Round 13 of the Illawarra Premier League saw Balls Paddock host Bulli vs Tarrawanna. The hosts were on a run of 4 wins on the spin, happily scoring 15 goals in that time, whilst the visitors had a morale-boosting 5-0 win over Fernhill to put their loss to Olympic behind them.

Tarrawanna really took the game to Bulli from the outset, grabbing an early goal via Rick Goodchild, with Harry Callahan pegging one back to leave scores level at the break. Dylan Lewis pulled Bulli ahead with a quick-fire brace, with McDonald adding a fourth late on to seal the points and put a shine on the hosts' performance.

Early doors, and all the traffic was one-way as Tarrawanna started play with a bang. With five minutes on the clock, Jared Fish almost snuck his shot home at the far post from a narrow angle, a Scott Best deflection taking it just wide and into the side netting.

On the quarter hour though, the energetic pressing of the Blueys paid off - Darren Stone beat two players down the left wing, and pulled his low cross back to the waiting Goodchild, calmly side-footing into the near bottom corner through traffic to leave 'keeper Yuya Kuwata unsighted.

The next action was Bulli grabbing one back though; just before the half hour mark, as Mitchell Del Turco sent Callahan on his way behind the defence, finding the inside of the net at the far post from a narrow angle to restore parity.

In a frantic final ten minutes of the half, chances were aplenty, with both sides doing everything except hit the net.

Marcus Beattie was unlucky moments later, a left foot curler from 20 yards punched away from the top corner by Blueys gloveman Adam Rodriguez.

Again Beattie was found, this time at the far post from a deep cross, and his scuffed shot had to be hoofed clear by Samuel Chapple off the line with Rodriguez beaten.

On 38 minutes though, the Blueys had their golden chance to pull ahead again and consolidate a lead before the half. Bulli midfielder Sam Davies intercepted a heavy Rick Goodchild touch inside the box, the Blueys captain making a challenge to win back possession. Davies went down in a heap under minimal contact, grabbing the ball in expectation of a free kick being awarded, however handball was called and the visitors had a penalty. Goodchild stepped up to the plate, but hit his spot-kick straight at Kuwata, before blazing the rebound over the bar from 10 yards.

With the Blueys left to rue that vital miss, Bulli came out of the sheds with renewed purpose and began playing more adventurous with their back-three formation beginning to pay off. Dylan Lewis really came into the game after the break after barely making an impact in the opening stanza.

Lewis spectacularly found the back of the net from 30 yards out on the sideline, the wind grabbing an early cross and hooping it over Rodriguez to net on the full and give Bulli the lead for the first time.

15 minutes later, Lewis had his double; Callahan clattering a shot into the stray arm of Tarrawanna defender Daniel Chapman, Lewis burying the penalty down the middle to bring the score to 3-1.

From here, Bulli really settled into a possession system and continually recycled possession. Tarrawanna failed to register any meaningful shots on target in the entire second period, whilst Beattie and Lewis were popping shots constantly at Rodriguez from all angles.

Ben McDonald sealed the game with only eight minutes remaining; wrong-footing Rodriguez with a fading header, with Goodchild unable to clear off the line as Bulli wracked up their fourth goal to match the return from Tarrawanna Oval in Round 2.

Bulli played out the game fairly well given the early goal against them, not panicking and straying from their game-plan. A three-man defence, including Guy Knight, was always going to favour them with numbers going forward, as well as the long-range distribution of Knight from the back.

Tarrawanna held firm resolutely, falling victim to a miracle cross-come-shot, a penalty, and a late header against weary legs, so the score line doesn't accurately tell the tale of their afternoon. They put in a good shift, but were simply not offering enough going forward, and in turn spent most of the afternoon chasing Bulli in possession.

Next week, Bulli will travel to Woonona for a 2:30pm kickoff on Saturday 23rd June, looking to grab another three points after their 2-0 home win in Round 3. The Sharks are coming off the back of a gritty 0-0 against Fernhill. This win sees Bulli stay atop the ladder, still 2 points above Olympic.

Given most of the headlines have been around the Top 4 and the title race, Tarrawanna are heading up the best of the rest - holding onto their fifth position - albeit on goal difference now over Corrimal. They are locked in a four-horse race with Corrimal, Port Kembla and Fernhill for the last finals spot, with two clear games separating the quartet from Cringila in 9th. Tarrawanna will next week host Wollongong United at Tarrawanna Oval, 2:30pm kickoff on Saturday 23rd June. United may be vulnerable at present, having lost to Corrimal between draws to Albion Park and Picton.

 

Balls Paddock - Saturday 16th June

 

Bulli FC - CALLAHAN 26', D. LEWIS 54' 69'Pen, MCDONALD 82'

Tarrawanna Blueys - GOODCHILD 15'

 

Bulli FC - Yuya KUWATA, David ABEL, Guy KNIGHT, Scott BEST, Dylan LEWIS, Tobin ZOOMERS, Sam DAVIES, Marcus BEATTIE, Harry CALLAHAN, Mitchell DEL TURCO, Ben MCDONALD

Subs - Kyle JACKSON (on for BEATTIE 68'), Blake HEWSON (on for ABEL 83'), Aidan BRESLIN, Jayden LEWIS, Eddie ENGLISH (on for MCDONALD 86')

Tarrawanna Blueys - Adam RODRIGUEZ, Matthew NAYLOR, Bradley DURRANT, Daniel CHAPMAN, Jacob FRYDAY, Daniel GOODHEW, Jared FISH, Samuel CHAPPLE, Kouryo KUBOTA, Rick GOODCHILD, Darren STONE

Subs - Takumi MACHIDA (on for FISH 81'), Jake MORLANDO (on for KUBOTA 72'), Liam UNICOMB (on for STONE 63'), Blake FREIDRICH, Bradley JONES

 

Referee - Andrew NAYLOR

Assistants - Damien DENEZY, Vincent CUMMINS

 

Report by David ATHERTON, Twitter @daveatho5

Photo by Noel Wynn