Nastic made a strong save to deny him. This left the game goalless going into the break.

Wollongong United was hot out of the traps in the second half with Bulli goalkeeper Yuya Kuwata forced into a smart save in the 50th minute off a Ricky Zucco shot from the edge of the box.

In the 53rd minute, United broke the deadlock through Ben Brooks who lost his marker off a Klime Sukutkoski corner. The headed goal reaffirming the towering centreback’s reputation as one of the league’s most lethal defenders.

United flooded Bulli over the next 15 minutes with two awesome opportunities. The first came when Daisuke Yuzawa dispossessed Harry Callahan in Bulli's box leading to a one on one chance where Kuwata came to the rescue. For the second, McLaren picked out Zucco in the box, the skilful striker controlled the ball with his chest before teeing up a volley which he could not direct either side of the keeper.

The final 20 minutes of play was a stop and start affair which came through a combination of smart play from United and poor ball control from Bulli. The match seemed to be trundling to a United win but in the second minute of injury time, Bulli stole a point. Callahan found Sam Davies on the edge of the box, the midfielder seemed to mishit his shot which was going wide of the left post but Lewis made a desperate run before blasting the ball back across Nastic to claim a vital point for his side.

The result moves Bulli four points clear of Wollongong Olympic who play on Sunday against Woonona. Astonishingly, Bulli has now picked up 16 points from losing positions with their never say die attitude laying the foundations of their title bid. Their next match is at home to bottom placed Picton before they play Oak Flats in semi final of the Bert Bampton Cup.

Given the flow of the match, it can only be seen as two points dropped for Wollongong United who move back into the top five, a single point ahead of Port Kembla who play the Fury on Sunday. United’s next match is against arch rivals Cringila before backing up for their semi final against Albion Park White Eagles.

 

Wollongong United - 1 (Ben Brooks 53’)

 

Bulli - (Lewis 90+2’)

 

Saturday the 8th of July at Macedonia Park, Berkeley

 

Wollongong United - Sam Nastic, Ben Brooks, Maty Brennan, Milan Zoric, Billy Tsovolos, Miki Awad, Ricky Zucco, Zac McLaren, Daisuke Yuzawa, Taka Noji and Klime Sukutkoski

 

Subs - Dion Sterjovski (on for Zucco), Jackson Brooks (on for Sukutkoski), Steve Ugrinovski, Brad Acev and Addison Gillespie

 

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

 

Subs - Andy Gamble, Tobin Zoomers (on for Horner), Lewis Clements, Khalid Alali and Jayden Lewis

 

Referee - Steve Bozic

 

Assistant Referees - Liam Webb and Dean Moreira

 

Report and photo by Dylan Arvela, on Twitter @dylanarvela