A 3-0 win over South Coast United on Sunday put Kemblawarra Fury just three points behind ladder leaders Bulli and Wollongong Olympic, with a game in hand on both. Anthony Proia got the ball rolling with his 13th goal of the season taking him two clear in the race for the Illawarra Mercury Premier League Golden Boot, and late strikes by Shane Murray and Fabian Iacovelli will boost Fury’s position if goal difference counts as the season progresses.

United had the woodwork and some fine saves from keeper David Valic to thank for keeping them in with a sniff till late on, but they rarely threatened the Fury goal and probably came closest when Fury gloveman Mitchell Blowes charged down an Abdul Lawal drive for goal late in the first half.

It was one-way traffic for much of that first half, though. Greg Valic almost headed into his own net as he rose to clear a ball in from David Hartas, but the woodwork saved his blushes in the 7th minute. Moments later another goalmouth scramble finished with a desperate clearance off the line. Then it was Matthew McNab who forced a fingertip save out of the United keeper, who was back in action again to keep out a Steven Wright header as the Fury pressed for the opener.

They had to wait until the 35th minute to reap the rewards for the constant pressure, though. It was a fine move, started by Murray, involving quick angled passes that weaved a way through the United defence before Sam Matthews laid it off to Proia, who stroked the ball into the net via the upright.

Until the goal, United had been happy passing the ball around in their own half, looking for the chance to send a long ball forward to lone striker Lawal. As soon as they went behind, though, the tactics changed. Denis Stojic chipped a superb ball through into Lawal’s path. He struck it first time, but Blowes raced out to charge down the shot and keep his side in front.

But there was still time for more woodwork at the other end as Matthews curled a shot onto the angle just before half time, with Mate Nimac quick to clear as the ball flew out towards a waiting Fury striker.

Down 1-0 at the break, United began to make changes for the second half. Ricky Bertakis came on up front and was soon joined by Francesco Liberti, whose pace looked useful in behind the front man. But still, the better chances fell the Fury’s way.

Sam Munro played a beautiful 1-2 with Proia before Valic got down low to block Proia’s shot with his feet. Then it was another reflex save to deny Proia again, before more goalkeeping heroics to save from Murray and then McNab.

Finally, with less than five minutes left on the clock, Fury tied the game up with two quick goals.

First it was Murray who got the crowd to their feet with a superb solo effort. He picked the ball up on the edge of the area, made space to shoot and curled the ball over a packed eighteen-yard box into the top corner, giving Valic no chance.

Then it was 3-0 as Iacovelli drilled home from the right after a layoff from Proia.

And that was game over. There was just time for a couple of yellow cards as United players vented their frustration after holding out for so long.

After the match, United player-coach Greg Valic acknowledged ‘it was tough out there today. We held out for as long as we could, but at 1-0 down we took a couple of risks and conceded in the last five minutes, but that’s football’. Looking ahead to the rest of the season Valic said with players like Josh Brookes back next week, he is looking to pick up a few more points and make late finals push.

Fury coach Luke Maguire admitted that South Coast are always a hard side to break down and at 1-0 anything could still have happened. But he was now looking to let his squad freshen up after a massive schedule of two games a week for several weeks, culminating in this week’s FFA Cup defeat. Looking at the second half of the season, he said: “If we keep improving at the rate we are doing, we’re pretty happy at where we sit in the table.”

Maguire’s options up front for the rest of the season look even more appetising after the return from long-term injury of a certain Robbie Shields today. He knocked in five goals for the Youth Grade this afternoon so may well be back in First Grade action soon.

Kemblawarra Fury – 3 (Proia 35’, Murray 86’, Iacovelli 88’)

South Coast United – 0

Assists: Fury: Matthews, Proia

Macedonia Park, Sunday 4 June 2017

Referee: Nicholas Ryan
Assistant referees: Brodie Merchant and Keelum Harrison

Kemblawarra Fury: Mitchell Blowes, Steven Wright, Lachlan O’Connor, David Hartas, Alvin Ceccoli, Shane Murray, Sam Matthews (Fabian Iacovelli 75’), Kazuto Kushida, Anthony Proia, Matthew McNab (Liam Unicomb 67’), Sam Munro (Van Elia 67’) (subs not used: Dean Pender, David Zufic)

South Coast United: David Valic, Chris Valic, Greg Valic, Steven Dimitrievski (Francesco Liberti 54’), Mate Nimac, Jason Pappas, Ivan Bratjanscak (Junior Mushaba 71’), Tommy Skara, Shinji Shozu, Abdul Lawal (Ricky Bertakis 45’), Denis Stojic (subs not used: Yu Takahashi, Aaron Buzinki)

Report by Simon Duffin, on Twitter @DuffinWrites