My five most memorable football matches of 2018
I had the privilege of watching 127 senior football matches over the course of 2018, many of which I reported on.
I was there for the launch of a new club, I witnessed a hoodoo being broken in the most dramatic of fashions and I was left agasp as a perhaps unrivalled winning streak came to an end.
Here are the five matches which will live longest in the memory, note, these are listed in chronological order. Also note, it is pretty hard to shave 127 down to five, but here we go.
The Breakdown.
Illawarra Premier League — 28
NSW State League — 21
Illawarra Women’s Division 1–13
Fraternity Cup (IPL) — 11
Fraternity Cup (IDL) — 10
FFA Cup — 10
Illawarra District League — 9
Trials — 9
Bert Bampton Cup — 7
NSW National Premier League 1 — 4
A-League — 3
1. Woonona 2 Fernhill 3
31 March @ Ocean Park — Round 2 of the Illawarra Premier League
Barring their coach, Bruce Tilt, no one gave Fernhill much of a chance of survival in their first season back in the region’s top flight. I said in my season preview they would “do well to surpass that mark” of seven points which was the tally they acquired the year they were relegated.
They stunned finals fancied Tarrawanna 1–0 in the opening round and went to Ocean Park to face the club coached by Dan McGoldrick who had guided the Foxes to promotion.
It was a seesawing affair with Fernhill triumphing 3–2 in perhaps the most entertaining regular season match of 2018.
Six points secured, two weeks later they had nine and they finished with 24. Oops.
2. Balmain Tigers 0 South Coast Flame 5
1 April @ Ilinden Sports Centre — Round 2 of the FNSW State League
I was anxious about how the newly-formed South Coast Flame would fare in their first season. As media coordinator, I was pitchside for a mixed preseason which left me with both hope of challenging at the top as well as fear of fighting it out at the bottom.
The opening round fixture away to FC Gazy Auburn had been washed out, however, the club’s first competitive match was a spiriting 4–2 win over association side West Pennant Hills Cherrybrook in the FFA Cup.
The match at Ilinden was bizarre. Flame led 2–0 at the break before scoring three more in the second half on the way to a way to a five-goal rout. The bizarre part being South Coast goalkeeper and captain, Matt White, rightly picking up man of the match honours with a save count up in the teens.
In reflection, the magnitude of the result clouded everyone’s judgement and ultimately the side would finish someway off the finals in an underwhelming season. There are plenty of learnings for the club heading in 2019.
Interestingly enough, Flame also beat the Tigers 5–0 in the reverse fixture at Crehan Park.
3. Port Kembla 0 Wollongong United 3
19 August @ Wetherall Park — Round 21 of the Illawarra Premier League
This match wasn’t notable for the 90 minutes of football, in fact, half the crowd had left by halftime. What made this match significant was the passing of Port Kembla player, Justin Cario, eight days earlier.
The sudden tragedy rocked Illawarra football and in truth and I gained a new found respect for how Port dealt with the aftermath by supporting the players and those close to the club by whatever means necessary.
It was a heavy week, the sort of week I never considered I would be involved with when I began writing about football. The sorrow I felt, however, couldn’t compare to those of the players with speculation to whether they would take the park for the upcoming match against Wollongong United.
They would, which is a credit to them.
The match was delayed by half an hour for a moving ceremony in tribute to the young man who had been vital in the club’s grand final glory less than 12 months prior.
It was heartening to see close to a full house at Wetherall Park that Sunday afternoon to offer their support to the club — indicative of football being more than a game.
The match itself wasn’t up to much. Wollongong United recording a 3–0 win, though, this was a mere footnote.
4. Bulli 3 Wollongong United 2
23 September @ Win Stadium — Grand Final of the Illawarra Premier League
In terms of narrative, this may be the greatest game of Illawarra football I will ever report on.
Bulli, one of the region’s strongest clubs, breaking their 32-year hoodoo against Wollongong United, their most heated of rivals.
The clubs had already faced four times in 2018 with United winning three to Bulli’s one. Whether it be for footballing reasons or otherwise, there is always drama in this fixture and this day was no different.
You can read my full match report here, in summery, however, Bulli relinquished a two-goal lead only for their captain and reigning George Naylor Medalist, Guy Knight, to score the winner in the third minute of added on time.
Scenes.
I have only been to four Premier League deciders, this was the best one — a sentiment echoed by many neutrals over the days and weeks to follow.
I interviewed Bulli coach, Matt Bailey, a couple of weeks after the match to take in his thoughts on the season, as well as the decider.
5. Dunbar Rovers 2 Albion Park 1
21 October @ Valentine Sports Park — Grand Final of the AAW Champion of Champions
The pinnacle of women’s club football in New South Wales was the last match I reported on in 2018. I presume many, including myself, expected Albion Park to record their 60th win in succession, but instead, in impressive Dunbar Rovers inflected their opponent’s first defeat in 807 days.
I hadn’t seen Park drop a match over the two years I had watched them but I hadn’t seen a team attack them with the vigour of Dunbar. I don’t think Albion Park were complacent, caught off guard by the intensity of the likes of Francesa Fernandes, yes, but not complacent. You can read my match report here.
Park were humble in defeat, as humble as the Rovers were in victory with both coaches singing the praises of the opposition post match — something I have seldom seen.
It will be intriguing how Albion Park responds next season. If the likes of University, Woonona, Kiama and Balgownie are prepared to raise their game, 2019 could see Park have a genuine challenger for their local crown.
