Image: Oakleigh Cannons
Bentleigh Greens take top for now after a last-gasp 2-1 win over Melbourne Knights at Somers Street, a result that by the end came against the odds after Jack Webster was sent off, but nonetheless John Anastasiadis’ men showed why they’ve been the league benchmark for the last few seasons. Meanwhile Oakleigh and Port showed off some new recruits but both had to settle for a 1-1 draw.
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At Jack Edwards Reserve, for Oakleigh Janiel Silva was making his starting debut from Whittlesea Ranges, Wayne Wallace came off the bench, while Alan Mulcahy had his first start since returning to Port from Richmond.
The visitors had the ball in the back of the net early when Andreas Govas’ shot from distance was saved by John Honos into the path of Oleksiy Khrapko, but his follow up was deemed to be offside.
At the other end, Giuseppe Marafioti was looking to continue his good form up front and looked to have been taken down in the box, yet the referee brandished a yellow for what he considered to be a dive.
Silva almost had his name on the scoreboard on debut from a corner but headed over.
Marafioti made amends and had Oakleigh’s opener when good combination work between Dusan Bosnjak, Ioannis Gerogopoulos and the striker ended with Marafioti putting away a neat finish in the 52nd minute – his fourth of the campaign.
But the visitors soon had the response when a good passing move ended with Zane Sole dinking the ball over to Khrapko, who eventually did net a goal that stood after rounding Honos and tapping in his sixth of the season.
Oakleigh were inches away from restoring their lead as Silva’s header from a corner looked to have nearly been turned in by Marafioti but was cleared off the line.
Both sides have now drawn four of their past five meetings, giving them an extra point that doesn’t shake up the standings too much in mid-table.
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Eric Vassiliadis was taking charge of his first home game in Knights colours, also handing Anthony Duzel his first start since returning to the Knights after stints at Melbourne Victory and Pascoe Vale, while Dimi Hatzimouratis also made his debut for Bentleigh since signing from Oakleigh.
But it was Andy Brennan threatening early, putting a few shots on goal which didn’t trouble Fraser Chalmers.
A close shave then came from a corner when the former Newcastle Jet put a close range effort into the crossbar.
However, it was another corner situation that undid the Knights when a ball bounced in the path of Luke Pilkington who volleyed in a screamer, netting his second in consecutive weeks.
Bentleigh had the lion’s share of the chances but couldn’t extend their lead on the scoreboard, allowing the Knights a sniff of a comeback and they duly accepted their chance when a Luke Jurcic run down the right wing and cross was headed down by Tom Cahill and was deemed to have struck Jack Webster’s arm on the way down.
Cahill stepped up and put the penalty just beyond Ryan Scott’s reach despite the keeper’s best efforts – taking his tally to six in 12 games.
Things looked to have gotten worse for the visitors when Webster was given his marching orders for a second yellow following a challenge on the speedy Elvis Kamsoba.
But the Knights couldn’t take advantage of it and in fact slumped to an extra-time defeat when Hatzimouratis slipped through Nick Glavan on the right, playing his part in sinking his old club by cutting back to Kieran Dover for the easiest of tap-ins – his first league goal in 24 appearances.
The match reverses Bentleigh’s 3-1 defeat to the Knights at Kingston Heath earlier in the season, moving the side up to top for now with Heidelberg yet to play.