A strong defensive performance has helped Bulli to their first Illawarra Mercury Premier League win in four matches, with the side outlasting a frustrated Albion Park White Eagles in a 1-0 win at Terry Reserve on Sunday afternoon. Brendan Pattman found the back of the net for the visitors in the 28^th minute in what was the only strike in the clash, with the win seeing Bulli rise to sixth on the ladder.

Bulli entered the fixture off the back of a three match winless streak – with the side last tasting victory back in Round 7 against Port Kembla – but the side showed they meant business early on, with the side coming close to opening the scoring in the 4^th minute after a Sam Davies cross directed at an unmarked Ben McDonald forced Albion Park’s Kyle Senior into action, reaching the ball before McDonald and nodding the ball out of play.

However, Albion Park quickly pushed themselves into the match and the side had a golden chance to take the lead in the 15^th minute after a Joel Beattie through ball found Cameron Morgan on the right-hand edge of the Bulli box. Morgan fired a powerful effort that beat Bulli shot stopper Yuya Kuwada but was unable to find the back of the net, rocketing into the top right section of the crossbar and flying out of play.

As Albion Park continued to push in search of an opening goal, it was Bulli who managed to strike the first blow against the run of traffic in the 28^th minute after a quick break to Ben McDonald down the left hand side of the field forced White Eagles keeper Brad Jardine to rush out in attempt to shut the Bulli forward down. McDonald fired a quick shot that Jardine was able to push away with a save, only for the keeper to lose track of the loose ball. Fortunately for the visitors, Brendan Pattman was able to capitalize on the momentary madness, tapping the ball away from Jardine and into the back of the net, handing Bulli the lead.

With the hosts now a goal down, Albion Park opted to double down on their attacking pushes and the side almost levelled the scores six minutes later after a Chris Nathaniel free-kick skimmed off the head of Yuki Uno on its way to the feet of Kyle Senior deep in the Bulli box. However, Senior was unable to trouble the scorers, with his quick shot bursting over the top of the Bulli crossbar.

Another chance went begging for the hosts on the stroke of half-time, with a deep through ball from Naomichi Araki finding Joel Beattie down the left hand flank, but Beattie was unable to work the ball past Bulli keeper Yuya Kuwada, sliding his shot across the face of goal and ensuring Albion Park entered the half-time break chasing the game.

With the side hoping to move into second place on the ladder, Albion Park came out in the second half aggressively searching for an equalizer and the side came close to drawing level in the 70^th minute after a deep Chris Nathaniel run resulted in a solid cross into the box which found Joel Beattie, who managed to get a foot to the ball and tap an effort goalward. Unfortunately for the hosts, Beattie’s shot was directed right into the path of Bulli custodian Kuwada, who collected the shot with ease.

Albion Park saw another chance go begging eight minutes later after Naomichi Araki was able to quickly bring the ball under control after a scramble in the Bulli box and fire at goal. Due to the keeper’s involvement in the scramble, Yuya Kuwada was unable to reach the shot but Bulli were reprieved thanks to a fantastic goal-line clearance from Kenji Takahashi, who managed to block the shot and clear the danger out of the visitors’ box.

Despite sitting under immense attacking pressure from the hosts, Bulli continued to occasionally prod the Albion Park defence and the side came close to doubling their lead in the 81^st minute after a Trent Sierra corner managed to find a leaping Rui Kumada in the White Eagles box. Kumada managed to fire off a shot at goal but was unable to hit the ball cleanly, resulting in the effort firing into the crossbar, keeping the door open for Albion Park.

As the hosts continued their assault on the Bulli defences, the side had one final chance to grab a draw in the 90^th minute after a scramble in the Bulli box saw the ball pushed out to Albion Park’s Naomichi Araki, who was able to fire a thundering effort from range that was denied only by a top drawer save from Bulli gloveman Yuya Kuwada, who did fantastically well to see through the crowded box and stop Araki’s shot. However, Kuwada was not done with his duties yet as the ball fell to Albion Park substitute Luke Debrot but Debrot was unable to pull the scores level with his follow-up shot, knocking the ball back into the path of Kuwada, ensuring that Bulli secure the three points in a slim 1-0 victory.

The win sees Bulli rise to sixth place, overtaking a Port Kembla side that dropped points against Coniston in a 1-1 draw on Saturday. Matt Bailey’s side will hope to continue their momentum when they travel to Memorial Park next Sunday to take on 3^rd placed Corrimal Rangers, who will be entering the fixture off the back of a 5-0 thumping of Fernhill on Sunday afternoon.

Meanwhile, the loss means Paul Carter’s side remains level on points with Wollongong United – who fell to a 2-1 loss to Wollongong Olympic on Saturday – but the side drops to fifth on the ladder due to Corrimal’s victory sending the side past the White Eagles. Albion Park will be hoping to return to winning ways next Saturday when they host a Port Kembla side who drew 1-1 with Coniston on Saturday at Terry Reserve.

Sunday 2 June 2019 at Terry Reserve, Albion Park

Albion Park White Eagles – 0

Bulli FC – 1 (Pattman 28’)

Albion Park White Eagles: Brad JARDINE, Blake MCGINN, Shannon FIELDING, Kyle SENIOR, Chris NATHANIEL, Robert DELBANCO, Cody WEHMEYER, Naomichi ARAKI, Cameron MORGAN, Yuki UNO, Joel BEATTIE

Subs: Chris GOMEZ (WEHMEYER 75’), Oliver CARRASCO (UNO 75’), Luke DEBROT (MCGINN 76’), Eiki FUKUSHIGE, Jacob HUFTON

Bulli FC: Yuya KUWADA, Kenji TAKAHASHI, Trent SIERRA, Luke FOSTER, Ryan EMERTON, Rui KAMADA, Aaron BAKER, Sam DAVIES, Blake HEWSON, Ben MCDONALD, Brendan PATTMAN

Subs: Kyle HAZEBROEK-SOUTHGATE (HEWSON 84’), Mitchell DEL TURCO (PATTMAN 61’), Luke TOOHEY, Ben MCGINNES, Eddie ENGLISH

Referee – Bobby MAZEVSKI

Assistant Referees – Mick AGIM and Reece EDWARDS

Report by Cal Behrendt, on Twitter @CalBehrendt

Photo courtesy of Kiah Hufton