Bulli extended their lead to six points at the top of the Illawarra Premier League with a 4-0 thumping of rivals Wollongong United at Balls Paddock. United had beaten Bulli on three occasions in all competitions this season, however, they were their own worst enemies in the first half with Dylan Lewis grabbing a double and Guy Knight converting a free kick after a string of uncharacteristic errors. The result was put beyond any doubt early in the second half with Harry Callahan netting his side’s fourth.

The afternoon to forget for United started in the 4th minute when goalkeeper Sam Nastic punted the ball into the back of his defender with the ball falling to Ben McDonald who squared it to Lewis to tap into an empty net.

Lewis had a chance to double his tally in the 23rd minute when Knight swung in a cross from the left but the wide forward failed to direct his header on target. Lewis would get another chance three minutes later after the home side were awarded a penalty after Mark Every barged Callahan over in the area. Lewis made no mistake from 12-yards, slamming the ball down the middle for his 11th goal of the season.

In the 39th minute, Callahan’s mazing run was ended by an agricultural Every challenge which gave Knight a free kick opportunity from 25 metres out. The 2017 George Naylor Medalist curled the ball inside the left post with Nastic only able to push the ball into the side netting.

The visitors best chance of the opening half came with a couple minutes remaining with Kenta Azechi smacking the ball against the crossbar from 20 metres out. United went into the sheds trailing 3-0.

Any hope of United mounting a second-half fightback was quickly extinguished with the ‘I hitting home their fourth in the 48th minute. A sloppy United clearance found the feet of Sam Davies who laid it off to Callahan who snuck his effort underneath Nastic from the edge of the area.

Within the next 15 minutes, Ben McDonald had a couple of chances to get in on the action. First, he was played through into the left of the box but his first-time strike went wide and soon after he found himself one on one with Nastic but he hit the bouncing ball into the face of the United goalkeeper before the ball was eventually cleared.

United were able to stem the flow in the final half an hour with the home side seemingly content to sit on their lead. Kazuto Kushida played a lovely lobbed through ball to Daisuke Yuzawa in the 77th minute but after controlling the ball, his weak shot barely tested his fellow countryman Yuya Kuwata.

The visitors were unable to find a consolation goal with Bulli running out 4-0 winners.

Bulli now lead second-placed Albion Park White Eagles by six points with the two facing off in the penultimate round of the season. Wollongong Olympic are a further point back, however, they take on Port Kembla at the PCYC on Sunday. Bulli have a week off due to the Bert Bampton Cup Final with their next match being at home to Port Kembla who they beat 4-0 in Round 9.

Wollongong United remain in fourth on 34 points, six points off third. If Port were to beat Olympic tomorrow they would move level on points with United, however, they currently trail them by 11 goals on for and against. United will be grateful for the week off as it will give them a chance to mend some of their wounds as they prepare for the final series. They are next in action against arch-rivals Cringila at Macedonia Park.

 

Saturday 21 July 2018 @ Balls Paddocks

 

Bulli - 4 (LEWIS 2’ 27’ PEN, KNIGHT 40’, CALLAHAN 48’)

 

Wollongong United - 0

 

Bulli - Yuya KUWATA, Scott BEST, Dave ABEL, Kyle JACKSON, Guy KNIGHT, Tobin ZOOMERS, Mitchell DEL TURCO, Harry CALLAHAN, Sam DAVIES, Dylan LEWIS, Ben MCDONALD

 

Subs - Marcus BEATTIE (on for CALLAHAN), Jayden LEWIS, Nic MICESKI (on for MCDONALD), Blake HEWSON, Kenji TAKAHASHI

 

Coach - Matt BAILEY

 

Wollongong United - Sam NASTIC, Kenta AZECHI, Maty BRENNAN, Ben BROOKS, Nathan ELASI, Mart EVERY, Matt GORDON, Dominic HUDOP, Kazuto KUSHIDA, Hayden MORTON, Daisuke YUZAWA

 

Subs - Jackson BROOKS (on for HUDOP), Sam ADNUM, Sam MUNRO (on for EVERY), Ben WUNSCH, Jacob MARTIN (on for AZECHI)

 

Coach - Jeff ALLPORT

 

Referee - Andrew NAYLOR

 

Assistant Referees - Liam WEBB, William WHITEHOUSE

 

Report by Dylan Arvela, on Twitter @dylanarvela

 

Photo by Dana Guthrie