PREMIER LEAGUE YOUTH GRADE GRAND FINAL MATCH REPORT

Bulli FC came from behind to win this year’s Illawarra Mercury Premier League Youth Grade Grand Final. Second half goals for Lewis Clements from the penalty spot and a Kyle Jackson header gave Bulli victory after Ethan Kambisios had opened the scoring for Dapto Dandaloo on the stroke of half time.

Bulli dominated possession in the first forty five minutes, with Jack Miranda, Dylan Lewis and Bradley Strudwick linking up well to create a constant threat to the Fury goal. But it was the woodwork that kept them out in the 35th minute when Lewis blasted a right foot shot against the crossbar.

It was Mitchell Cooper, the Bulli keeper, who had the busier half, though, pulling off a fingertip save from Jake Powell and another fine save from Lee Kizi’s effort in the 40th minute.

Then Kambisios’s free-kick in added time at the end of the first half gave Dapto Dandaloo the lead when it curled beautifully into the top corner out of the reach of Cooper.

Bulli came out even more fired up for the second half, though they must have begun to wonder if this was not to be their day when Strudwick’s half-volley slammed against the upright and into the grateful hands of Ryan Franks shortly after the restart.

Franks kept his team in front with an acrobatic display as Bulli laid siege to his goal. Clements tested him first with a cross from the left that became a dipping shot; and it was a Clements free-kick moments later that forced a diving save from Franks; and then a Brendan Pattman flick brought out more heroics from the Fury captain and keeper.

In the 70th minute, as Bulli pushed forward yet again, there was a goalmouth scramble and the ball ended up in the net, only for the referee to indicate that he had already blown up for a penalty. Clements stepped up to dispatch the spot kick coolly for a justly deserved equaliser.

But still the Bulli onslaught continued, so it was no surprise to see them take the lead just five minutes later when Jackson steered his header past Franks from a Jack Hobbs cross from the left.

At the other end, Mason Versi watched his shot go inches wide of the upright, and Kyle Kirkland forced a fine save from Cooper stretching down to his left.

With five minutes remaining, Dapto Dandaloo brought on their Man of the Match hero from the Under-18s Final, Cody Waller. And within a minute, there was a chance the gamble would pay off. Waller won a free kick in virtually the same spot from which Kambiosis had scored the opener. But this time the Fury striker couldn’t find the target and the ball flew well over.

There were tired legs as the 90 minutes drew to a close after a high-level, pulsating tie, and Bulli captain Jarryd Mortimer went down with cramp in the dying seconds. The final whistle was soon to sound, though, and there was no sign of cramp as Mortimer led the Bulli cheers for a Grand Final victory, reversing their loss at the same stage last season.

After the match, Bulli coach Matthew Bailey said: “The boys played really well and did everything I asked of them. We played possession football in the first half but couldn’t quite get the job done, so the character of the team showed with the come-back in the second half. I was pleased with how we played across the park today.”

Story by Simon Duffin and Photo courtesy of Pedro Garcia.




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