After thumping Yerrinbool Bargo 4-1 in their round two clash, Alex Dicker's side travelled north to Tunkawallin Oval, to play their round three fixture.

"The first half was a very intense and competitive, as they [Gwandalan] did everything they could to make it hard for us," Dicker said.

"From a hostile crowd, to a small and bumpy pitch, the whole thing was a challenge."

Despite all this, United held firm to go into the break nil-all.

"At the break, we made a number of adjustments due to the physical nature of the contest," Dicker said.

"We decided to play more direct, as I think that's the shortest pitch I've ever played or coached on.

"With all the space being compressed, we tried to get behind their defenders a bit quicker."

But it was due to this aggressive style of play that saw United concede two quick goals on the break.

"Their two goals happened really quickly and against the run of play, as the shot count as heavily in our favour," Dicker said,

"Although we had been completely dominant, we just couldn't find the back of the net.

"But to the boys credit, they didn't drop their heads after the goals and stuck to the game plan.

"We were rewarded for our constant pushing when Shaun Aldous scored, to make it 2-1."

This goal gave the Bears confidence to push on and score a deserving equaliser - one which they thought they had found in the final minutes through Taite Arney, only for it to be controversially ruled offside.

"While disappointed with the result, I couldn't be more proud of the way the boys played, not just in this game but the whole FFA Cup campaign," Dicker said.

"Wednesday was just one of those games where the ball just didn't want to go in the back of the net for us.

"It was a very tough situation to play in but the boys played with as much effort as they could and that's all I can ask for - it was a character building experience, that's for sure."

The Bears will now rest up ahead of the kick-off of the 2019 Shoalhaven Football season on Saturday, April 6.

"The club have taken plenty of positives from this whole experience, which we will look to build on starting in round one next weekend," Dicker said.

"Having six very competitive pre-season matches, including two FFA Cup fixtures, have put us in a strong position to push for finals this season - the whole club can't wait."

Dicker thanked all of the club's fans that travelled up to the Central Coast with them on Wednesday, as well as Kennedy's Tours, Shoalhaven Water and Fast n' Fresh for their assistance during the FFA Cup campaign.

In other FFA Cup news, the South Coast Flame, led by Shoalhaven Heads-Berry's Matt White and Huskisson-Vincentia's Alex Boardman, won their round three clash 2-1 against Fernhill at Ian McLennan Park.

A Matt Mazevski goal in the 91^st cancelled out the Foxes' opener through Matthew Donnelly before an own goal by Ben Riach in the 92^nd minute - to seal the Flame's win.