THE Shoalhaven United Bears have shown they will be a major title threat this season by easily accounting for the previously undefeated Bomaderry 3-nil at Ison Park on Saturday.
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Heading into the match, which was shifted from Lyrebird Park due to wet conditions, the visitors had won all four of their Shoalhaven District Football Association matches in 2021.
But that streak came to a crashing halt against Trevor Skingle's troops, thanks to goals from Lewis Archibald (16th minute), Billy Wallington (51st) and Alex Rogan (64th).
The win, the Bears' fourth during the 2021 Blackmore Bolden Shield, saw them leapfrog the Tigers into first place - with both teams sitting on 12 points after five rounds but United is first thanks to being one ahead on the one difference column.
Sitting in third is Milton-Ulladulla, who downed Illaroo 5-3 at Sharman Park.
The visitors raced to a 3-nil half-time lead before both teams scored two goals each in the second 45 minutes.
In the win, Jarrod Murray, Brent Anderson, Ivan Katusa, Arlo Crowley and Angus Crowley scored for the Panthers, while Roos skipper Evan Leedham found the back of the net twice for the hosts.
Rounding out the top four after five round is Shoalhaven Heads-Berry, who suffered their first defeat of the campaign to Huskisson-Vincenita.
Jayden Lee opened the scoring for the Seagulls in the 10th minute before a Lewis King own goal doubled the visitors' lead 10 minutes later.
Sharks' Nathan Thomas managed to pull one back for the hosts in the 33rd minute before Lee's second, in the 87th minute, sealed the 3-1 win - Huskisson's second of the season.
The final game of the round, which was also shifted to Ison Park from Emmett Street Oval due to the rain, saw Callala edge St Georges Basin 4-3 in a goal-fest.
The scoring started in the 15th minute when Dragons' Brenden Hobbs found the back of the net.
The Brumbies would then score the next three, through Kye Irwin (18th), William Patterson (39th) and Mitchell Collins (52nd).
The seesawing match continued as Basin levelled the scores thanks to strikes from Luke Reid (69th) and Hobbs (81st).
But late drama ensued with Daniel Reardon's 89th-minute goal proving to be the match-winner, as the Brumbies held on to win 4-3 - marking their first victory in 2021.
Manyana had the bye in round five.
Looking ahead to the next round, Bomaderry host Heads, Huskisson plays Manyana, Milton takes on Callala and Basin battles United - with Illaroo having the bye.