Kemblawarra Fury all but ended Albion Park White Eagles' finals hopes with a 1-0 over the Grand Final Champions at Macedonia Park.

Albion Park had the majority of the chances in the first half starting with a long range shot from Shohei Okuno in the 11th minute that was well held by 45-year-old David Zufic who was into the side after Daniel Arcaba was ruled out through illness.

Hikaru Kawasakiya was one of the White Eagles leading lights in their Bert Bampton Cup defeat a week prior and he teed up Lee Gilroy for a shot on the edge of the area but the number 7 blasted the ball over the bar.

A minute either side of the half hour mark saw chances for the White Eagles. First Gilroy air swung at a Mitch Del Turco cut back from ten yards out and then Kawasakiya outfoxed his defender and played a cross along the six-yard line for Gilroy who tapped back for Okuno just inside the box but the tame shot was held by Zufic.

Albion Park continued their assault on Fury’s goal in the 35th minute, with Kawasakiya picking out Del Turco on the 18 yard line but his shot faded to the left. In the next passage of play, the ball was bobbling around in the Fury area before coming to Okuno 12 yards out, his shot was blocked by Zufic before the pressure was relieved with a foul on a Fury defender.

Fury’s best and only chance of the first half came with five minutes remaining. Shane Murray flung in a free kick which was headed to Van Elia just outside the box, he fired the ball goal bound and it took a deflection that sent Daenell the wrong way but Peter Prandalos cleared the ball off the line.

The final chance of the half fell to the visitors, Okuno picked out Kawasakiya in the left side of the box, he cut back on to his right foot but his curling shot sailed over the bar. The teams went into the sheds at nil all despite the White Eagles having a plethora a chances to pull ahead.

It didn’t take long for the deadlock to be broken in the second half and it was the Fury that pulled ahead. Daenell made a strong save from point blank range off a Matthew McNab header, the ball was played back to Murray 25 yards out and the midfield magician was able to pick out the bottom left corner with a fabulous strike.

With an hour played, Albion Park nearly restored parity through Robbie Delbanco who rode a challenge to get into the box but his mishit shot dribbled to the left of the goal. Fifteen minutes later, they came within inches of the back of the net, Vaughan Patterson's strike scurried across the goal and Prandalos lunged at the ball attempting to toe it into an empty net but he couldn't reach it and unfortunately, he collected the post for his troubles.

With ten minutes on the clock, Fury could have doubled their lead had it not been for Daenell who made three superb saves in thirty seconds. The first from a McNab shot, the ball then came back for Kazuto Kushida near the penalty mark but his effort was denied by the keeper and a few passes later Sam Matthews was denied from close range.

In the second minute of added on time, youngster Nicholas High had his shot saved by Zufic. The ball then fell for another teenager in Hayden Waples but his shot was cleared inside the six-yard box by Steven Wright which secured the three points for Fury.

Th 1-0 win leaves Kemblawarra Fury five points behind league leaders Bulli and eight ahead of fourth placed Tarrawanna. They face Wollongong United next weekend.

As for Albion Park, the defeat is another blow to their top five aspirations. They are four points outside finals football and they will need to win out in order to have any chance of defending their crown. Albion Park host Woonona Sharks next Saturday.

 

Kemblawarra Fury - 1 (Murray 49’)

 

Albion Park White Eagles - 0

 

Sunday the 8th of August, 2017 at Macedonia Park, Berkeley

 

Kemblawarra Fury - David Zufic, Steven Wright, Brenton Rhodes, Alvin Ceccoli, Van Elia, Shane Murray, Sam Munro, Sam Mathews, Lachlan O’Connor, Kazuto Kushida, Matthew McNab - Subs - Jason Zufic, Jordan Nikolovski (on for Mathews), Carter Madden (on for Elia) and Cody Waller (on for McNab)

 

Albion Park White Eagles - Bryce Daenell, Luke Debrot, Shannon Fielding, Steve Hristovski, Peter Prandalos, Robbie Delbanco, Lee Gilroy, Vaughan Patterson, Mitch Del Turco, Shohei Okuno and Hikaru Kawasakiya - Subs - Hayden Waples (on for Hristovski), Rene Vesco, Nicholas High (on for Debrot) and Jacob Hufton

 

Referee - Bobby Mazevski

 

Assistant Referee - Dean Moreira and Brad Moreira

 

Report by Dylan Arvela, on Twitter @dylanarvela

 

Photos courtesy of Pedro Garcia