Port Kembla has spoiled Kemblawarra Fury’s trophy party, after travelling to Albert Butler Memorial Park and striking a convincing 2-0 victory over the League champions to end their own 2016 campaign.

Goals in each half by Port Kembla striker Nick Hardy was enough to ensure victory, on an afternoon where nothing went right for Kemblawarra Fury.

Port Kembla coach Stuart Beedie was pleased with the victory, but disappointed with its timing.

“It was a real fighting team effort, and I thought we deserved it in the end. Its all a bit too little, too late for us but it is a nice way to go.” Stuart Beedie said.

“It was a disappointing season really. Its all well and good to win on the last day of the season against the champions but realistically I would rather be in their position than ours.”

The afternoon began on a low point for Fury, with Nathan Jagelman was a late scratching forcing the team to start a youth grade player who had already played over an hour of football on the afternoon.

After the opening whistle it took only 20 seconds for Port Kembla to have their first loose strike on goal, with Nick Hardy squirting a low strike just wide of the right post.

It was clear from the outset that Port Kembla was not deterred by facing the League Champions, coming into the fixture with impressive form being unbeaten in their last five appearances.

In the 16th minute, a darting run by Port Kembla’s Jarryd Vinton towards the left post spelled danger, before the strike failed to navigate the tight angle.

In the 24th minute, a Port Kembla strike from the left sideline had too much heat for Kemblawarra goalkeeper David Poeira, who fumbled the ball to the feet of Nick Hardy who had no trouble sending the ball to the back of the net for the opening goal.

Kemblawarra struggled with cohesion with the ball at foot, with no better example than Shane Murray’s effort in front of goals when he nearly falconed a Port Kembla clearance for an equalizing goal to much personal discomfort.

Kemblawarra’s Cameron Morgan was one of the most dangerous all afternoon, sending a deadly strike in the 32nd minute that swirled into the crossbar in their best chance for the first half.

The Fury kept the rage with Matthew McNab threatening the goals only 5 minutes later when the shot sailed across the face of goals for no risk.

At halftime Port Kembla held a narrow 1-0 lead, with the League Champions showing clear commitment to lift their trophy unbeaten in front of their home crowd.

Port Kembla looked to strike the first blow of the second half, with Nick Hardy unleashing a delicious shot forcing a diving save from Fury’s David Poiera, before Blake Coates failed in the second effort with Poiera able to save two from two.

The perfect chance for a Kemblawarra equaliser came in the 60th minute, when McNab had a dangerous air swing less than ten yards out with only the goalkeeper to beat.

In the 69th minute, a desperate long range strike from Kemblawarra’s Cameron Morgan was nearly the answer, with a horizontal save from Port Kembla goalkeeper Daniel Farina holding Port’s narrow lead.

Only ten minutes later, a long Fury ball was sent to Matthew McNab, who headed the ball down to Cameron Morgan who was unable to send a finishing strike against a rushing, impressive Port Kembla defence.

In the 84th minute, Port Kembla sealed their impressive final victory of 2016 when a free kick found Matt Werakso who sent a feeble header towards goal, but a lack of concentration saw a second David Poeira fumble and again Nick Hardy was there to smash the ball at the defenceless goals.

Kemblawarra Fury do not have long to return to their winning ways, with finals football beginning next week.

“We have been playing with virtually 11 players each week and it has taken a toll,” Luke McGuire said.

“We are pretty tired at the moment and we are just going to try to regroup, re-fresh this week, have the week off and go from there.”

Kemblawarra Fury will have a week off before playing the winner of Bulli F.C v Albion Park White Eagles for a place in the Grand Final in a fortnights time.

 

Sunday 28 August, 2016

Albert Butler Memorial Park

 

Referee: B. Mazevski

Assistant Referees: N. Ryan & T. Arnold

 

Kemblawarra Fury 0

Port Kembla2 (Nicholas Hardy 24’, 84’)

 

Kemblawarra Fury:David Poeira, Lachlan O’Connor, Tyson Rhodes, Shane Murray, Josh Mears (Cody Waller 74’) David Hartas, Fabian Iacovelli, Alvin Ceccoli, Matthew McNab, Cameron Morgan, Sam Munro

 

 

 

Yellow Cards: David Hartas

 

 

Red Cards: Nil

 

 

 

 

 

Port Kembla:Daniel Farina, Peter Richardson, Adrian Nikolovski, Brooklyn Frkovic, Carlo Stella (Blake Coates 45’), Jarryd Vinton, Douglas Woodiwiss, Nicholas Hardy, Mathew Werakso, Takao Terramoto.

 

 

 

Yellow Cards: Carlo Stella

 

 

Red Cards: Nil

 

 

 

 

 

Report by Daniel McGookin

 

 

Twitter: @mcgoookin93

Photo courtesy of Pedro Garcia (library image)