Image: Whittlesea Ranges
Round 20 in the NPL2 saw no changes in ladder positions from last week, though there a few results that once more opened up the race to promotion. Whittlesea’s lead over St Albans has been reduced to two, while Melbourne City’s second consecutive defeat to a top-four opponent sees them lose ground on a promotion spot. Five players scored braces in some impressive individual performances that contributed to the results.
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5. St Albans survive late scare against Ballarat in five-goal thriller, now unbeaten in five
After rising from fifth spot not much longer than a month ago, four wins and a draw in five sees Kruni Razov’sside back in the promotion and title hunt now, reducing Whittlesea’s league lead to two points. Adrian Barresi opened the scoring in just the second minute with a strike past the keeper after Aaron Romein punched the ball away from a cross. Left back Yaw Otuo-Acheampong then had an inspired spell, scoring both his first and second goal of the season with a couple of excellent finishes in the 38th and 69th minute to extend the scoreline to 3-0 and make the lead look unassailable. However, two late goals to Paul George and David King in the 77th and 80th minutes made the game’s final moments nervous for the visitors, but they held on for the three points. However, the late two goals conceded may set the side back a bit – a 3-0 win wouldv’e had Dinamo equal goal difference with Whittlesea.
4. Warriors brush aside Melbourne City to end four game winless run
Two goals early and late in the picture to Nick Jurcic ensured North Geelong consolidated a good performance with three points, finally taking a first win in four games while condemning City to two defeats in a row – Geelong now just sit a point behind City and still four points outside the top two. It was the ideal start in just the fourth minute when Jurcic finished off the first chance of the game after latching onto a through ball. The likes of Kene Eze and Michael Anderson also had chances later in the first half, and the Warriors continued to create opportunities throughout, but it was Jurcic with a great solo run and goal from an angle to seal the two-goal win, the the hosts’ defence also holding firm at the other to secure a clean sheet.
3. Moreland City win 3-0 to send Bendigo crashing
Three wins in four games sees Moreland City enjoy their mid-season resurgence and push Ballarat for sixth spot. In turn, Bendigo backed up their unbeaten June with two defeats in July now after conceding three second half goals to a rampant City. Apai Ukuno was the chief destroyer to take his season tally to 15 and create a gap on the chasing pack in second place behind Atilla Ofli. His first goal came in the 55th minute and was backed up by a second in the 61st, the five-minute blitz essentially putting the game out of Bendigo’s reach. Corey Thomas then sealed in the 68th minute for a good day at the office for the hosts.
2. Muriqi double sinks Werribee to get Zebras back on track
Moreland Zebras round out the pack chasing promotion and did their hopes no harm with three points, which snapped a three-game losing run. It was Rinor Muriqi who made a positive impact for his new club against the Bees with a brace. Two first-half strikes did the trick, as he backed up a 28th minute effort with a 36th minute goal to set up the win. Neither side was able to add to the scoresheet thereafter, sealing the 2-0 result for the Zebras, which keeps their promotion hopes alive.
1. Whittlesea held to point by plucky Sunshine
It wasn’t a defeat, but in the end Whittlesea did well to ensure they didn’t walk away with no points against a fast-finishing Georgies outfit. The Ranges scored in the 15th minute when looping header from front-man George Slefandorfas sailed over the keeper head and into the back of the net. However, a good passing move not long after, which was finished by Nic Gonzalez, saw the visitors get back in the game at 1-1. The hosts took the lead once more in just two minutes when Slefendorfas helf off his defender, put in some fancy footwork and struck a curling shot into the back of the net. The second half saw Sunshine once again equalise via Hernan Arredondo, with Sunshine then pushing for the three points but neither side was able to nab the winner.