Round 3 of NPL2 West saw Moreland City and Sunshine George Cross claim their first wins of the season, Melbourne Victory twice came back to draw with Moreland Zebras, Whittlesea and Brunswick settled for a draw, while Northcote’s juggernaut rolls on.
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Ballarat were powerless to resist early as four goals by half an hour had a rampant Northcote cruising against their opponents.
The landslide commenced early when Alec Goodwin finished from close range in just the seventh minute.
John Maclean found Tremayne Sadler at the far post for the former Oakleigh man to head home his first in Northcote colours.
Maclean then turned goalscorer with a quality long-range strike to make it 3-0, with Goodwin netting his double soon after to make it four.
Michael Trigger pulled one back for Ballarat to open his account for 2017, his goal giving the side a bit of respectability and the scoreline ended up staying at 4-1 for the remainder of the contest.
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Just the one goal separated Moreland City and Bendigo City, though the former will feel the game should have been wrapped up more emphatically – nonetheless it was a welcome first victory of the season.
A disallowed goal was called in the 75th minute to deny Trent Rixon due to a foul throw.
But it was 18-year-old substitute Joshua Hanna who helped set up the winner, measuring a 30-yard ball to back post, and Ukuno rose and powered it in top corner.
Bendigo had Donte Thomas to thank for the close scoreline, with the custodian doing well to keep Moreland at bay, stemming Bendigo’s flow from 12 goals conceded in the first two games to just one in the third – the only issue now is looking for a first goal and point of the campaign.
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Sunshine George Cross remain undefeated in the NPL2 west competition after picking up a first win of the campaign with a 2-1 result over Werribee City at Chaplin Reserve.
Just after the half hour mark, a dashing run by Liam O’Connell down the left side saw him advance past Cam Davies before finding the onrushing Souheil Agazane to tap home.
Minutes for the break, a well-worked free-kick found Nepalese international Jagajeet Shrestha, who made no mistake by tucking the ball away.
Agazane nearly doubled his tally after the break, however his left foot shot was held by Luke Gavalas.
Former St Albans youth Maselas pulled a goal back for Werribee, but this would only prove to be a consolation for the Bees.
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One of the most exciting matches of the week saw Moreland Zebras and Melbourne Victory split a 3-3 draw.
Victory had a top chance to go ahead early when Christian Theoharous won a penalty which George Howard couldn’t convert, as Andre Jannese kept out his low strike – the former Victory youth keeper denying his ex-teammate.
That seemed to rattle Victory as the Zebras took a lead through Regsan Watkins, who doubles his own tally and the hosts’ lead five minutes later.
Howard made amends for his penalty effort by pulling one back in the 39th minute. Nicholas Sette’s build-up helped Howard net his second to equalise just after an hour.
Watkins was at it again later on, cutting back for Amir Osmancevic to score his second of the season.
Victory once more equalised when Theoharous made it 3-3 in the 79th minute to earn Victory a point, tapping in from a corner fell.
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A 10-man Whittlesea Ranges were able to nab a draw against Brunswick City at Epping.
Brunswick hit the lead just minutes into the contest via a penalty called on Naum Sekulovski, with Adam Wright knocking in his fourth goal of the campaign.
Danny Charalambous missed a gilt-edged chance soon after, and Whittlesea’s task was made all the more difficult in the 22nd minute when they were reduced to 10 men following a red card to midfielder Anthony Cassar.
Brunswick couldn’t kill off the game though and the Ranges sensed blood, with Tom Barforosh connected with a header from Janiel Da Silva to beat the keeper in goals and salvage a draw for his side.