Image: Dion Fountas
Avondale FC moved back to equal top at St Albans’ expense while South Melbourne crept up to fourth, remaining just the three points behind the ladder leaders following their comfortable victory over Bulleen Lions, who now move into the relegation zone.
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It’s a far cry from the opening round encounter when Bulleen held South to a draw – and were unlucky not to take all three points – at the Veneto Club, with the gulf in class now evident as South all but erase the memories of their early-season struggles.
For it was at Lakeside that, just eight minutes into the contest, a Marcus Schroen cross found Milos Lujic for a trademark finish to propel the hosts into the lead and on their way to another unbeaten game. Their last defeat came in round 6 away to the Oakleigh Cannons, and at no point did it really look like Bulleen were going to seriously challenge that.
It got worse for the visitors after half an hour when Matt Millar capitalised on a defensive error to net his seventh of the campaign.
Lakeside has had a noticeable effect on travelling sides, and become a fortress for South in their mid-season run of form since having access to the facility again, with points at the venue seemingly coming much easier than most.
It was most evident for the sealer in the second half when Lujic benefited from another lapse at the back to net his second of the match, striking the third dagger in the Lions’ hearts, with this contest dying without a whimper.
And suddenly all Lujic’s early season difficulties to find the back of the net from open play seem to have dissipated for now, with three in two games taking his season tally to eight, just three off golden boot leader Davey van ‘t Schip.
Bulleen now occupy 12th spot on 14 points, leapfrogged by Melbourne Knights – now on 16 points – following their victory over Hume City.
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Not to be outdone, Avondale continue to maintain equal top spot with Heidelberg, seeing off St Albans 1-0, the returning Omar Ammache netting the sole goal for the three points.
It was a result that seemed to sum up both sides’ seasons, with St Albans succumbing to a late, scrappy goal, and other moments in the contest not falling their way, while Avondale got the job done with minimum fuss and a clean sheet to boot.
The visitors had the better of the early exchanges but the likes of Evan Christodoulou and Kristian Trajceski couldn’t do the damage on the scoreboard with their efforts.
Jean Carlos Solorzano seemingly cannot take a trick this season and had a hat-trick of goals all called offside, much to the dismay of the home side and their fans as his drought continues.
Having made a solid contribution for Anthony Barbieri’s side last year, Ammache returned from Europe and was thrown in the starting line-up following the departure of Craig Carley.
Jonatan Germano’s tricky footwork in the box evaded the keeper and defenders, with his ball across the goalline eventually bundled over by the young forward in the 80th minute.
The remaining 10 minutes weren’t a formality, however. Jeff Fleming, normally the composed presence in midfield, was a fraction too late in a challenge for a 50/50 ball right in front of the referee, who had no hesitation in brandishing a red card.
And with the last roll of the dice as the hosts surged for an equaliser, a scramble in the box saw Caleb Mikulic get a shot away which Chris Oldfield was able to hold onto gratefully.
Only goal difference keeps Avondale behind Heidelberg on the table, while St Albans now remain firmly rooted at the bottom after North Geelong’s win added another three points to their tally.