The Easter Wrap: Way acrobatics, Bendigo win a game

A Reuben Way stunner headlined Heidelberg United’s dominant win over Avondale FC

The visitors just can’t take a trick at the moment, still looking for their first points of the season and remain rooted at the bottom of the table. Sean Ellis pounced on a defensive error to get the ball rolling after just a quarter of an hour. Reuben Way doubled the lead in spectacular fashion after the break, before Kenny Athiu sealed the three points in the 69th minute.

Bentleigh Greens spurned their chance to go top with a 3-2 defeat against a resurgent Oakleigh

After South Melbourne spurned a two goal lead to Richmond to lose following a five-goal second half turnaround, the onus was on Bentleigh to beat Oakleigh at home – but they also failed to hold a lead. Dean Piemonte got the ball rolling in the 19th minute. Danny Dixon equalised just before the break following a cut-back from Chris Lucas, and the Greens were looking good value for their money when Matt Thurtell scored his first goal on return from a long injury layoff. An equaliser credited to Dimi Hatzimouratis following a deflection of Webster had the scores deadlocked at 2-2, before Dusan Bosnjak netter a dramatic winner in the 83rd minute.

Hume City flexed their muscles over a 10-man Victory

Daniel Clark scored the first of his two goals in the 21st minute when given too much space and time in the area. Captain Nick Hegarty won and converted his own penalty in the 35th minute, doubling the lead. Christian Cavallo made matters worse when he picked up his second yellow just after the break. Clark completed his double when he pounced on Kofi Danning’s saved shot to tap in past Spinella, who up to that point had made a number of crucial saves to keep his side in the game.

A five-star Green Gully triumphed over Northcote City

It took half an hour for the first goal, when Rani Dowisha’s long goalkick wasn’t dealt with by the Northcote defence, allowing Nick Krousoratis to pounce. Krousoratis and Liam Boland then assisted each other’s next two goal to close out the half at a comfortable 3-0 lead. Proceedings continued after the break as Krousoratis picked up a George Lambadaridis pass and did the rest, driving a left-footed effort past Phil Petrovski. Boland capped off the game with a curling free-kick just before full-time.

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Moreland City’s stuttering start to their season persists with a home defeat against Brunswick City

Meanwhile Brunswick had their best ever start to an NPL season, jumping to third place on the NPL2 East ladder. Jose Portillo pounced after a mix up between keeper and defender in the second half to score the eventual winner. However, it could have been a very different result later in the contest, as Moreland won a penalty, with Lisandro Paz’ spot kick saved by Wesley Coles.

North Geelong Warriors’ strong home form continued with a 2-0 win over Goulburn Valley Suns

The visitors’ case wasn’t helped by a red card to Salawat Allafta after a rash challenge on Nicholas Jurcic after just half an hour. It took until the 58th minute for the numerical advantage to help Michael Anderson score from Kenny Eze’s low cross in the 58th minute. The new American capped off proceedings late to mark a successful league debut.

Two late goals saw Dandenong City got their season on track, easing 4-1 past Werribee City

Of the two winless sides, it was Dandenong who got the better of the contest early, opening the scoring through Shaun Filipovic. Gonzalo Freddi made it two after half an hour, with Dandenong taking the 2-0 lead into the break. Julian Cassano pegged one back in the 55th minute to set up what seemed like an excitingly close finish, but instead it was Dario Matkovic and Ashley Cattermole who had other ideas, netting within a minute of each other to blow out the scoreline.

Dandenong Thunder meanwhile made it a more difficult week for Sunshine

Juso Julardzija got another goal to his season tally. While it wasn’t Amir Osmancevic, it was Brandan Barnes doing the damage with a hat-trick, while veteran Veton Korcari added another to his tally at the club. A consolation to Chris Grossman made the scoreline look respectable, but the early ladder leaders continue to march on.

Not even a man advantage could help Melbourne City as Kingston City ran away with another win

It was the first game in which neither Velibor Mitrovic nor Zdenek Koukal scored for Kingston, but it mattered little as Jerry Karpeh took on the goalscoring responsibilities. While the hosts seemed to have more of the running in the first half, funnily enough it was a red card to Simo Jovanovic in the 62nd which looked to have a galvanising effect on Kingston. It certainly sparked Karpeh into action, who did the damage with a brace, keeping Kingston alongside Thunder of five straight wins.

Murray United were powerless to resist as the Zebras pounced

The first came through Kliment Dimitrieski in the opening half, who scored with a tap in on the break. The second came in more spectacular fashion, when Sam Nikolovski’s clearance landed at the feet of Josh McMonagle-Ihasz, who chipped in from 25 yards. A double to prolific scorer James Papadimitriou then sealed the big result for Moreland, before Gradi Masudi netted a late consolation.

Nunawading City almost earned their first point of the season
It looked like just another day at the office for St Albans when Michael Grgic netted the first goal, but after 70 minutes of Nuna hanging on, David Antequera got the equaliser with less than 20 minutes remaining. However, it was the usual suspect Barry Devlin that spared the visitors’ blushes, sealing it late for St Albans in the 77th and 80th minutes.

Whittlesea Ranges hardly looked like the minnows of yesteryear

Another win, this time against a plucky Springvale, seen Whittlesea also with their best start to an NPL season, sitting pretty in fourth spot. It was that man Atilla Ofli with a brace again to launch his side to a 2-0 lead.  John Pykett gave his side a slither of hope in the 75th minute, but Sanni Dauda restored the two goal advantage almost instantly. Damir Stoilovic gave his side a sllither of hope in the 86th minute, but it was quickly extinguished by the final whistle.

Box Hill United twice came back from behind before putting away Ballarat

The Red Devils would be disappointed with the result, having not been able to hold onto another winning position. Jake Francis was the first to propel his side to the lead in the 15th minute, but Rinor Muriqi equalised just six minutes later. Michael Trigger then seemed to spur his side to victory with a 25-yard effort, but Kazuki Okada then again equalised in the 71st minute. Alex Schroen then continued his recent goalscoring knack, netting the winner in the 87th minute.

Bendigo City recorded their first league goal – and win – of the season

It was a long time waiting, but Bendigo rallied after an FFA Cup defeat – they did score their first goals of the season in that game nonetheless – to dispatch a disappointing Eastern Lions. It was David Younan who did the trick, launching from well beyond the 18 yard box in the 70th minute to record the game’s solitary goal.