Anthony Proia scored a brace on his Illawarra Mercury Premier League debut to give Kemblawarra Fury victory at Memorial Park on Sunday on the Fury’s first league outing of the season.

This was a classy display from the Fury, but newly-promoted Corrimal Rangers were far from out-played. They hit the woodwork twice in the first half and were repeatedly denied by Fury keeper Mitchell Blowes, who was wearing the Corrimal gloves only last season.

There was frustration in the Corrimal camp at the end of the game, but they had battled for ninety minutes against one of the best teams in the league, and more than held their own.

There were storm clouds on the horizon as the game kicked off, but for once the rain held off so Alvin Ceccoli was able to lead his team out onto the field for the first time this season in the League. And there were new faces in the starting eleven as former Sydney FC winger Adam Biddle joined two other new signings, Proia and Sam Matthews, who had both been playing NPL football last season.

But Corrimal were far from intimidated by the talent bearing down on them. In fact the Rangers struck the woodwork only minutes after the start, when Nikola Rusic’s free kick took one bounce in a busy area and hit the crossbar before flying clear. And Mark Picciolini had a free header after fifteen minutes, but couldn’t steer the ball down and sent it a good metre over.

So the early chances went to the home side, but they were cut down by a classy move which gave the Fury the lead in the eighteenth minute.

Ceccoli set the move up down the left, but it was a beautiful, fast-paced 1-2 between Proia and Matthews which cut through the Corrimal defence, Proia driving the ball into the back of the net from twelve yards out.

Before Corrimal had time to settle, Matthew McNab almost doubled the lead with a superb swerving left foot shot which Jason Bleakley in the Rangers goal did well to keep out.

Just past the half hour mark, the Rangers hit the woodwork again. This time it was Oliver Carrasco’s glancing header which pinged against the bar after a lovely ball in from Rusic.

But straight from that Corrimal attack, the Fury broke and scored their second. It was McNab who picked out Proia again and the ex-Blacktown Spartan showed what a threat he will be at this level given half a chance in front of goal, as he drilled the ball home for a 2-0 Fury lead.

Corrimal continued to press after falling further behind and it was Blowes who was the busier of the two keepers as the first half drew to a close. First Tim Wylie tried to round him, but the Fury gloveman got down well to take the ball not Wylie’s legs. Then another Wylie effort was blocked by Blowes at the near post. And as the half time whistle approached, Blowes made perhaps his best stop of the game to keep out a Picciolini close-range effort. This time he could only parry, though, and Picciolini had a go at a spectacular scissors kick which only just cleared the cross bar as the referee blew the whistle on a highly entertaining first forty five.

There were tired legs on a heavy pitch as the second half progressed. The Fury were able to play possession football, with only the occasional half chance at either end.

Proia pushed for his hat-trick, but saw one header fly just wide of the far post and then drilled a shot inches wide after Sam Munro put him through.

With five minutes to go, Corrimal almost got one back. Wylie floated a superb cross towards Picciolini at the far post, and there were loud calls for a penalty as the Rangers forward tried to get a clean header on it, but Blowes was there again to block and the referee waved play on.

The Corrimal backline played tirelessly, with teenager Tyren Maclou outstanding at left back, standing up to the likes of former A-Leaguer Biddle and McNab. He is growing in stature with each game, and with Nathan Belsito, Paul Guido and Robbie Brown alongside him, Corrimal have a strong back four to face up to any IPL forward line.

After the game, Fury coach Luke Maguire said he thought the Fury’s first goal was the best they have scored in the twelve months he has been in charge. He acknowledged that his biggest challenge this season will be fitting nineteen players into the sixteen spots up for grabs in each First Grade game. “Good players are missing out but that’s really good for our squad because it means competition for all positions, and players know if they don’t perform, there are others waiting in the wings to take their spot.”

It’s a busy week ahead for both sides: Corrimal play their Round 4 match at Woonona on Saturday, but then have the Fraternity Cup Final to look forward to against Wollongong United on Easter Monday.

The action starts sooner for the Fury, though. Already on Tuesday, they face up to rivals Bulli in a rescheduled Round 1 fixture. And then they take on high-flying Wollongong Olympic in Round 4 on Sunday.

At Ian McLennan Park, Albion Park White Eagles also finally got their season started as they were too slick for South Coast United with Yosuke Tashiro bagging a goal in each half to run out comfortable 2-0 winners. 

Corrimal Rangers FC – 0

Kemblawarra Fury – 2 (Proia 18’, 34’)

Assists: Fury: Matthews, McNab

Sunday 9 April 2017

Memorial Park

Referee: Steve Bozic

Assistant Referees: Max Vercoe, Emma Hayes

Corrimal Rangers: Jason Bleakley, Tyren Maclou, Robbie Brown, Nathan Belsito, Gavin O’Brien (Christian Plakias 52’), Paul Guido, Aden Wade (Melih Yilmaz 71’), Oliver Carrasco, Mark Picciolini, Tim Wylie, Nikola Rusic (subs not used: James Walker, Nick Peros)

Kemblawarra Fury: Mitchell Blowes, Lachlan O’Connor, Kyle Senior (David Hartas 63’), Brenton Rhodes, Alvin Ceccoli, Shane Murray (Kazuto Kushida 55’), Sam Matthews, Adam Biddle (Fabian Iacovelli 71’), Matthew McNab, Anthony Proia, Sam Munro (subs not used: Liam Unicomb, David Zufic)

Report by Simon Duffin

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