FOOTBALL- FRATERNITY CUP
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A two-nil win and a slice of luck assured Bulli a place in the Fraternity Cup final four on Sunday.
The northern suburbs club progressed through to the semi-final stages despite finishing second in their group behind Tarrawanna courtesy of a lucky-loser draw in their favour.
As one of three second-placed teams, Bulli were given the fortunate route into the final draw to join the Blueys and group winners Port Kembla and Wollongong Olympic.
Earlier, without coach Ben Smith on deck, the 2013 runners-up were locked in a tussle throughout most of the first half with South Coast United at Wetherall Park.
Striker Ben McDonald and South Coast midfielder Kolan Al Mhde both had chances to break the deadlock, but were unable to find the clinical finish needed.
It would take a unfortunate own-goal from United defender Greg Valic to get the scoring started, seconds before the half-time whistle.
Sam Davies had whipped in a cross from the left flank, leaving Valic no option but to play at the ball.
And the burly centre-back could only find his own net.
United were well and truly in the game at the start of the second half with Lee Gilroy coming close to levelling the score when he found the frame of the goal.
But a two-on-one break saw Jared Fish put it on a platter for Steve Hansen to double Bulli's lead shortly after.
United's wastefulness in front of goal didn't go unnoticed by coach Alan Paine after full-time.
"I thought we dominated patches of the game. It was a pretty good open, fast game but you have got to score goals," Paine said.
In other matches, a Shaun McRae goal helped Dapto Dandaloo round out their Fraternity Cup with a 1-0 over Albion Park White Eagles.
Port's 1-0 triumph against Cringila ensured they'd have a chance of continuing their title-winning form in 2014.
Wollongong Olympic wrapped up their spot on Friday night with a 1-0 win over Wollongong United.