Bulli FC vs Dapto Dandaloo Fury

Balls Paddock

Kick-off: Saturday, 2:30pm

Referee: Andrew Naylor

League leaders Bulli host the Dapto Dandaloo Fury in a top of the table clash at Balls Paddock on Saturday.

The match is being billed as one of the games of the season as both clubs will look to add to a growing tally of entertaining outings to their budding rivalry.

“It should be a really good game and I hope everyone enjoys it,” said Bulli head coach Ben Smith.

“With respect to where both teams are on the table it’s the biggest game of the season to date.

“There’s been a healthy rivalry between us for the last few years and the games have generally been of a pretty high standard.”

Since Dapto Dandaloo merged for the 2012 season, they have faced off with Bulli seven times including finals.

The record tilts in Bulli’s favour with four wins to the Fury’s two but the southern suburbs club can claim the 2011 Grand Final as one of their wins.

The other win came in the first clash of this season with Dapto Dandaloo running out 3-2 winners but head coach Norm Boardman is wary of an improved Bulli team.

“There wasn’t much in that game earlier this season,” he said.

“They didn’t have Dean Heffernan at that stage and he’ll cause a lot of problems for us.

“They’ve got a lot of firepower around the park, [Ben] McDonald is starting to get to his best now and that’s dangerous.”

The loss sparked Bulli into action and since that game the northern suburbs club have grabbed an astounding 28 points from a possible 30 to earn top spot on the ladder.

“We’ve probably changed a little bit and they probably have as well,” said Smith.

“There was certainly aspects of that game that we weren’t happy with that we have improved upon and hopefully we’ll be able to execute those things come Saturday.”

Bulli are entering the game off the back of an impressive outing last weekend where they battered Fernhill 7-0 in a clinical display.

Dapto Dandaloo can take confidence into the game after downing fellow finals contenders Tarrawanna 4-2 which left Boardman feeling good about his sides form.

“It’s been great having two hard games leading into this one because it gives us that competitive edge,” said Boardman.

“We’ve been much better in the top third the last few weeks and we’re training really well so the confidence is high.”

The game gives Bulli the opportunity to extend their lead at the top to four points and give themselves a nice push towards a potential League Championship.

Dapto Dandaloo will be hoping they can reclaim the top spot after they were knocked off back in round 15.

Key Players:

Bulli’s talismanic striker, Ben McDonald, has found good goal scoring form in the second half of the year. A slow start to the season has been turned into six goals in five games, culminating in a well-taken hat-trick against Fernhill last weekend.

Dapto Dandaloo captain Alvin Ceccoli has been quietly grinding the gears for the Fury’s success this season. The level-headed midfielder has chipped in ten goals for the Fury this campaign and the club will be looking to his influence in the big games toward the business end of the season.

 

Julian Keith

FSC Reporter