FOOTBALL
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Dapto Dandaloo Fury came from a goal down to book their place in the 2014 decider in an absorbing 2-1 victory over Port Kembla on Sunday.
Mitchell Scazzariello handed Port the lead 28 minutes in but the defending premiers were sent packing when Noel Spencer squared the ledger and Shaun McRae slammed home the winner early in the second half.
McRae's winner was a stunning solo-effort which finished with the young-striker blasting the ball past David Poeira.
It sees the Fury set up a clash with League Championship winners Bulli next weekend at WIN Stadium.
"Our character [has been great]. The two wins we have had in the final series we have come from behind so obviously next week we will want to get on the front foot early," Fury captain-coach Noel Spencer said.
"Every time we have played Bulli we have conceded early goals so it is our turn to put them on the back foot."
Dapto-Dandaloo did start well on Sunday and had chances fall to Fabian Iacovelli and McRae in the opening half-an-hour but neither could find the net.
The early momentum quickly shifted on a difficult surface at John Crehan Park and Scazzariello found the matches opening goal on 28 minutes.
The goal-scoring midfielder hit Matthew Tesoriero's cross first time on the 6-yard box, leaving Mitchell Blowes no chance.
The lead would only last 14-minutes though, after Matthew Werakso was adjudged to have brought down Chris Bush in the box.
Spencer stepped up from 12-yards and comfortably dispatched the spot kick.
The comeback was complete when McRae found the match's winning goal in the 58th minute.
After picking up the ball on the left side of the attack, McRae went on an angled run across the 18-yard box before firing a stunning right-foot strike into the back of the net.
"We knew what we were going to get with Stuart Beedie's Port Kembla team. They are in your face and they will work to the 93rd, 94th minute," Spencer said.
"We only got a couple of chances and we got the two, so that is a positive.
"We will take a lot of positives out of today and move on to next week."
Port had chances after half-time but failed to hit the target.
David Polidoro shimmied past Spencer in the Fury box but fired over five minutes after the break before Scazzariello pushed a stunning scissor kick wide of the mark.
After William Mobbs header found the keeper 15-minutes from time, Port weren't able to put Blowes under pressure again and force the game into extra-time.
"It was a tight game," Port coach Stuart Beedie said.
"We got one, they got a penalty which on any other day wouldn't have been given.
"In the second half they took their chances and we, try as we might just couldn't fathom a really good chance.
"I thought we were having our best spell when they scored actually. It is a funny game football, that's just how it is."
In the District League, Picton Rangers set up a grand final stoush with Warilla Wanderers when they knocked-out Shell Cove in a 3-0 win.