Port Kembla made the trip to Balls Paddock to face Illawarra Mercury Premier League leaders Bulli in a crucial Round 19 matchup. Both sides were looking to solidify their spot in the top five, with Bulli seeking to move further ahead on top of the ladder. The side entered the match having dismantled mid-table side South Coast United 4-1 in Round 18 as well as beating fellow Premier League side Albion Park White Eagles 1-0 to lift the Bert Bampton Cup last weekend. A win for Bulli would see them maintain their lead at the head of the competition, although if Wollongong Olympic were to drop points against Wollongong United, then the side could be four points clear with just three matches to play.

Port Kembla meanwhile, entered the match off the back of a 1-1 draw with lowly-placed Woonona, which saw their top five aspirations hit a bit of a wall. The result meant they were now equal with fellow fighters Wollongong United on points going into the match, and with only three matches left in the season after the match against Bulli, a result of some sort would be vital for Port Kembla going forward.

Both sides showed a desire to outplay the other as soon as the match got underway, with several physical challenges in the early stages of the match. Referee Nathan Wotton was forced to interject numerous times early on with yellow cards, with Port Kembla players Cameron Morgan and Joseph Lavalle both picking up yellows in the opening twenty minutes.

It was Port Kembla that had the first real chance of the game just inside the fifteen minute mark, with a well-placed cross from Brooklan Frkovic meeting the head of Matt Floro, but his shot was straight down the throat of Bulli keeper Yuya Kuwata, who made an easy pickup. Just moments later, Bulli would have their first real chance, with Marcus Beattie seeing his shot fly over the Port Kembla goal in a harmless shot for Port keeper Brad Jardine.

The first half saw numerous moments of individual brilliance from both sides, but neither team could break the deadlock and score an opening goal. A fantastic solo run from Port Kembla’s Sandy Lowcock almost saw the visitors go one up after his first shot was fumbled by Bulli keeper Yuya Kuwata, but Lowcock’s follow-up shot went just inches wide of the post. Bulli also had a golden chance to go one up before the end of the first half, with some great control from Marcus Beattie allowing the Bulli player to break through and into a one-on-one with Port Kembla keeper Brad Jardine, however his final touch was lacking and Beattie’s shot was simply saved by the Port keeper.

With neither side holding the lead going into the break, both sides attempted to step up their physical play as the second half got underway. This move paid dividends for Bulli just seven minutes into the second half as the deadlock was broken. A simple backpass to keeper Brad Jardine was dwelt on for too long by the Port Kembla shot stopper and this allowed Bulli player Ben McDonald to heap the pressure on the keeper and dispossess the ball, allowing McDonald to net a simple tap-in goal and give Bulli the lead.

Port Kembla would double down on their physicality after the goal, and this would eventuate one of their players being sent off in the 78^th minute. Port Kembla player William Mobbs was booked earlier in the match for a rough tackle and with just twelve minutes left to play, the player was given his marching orders after kicking the ball away from a free-kick after referee Nathan Wotton had blown his whistle to halt play.

With just ten men on the field, Port Kembla still managed to lift for the final period of the match, with a number of potential chances being formed in the dying moments. However, a combination of a poor final ball into the box and a fantastic performance from the Bulli defence, in particular the back pairing of Kenji Takahashi and Scott Best, allowed for Bulli to hold on for the win.

Port Kembla’s loss means the side would be in a prime position to drop down the ladder, but they were spared dropping out of the top five after Wollongong United lost out 2-1 to Wollongong Olympic. The side will have their work cut out for them to secure a place in the top five, hosting fourth placed Tarawanna next round, but with games against Cringila and Albion Park to close out their season, the side cannot take anything for granted going into the business end of the season.

For Bulli however, the win means they remain on top of the table by a slim point, after Wollongong Olympic also secured a vital three points. With the side playing host to Cringila Lions next round, Bulli will be hoping a win at home and a slipup from Olympic follow so the side can enter the final two rounds – especially the final round against Wollongong Olympic – with a little bit of breathing room.

Bulli FC – 1 (McDonald 52’)

Port Kembla FC – 0

Saturday the 5th of August, 2017 at Balls Paddock, Woonona.

Bulli FC – Yuya Kuwata, Kenji Takahashi, Scott Best, Kyle Jackson, Harry Callahan, Ryan Emerton, Sam Davies, Guy Knight, Dylan Lewis, Marcus Beattie, Ben McDonald

Subs – Khalid Alali (on for Jackson), Corey Horner (on for Emerton), Nikolas Miceski (on for Lewis), Andrew Gamble, Jayden Lewis

Coach – Matthew Bailey

Port Kembla FC – Brad Jardine, Brooklan Frkovic, William Mobbs, Matt Werakso, Carlo Stella, Kyoji Mori, Cameron Morgan, Justin Cario, Matt Floro, Joseph Lavalle, Sandy Lowcock

Subs – Kyle Hazebroek-Southgate (on for Morgan), Adam Bassuni, Antonio Musumeci (on for Frkovic), Bailey Fleming, Jayden Salucci, Daniel Farina

Coach – Noel Spencer

Referee – Nathan Wotton

Assistant Referees – Brodie Merchant, Matthew Hardy

Report by Cal Behrendt, on Twitter @CalBehrendt

Photo by Noel Wynn