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Oakleigh Cannons remain unbeaten but also have their first win on the board for 2017, while South Melbourne’s unlucky streak in front of goals continues as the Cannons recorded a 1-0 win.
The contest wasn’t as straightforward as the result may suggest with the woodwork struck at both ends, plenty of goalmouth action and a red card to South’s Luke Pavlou.
South’s loss of Kristian Konstantinidis to the well-documented suspension was compounded by a hamstring injury to captain Brad Norton – Pavlou had to shift from midfield to left-back – and work commitments to Leigh Minopoulos.
Oakleigh had issues of their own with Steve Pantelidis and Adrian Chiapetta only recently returning to the game from injury via the reserves, while Abdalla Okud had a broken nose.
The Cannons’ starting back four consisted of Perry Lambropoulos – starting his first game of the season – at right back, Tom Matthews once more in central defence alongside Aron Wilford – who was meant to have retired last season before Oakleigh willed him back – and Anthony Rizk at left back, who’d later go down with his own injury.
It’s worth noting that in the NPL era Oakleigh have beaten South at all games at Jack Edwards Reserve (while South have won all theirs at Lakeside) and this result was no different.
But the narrative could have taken a decidedly different turn in the opening stages when John’s Honos miscued clearance landed to Liam McCormick about 25-30 yards out, whose shot cannoned off the crossbar.
From nearly scoring to definitely saving one at the other end, a Dean Piemonte corner met the head of Tom Matthews, whose effort had Nikola Roganovic beaten but McCormick was there to clean up.
Dusan Bosnjak was the next to rattle the woodwork, taking a spectacular effort from the edge of the area which dipped down over Roganovic’s head but also away to safety.
Jesse Daley had been a relevation recently with his set-piece ability and it was a free kick of his which gave Carl Piergianni a headed chance on goal that went just over.
McCormick was in the thick of the action once more at the half-hour mark when from point blank range he bundled over an effort but John Honos parried the ball away on the line – whether the ball went over will be the topic of much discussion.
A final attempt from Piemonte stung Roganovic’s palms before the break but the score was still 0-0 at half time.
The game had threatened to break the deadlock in the first and it took little time for it to happen in the second when a few neat touches by Piemonte from the edge of the area led to another curling effort that looped over Roganovic but this time nestled into the back of the net.
Around this time Rizk came off injured – with what co-coach Con Tangalakis described as possibly a knee injury after the game – Stradomitros came on and moved to centre back while Matthews moved to the left. Then Wilford also succumbed to an ailment and Matthews moved back to the centre with Shayan Alinejad coming on at left back.
South Melbourne had their own adjusting to do when, after an attacking corner to the visitors spilled to Oakleigh and then the clearance had Nate Foster bearing down on goal, a challenge from Pavlou was deemed red-worthy by the referee – another big talking point in the game’s outcome. That gave Oakleigh the man advantage and from there the hosts came close to doubling the advantage.
Substutue Goran Zoric had a shot flash wide, while Foster had Roganovic beaten but Tim Mala cleared off the line.
South’s best chance was deep into added time when a ball fell to Milos Lujic at the back post at close range from an angle, but John Honos made himself big and produced a save that ultimately preserved the three points.
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Elsewhere along the grounds, every home side had a relatively comfortable outing.
Bentleigh Greens inflicted more pain on St Albans with a 3-0 victory at Kingston Heath
Keanu Moore had his first when good work from Andy Brennan on the wing led to a pass into the box which the former controlled and hit a shot past Chris May.
Matt Thurtell netted in the 39th minute, showing his poacher’s instinct by pouncing on a saved effort from Ben Litfin.
Thurtell had his brace and sealed the win following Tyson Holmes’ good build-up work.
— Bentleigh Greens SC (@BentleighGreens) March 24, 2017
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In the battle of two inconsistent teams to begin the season, it were the Melbourne Knights who put on a scintillating home display with a 4-0 win.
And it was usual suspect Kamsoba who scored the first goal when fellow winger Danny Dixon set him up for a tap-in from close range.
Kamsoba was doing some providing for the next goal, crossing in to Kym Harris who teed up Jason Hicks on the edge of the area to make it 2-0 in just 12 minutes.
Tom Cahill also got in on the action, finishing off Tim Purcell’s build-up work for 3-0.
Kamsoba secured his brace in the 67th minute, with the hosts running out 4-0 winners.
Kamsoba's on fire!
PICS: @SZidina #MKFC #MKvPM #PS4NPLVIC pic.twitter.com/QgBEzRz3cI
— Melbourne Knights FC (@MelbKnights) March 24, 2017
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Pascoe Vale overcame Kingston City for their first defeat of the campaign, and it was Davey van ‘t Schip – who else? – on the scoresheet within 10 minutes after latching onto Joseph Youssef’s pass and applying the finish, making it five goals in six games for the Dutchman.
One of Kingston’s best chances to equalise was from a Mouad Zwed cross but Chris Irwin’s header was cleared off the line by the ever-reliable Milardovic.
Youssef had a second assist when his looped pass saw Luca Santilli stick in a boot to slide the ball past the onrushing Faisal Sakhizada and keeper Kile Kennedy in the 36th minute, with the scores remaining the same in the second half.