Image: Banyule City
It was a Banyule boilover as the raging Bulls took it to North-West leaders Altona Magic in a first vs second clash, ending the ladder leaders’ impeccable record to start the season, with Geelong moving back to third with a victory over Essendon. Meanwhile, with the top four all playing each other in South-East, Gus Macleod’s Langwarrin maintained their four-point advantage at the top as their draw against Manningham was cancelled out by another draw between Caulfield and Mornington.
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Banyule City ended Altona Magic’s 100% start to the campaign following a 3-1 triumph over the NPL2 ladder leaders at Yallambie Park. A quick-fire start from the Bulls saw them take a 2-0 lead inside the opening 21 minutes thanks to number nine Thomas Andrews. Scottish striker Jon McShane reduced the deficit on the stroke of half-time only for Chris Lester to restore the Bulls’ two-goal advantage just before the hour mark with his fifth of the campaign, as Nick Georgakopoulos’ side moved into second place on the league standings, four points behind the reigning State League One Champions.
Moving into third on the standings is Geelong, who returned to winning ways after a 2-0 victory over the Essendon Royals at Stead Park. Joshua Talev netted goal number five of his campaign just before the break before Chris Balaburova doubled the advantage five minutes after the half-time interval. The visitors were reduced to ten men following the dismissal of Joel Steggall in the 58th minute. Assistant Kristian Bright has been confirmed as Geelong’s permanent replacement manager for Fabrizio Soncin, who departed the club after the first game of the season.
The North Sunshine Eagles go into fourth following a come-from-behind 3-1 triumph away from home against Yarraville FC. Keith Burch gave the Glory an early lead three minutes into the clash with his sixth of the season only for Eagles danger man Diellon Memishi to equalise in the 69th minute. The marksman added a second strike nine minutes later to give his side the lead before the hosts also had Niko Argyrakakis sent off in the 85th minute. Memishi rounded off his hat-trick in stoppage time to join Joel Nikolic at the top of the Golden Boot standings with his seventh of the campaign.
2015 State League Champions Western Suburbs moved to within two points behind fifth placed Keilor Park following their 3-1 victory over Paul Falzon’s men at Ralph Reserve on Sunday afternoon. Former Avondale and Moreland Zebras defender Dean Campelj scored the lone goal for the visitors while Deang Aguek netted his fifth of the term and was joined by Ajak Panek and Nacho Pizzaro.
The reign of Kevin Taylor at Westgate is over after his side suffered a heartbreaking 5-4 defeat at home to seventh-placed Sydenham Park at Castley Reserve. An enthralling first half saw seven goals netted, with Alex Cobo’s men finding the auld onion bag thanks to a double from Danilo Bonilla as well as further strikes from Danny Barakat and Koce Delev. The latter scored another one in the second half with the Sindeljic scorers on the day being Dejan Mitrovic, Raffael Origlia and Gino Defeo – the latter netted a brace to take his tally to six goals from three league starts for his new employers. The veteran English forward has subsequently been appointed as Westgate’s player-manager.
The round’s final fixture between struggling duo Preston Lions and Altona East Phoenix has been postponed until a later date due to ground works at BT Connor Reserve.
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Over in South-East, ladders leaders Langwarrin took on fourth placed Manningham United Blues at Lawton Park. Recent Langy signing Liam Baxter opened the scoring for the hosts just past the half hour mark with his third in three games only for ex-Box Hill midfielder Franc Carafa to equalise in the 56th minute. Both sides finished the game a player down after the dismissals of John Guthrie and Carafa as Gus Macleod’s men maintained their four-point advantage at the top of the standings.
That came about as a result of the thrilling six-goal draw between third-placed Mornington and second-placed Caulfield United Cobras at Dallas Brooks Park. Mornington frontman Ryan Paczkowski netted a double inside the opening half to take his season tally to eight goals from eight games to lead the goalscoring standings. The Cobras turned the game on its head in the final seven minutes of the encounter by netting twice in the space of four minutes following strikes from Cort Kibler-Melby and Joe Summerbell. Substitute Simon Mur handed Mornington back the lead immediately after the restart only for Kibler-Melby to net his seventh of the year in the dying seconds of the match as Adam Jamieson’s men look ahead to this week’s crunch derby clash against Langwarrin.
South Springvale moved into fifth after a hard-fought 1-0 win away to Morwell Pegasus, with veteran defender Ari Drakos grabbing the game’s only goal in the 58th minute. Aris also confirmed the acquisition of young defender Thomas Simos from Box Hill United.
St Kilda moved into sixth following a come-from-behind 2-1 result over Clifton Hill, whose season is yet to take flight. The visitors welcomed back the returning Dylan Bresolin after his short stint back at Bulleen in the top-flight and took the lead through the boot of the former Lions utility in the 22nd minute. However, a second-half double from new Celts signing Olapido Okunaiya gave the hosts all three points, with his 88th minute winner causing wild celebrations at Elwood Park.
Malvern City have seemingly recovered from their poor start to the season after also overturning a half-time deficit to defeat Warragul United at Kooyong Park. Jacob Vitale gave Peter O’Dea’s men the lead in the 27th minutes only to be denied anything from the clash by goals in the second half from Dan Hilder and Antun Vulic.
Meanwhile, on Friday evening, the Casey Comets secured their first win in six matches after a 5-1 demolition of last-placed Mooroolbark. The Barkers had taken four points from their last couple of games and arrived at Comets Stadium hoping to continue their resurgence. Chris Hodgson gave Jamie Skelly’s side the lead in the 26th minute before Andrew Stubley doubled their advantage shortly into the second half. Sam Klepac reduced the deficit only for Canadian import Allando Matheson to strike 15 minutes from time with his fifth of the campaign. Substitute Dejan Radojicic marked his return from injury a late double as the hosts climbed out of the relegation zone currently occupied by Pegasus and Mooroolbark.