Still with a game in hand, Kemblawarra Fury arrived at the PCYC to take on Premier League leaders Wollongong Olympic for a game in which a loss would make 2016's Champions title race significantly harder. Following a 3-1 away win in the reverse fixture in Round 4, it had the makings of a fascinating match-up between first versus third in the table.

Before everyone had settled into their seat, Fury had the lead. In the fourth minute, Robbie Shields found space in the box, crossing low to the far post, where a rebound fell out to Matthew McNab 10 yards out to smash home the opener.

The tempo of the Fury play seemed to have really caught Olympic off-guard, as they struggled to work their way into the game.

A deep cross found Shields peeling off his marker, only for an acrobatic volley to be miss-kicked, before three shots in quick succession inside the area all struck defenders from close range.

A training-ground play from a corner had Sam Munro slash at a half-volley from 20 yards, only to miss the target, and a miss-directed back-pass found Anthony Proia squaring for Shields in the box, but the pass went behind the striker, who had nobody to beat but goalkeeper Hayden Durose.

Olympic finally started some resurgent counter-attacking near the half hour mark, a solo run down the left wing by Hayato Yakumaru ventured into a threatening area dangerous area, Alvin Ceccoli forced to bring down the winger before a shot was made, Shun Tokuno putting the free kick over.

It took Olympic 36 minutes to register their first shot on target, Stefan Dimoski played in a low, hard cross to Blake Coates 12 yards out, a side-foot with the angle heading in at the far post only for an outstretched hand of Fury keeper Daniel Arcaba to push it out for a corner, in what was a magnificent save.

Lukas Stergiou dinked a pass over the backline and into the run of Yakumaru, however, Arcaba advanced smartly to snatch possession off his bootlaces before a shot was effected.

Fury finished the half in the ascendency, as some one-touch passing cut open the Olympic defence - passes between Shields, Lachlan O'Connor and Munro finding the final ball at the feet of Proia, only for Jake Duczynski to smother the shot.

Shields nearly had Fury's second in injury time, receiving an inch-perfect cross behind Duczynski, however, a poor touch had Shields shooting awkwardly with the ball under his body, making for an easy save by Durose.

The second half was more of the same, Fury well on top and pushing the Olympic defence further and further into their box, simultaneously making a huge gap between the home attacking trio and the rest of their teammates.

The chances continued to flow for the Fury - not surprising given they were parked 30 yards from the Olympic goal most of the half - Shane Murray finding the feet of Shields in close, who managed to turn his man and shoot at the near post, forcing Durose to parry it unconvincingly onto the upright and out for a corner.

On the hour mark, Olympic had two opportunities to draw level. Dimoski had a wayward shot which Yusuke Ueda was able to control before laying the ball off to Blake Coates to fire at goal from 6 yards, but Arcaba was up to the challenge, producing a clutch save.

A minute later, it happened again in almost identical circumstances - Coates controlling an off-target shot and seeing Arcaba dive at his feet to stop the shot with no defenders nearby.

This was a huge passage in the game, and potentially the season with Arcaba having made three vital stops to maintain Fury's one goal advantage.

It was startling for the Fury though - given their sheer dominance of the game - to only be 1-0 up, and knowing that a late slip could lose them two crucial points on the ladder.

From there, the Fury attack awoke to be as potent as early in the first half - now pushing Olympic back into their box and not relenting on the pressing when possession was lost.

 

Murray beat his marker with some slick skill and managed to pinpoint his cross to the boots of Shields for a first-time shot, beating Durose but striking the woodwork to deny a second.

Again and again, Shields was the downfall of the Olympic defence - later playing a one-two with Proia and again beating Durose, only for the shot to roll agonisingly wide of the far bottom corner.

With Olympic desperate for a late equaliser, they pushed numbers forward, nearly to their demise. A regulation clearance from David Hartas went straight to Jake Duczynski, however, a bobble off the pitch saw the ball run past the centre-half. Now substitute Van Elia was in on goal from halfway with no defenders to challenge, he managed to round Durose in goal only to be brought down in the challenge, Fury supporters in uproar as penalty shouts and demands for a red card were waved away, yet the ball went out for a goal kick and Elia required treatment.

An enthralling game of overwhelming Fury attack and gallant Olympic defence had to come to an end, with the early McNab goal proving the difference. Whilst Fury deserved at least a couple more goals, their luck in front of goal could easily have cost them the win had it not been for the heroics of their young number 1, Daniel Arcaba.

Wollongong Olympic - 0
Kemblawarra Fury - 1 (McNab 4')

Saturday the 1st July, 2017 at PCYC, North Wollongong

Wollongong Olympic - Durose, Lloyd (Wakeling), Tokuno, Keating, Stergiou, Ueda, Coates, Duczynski, Yakumaru, Dimoski (Brown), Fordham

Kemblawarra Fury - Arcaba, Pender, Shields (Iacovelli), Hartas, Caccoli, Murray (Mathews), Munro, O'Connor, Kushida, Proia (Elia), McNab

Referee - N. Wotton

Assistants - L. Webb, D. Moriera

Report by David Atherton - Twitter @daveatho5