FOOTBALL

Wollongong United retained their Bert Bampton Cup crown with an impressive 2-0 win over Dapto-Dandaloo Fury on Sunday at Crehan Park.

First-half goals from Johnny Martinoski and Sangyu Park ensured the silverware would be staying in the Reds' cabinet for another year.

"It is great to go back-to-back," United coach Oliver Vrtkovski said.

"We have knocked off [the Fury] and Bulli to get here, so we are setting our presence in the Premier League that is for sure."

United always looked the more determined on the back of a relentless and enthusiastic display.

They out-hustled their more-fancied rivals and had to wait just 10 minutes for their reward in the decider.

Martinoski latched on to a long throw to the six-yard box from Daisuke Yuzawa to give his side the dream start.

And their lead was doubled just after the half-hour mark when Park scored one of the goals of the season.

The Korean striker hit a stunning half volley from 18 yards that left Fury gloveman Mitchell Blowes with no chance.

"We were great in defence and attack," Vrtkovski said. "The movement of the ball up front was brilliant and our defence was great too. Credit to Brendan [Reilly].

"He marshalled our backline quiet strongly and Billy Tsovolos was exceptional in the middle of the park stifling Sam Munro."

The result ended Fury's hopes of claiming all four pieces of silverware in 2015 after they secured the pre-season Fraternity Cup.

They contributed to their own downfall in the final with clear, missed chances in both halves proving very costly.

Cameron Morgan hit the crossbar when the Fury trailed 2-0 in the first half and blazed wide in the 70th minute.

Fellow frontman and former United attacker Robbie Shields also failed to find the net despite having possession in several good positions.

"We can't take anything away from them. They had some good chances," Vrtkovski said. "They hit the crossbar and had a couple of go just wide. Credit to our boys. We take our chances. One of them was a set play which worked for us and the other was a cracker. Goal of the season for me.

"It was a fantastic performance defensively with another cleansheet. That is four in a row for us, so I cannot ask for more."

The outcome completed a miserable day for the Fury, who also went down in the Youth Cup decider.

Woonona sprung a surprise on the young merger team with a 3-1 win.