Images: Con Deves
The first top-flight game back at The Grange Reserve in a decade had all the hallmarks of an exciting occasion.
Nick Tolios’ Kingston, buoyed by their comeback draw against grand finallists Oakleigh, after just one match already had a degree of belief in consolidating a top-tier status.
Arthur Papas’ Gully, on the other hand, would have been searching for a response after a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Bentleigh Greens.
But it was another sinking feeling for Gully early when just minutes into the contest Velibor Mitrovic advanced forward, lay the ball off to Erhan Yalaz, whose left-footed whipped cross met the head of the unmarked Damian Iaconis, continuing his 2016 form into the new year with a comfortable finish from close range.
Similar to North Geelong taking a lead early against a perceived more-fancied opponent, the hosts struggled to hold their lead and the equaliser came soon after.
George Lambadaridis had a tame, low corner kick cleared back to him, so his follow-up effort was delivered higher and deeper towards the back post.
Luke Walker, who hadn’t scored in 26 league appearances for Gully last season, had his first of the campaign in just the second game of 2017 when his large presence in the box was too much to deal with – his header nestling in the bottom right corner.
Gully, buoyed by the equaliser, soon had a second. A release from Jeremy Walker had Alex Caniglia through on goal. Having earlier had an attempt thwarted by Kile Kennedy, this time the keeper’s attempts to impede the winger were in vain as the ball slipped past his reach and Wade Dekker was on hand to apply the finishing touch.
There were casualties from both sides in the first half as Daniel Bennett limped off with upper-body problems, the diagnosis looking bleak with a long-term collarbone injury on the cards. Hamish Millar took his spot at right-back.
Meanwhile, Gully’s goalscorer Walker also fell victim during the contest, replaced at centre-back by Callum Richardson. Despite slotting in seamlessly, with half time approaching and Gully now looking comfortable, a looping ball during a Kingston attack struck his arm high up and the referee had no hesitation in calling a penalty.
Mitrovic stepped up to make it 2-2.
If the first half was eventful enough, the second didn’t let spectators down.
Gully once more jumped onto the front foot and it was a usual suspect that did the damage. Having been found by a pinpoint diagonal ball from midfield from Jay Davies, Alex Caniglia on the left wing cut back in, composed himself, and struck a low shot into the bottom left corner. 2-3 to Gully.
A trademark from the inverted winger, Nick Tolios would have been disappointed with his side’s inability to prevent the type of situation seen so often from Caniglia in Richmond’s colours last season.
But the action wasn’t to end there.
With the contest approaching its climax, the lively Yalaz and Matt Breeze were contesting for a 50-50 ball when the two tangled. Fired up, the former then got into an altercation with the onrushing Jonathan Bounas, with both players receiving a yellow for their involvement. The bigger problem for Bounas was that it was his second booking and now Gully were down to 10 men.
The numerical advantage seemed to work in the home side’s favour because minutes later it was 3-3, and it were the two players involved in the first goal that again combined for the third.
With numbers pushing forward, Iaconis was able to trap a looped ball in the box, subtly teeing up Yalaz for a scrambled finish past Rani Dowisha. Now it was 3-3 and again the match had taken a new turn.
The moment marked a key milestone for Yalaz, his first goal for the club coming off the back of a second fruitful outing for the young winger, who is flourishing in a first-team role – an opportunity he struggled to receive at Port Melbourne.
Having fought back from a deficit once more, Kingston had the opportunity to claim a winner late as added time neared. With the tricky Mouad Zwed subbed on in the second half, he took control of the ball in the front third when Jay Davies lunged in with a hefty challenge.
On first glance, from the far side of the pitch, it resembled a challenge for which Whittlesea’s Anthony Cassar was sent off against Brunswick, and likewise the referee had no hesitation in brandishing a red card. Others were adamant it wasn’t worthy of a red, but the referee had made up his mind and nothing was going to change that.
And so from the resulting set piece, Faisal Sakhizada came ghosting in at the back post but his volley flew over the bar. That was the best chance for the winner, with the 9-man visitors holding firm for the final few moments of the contest.
Both camps were left frustrated at throwing away their leads, not taking other chances, and ultimately some of the refereeing calls and non-calls. But for the neutral it all made compelling viewing, and again indicates that the 2017 season may be one of the most fiercely contested yet in Victoria’s top flight.