Image: Rob Cruse
Friday and Saturday action saw Port Melbourne spoil Eric Vassiliadis’ return to JL Murphy as Knights coach, Bulleen Lions continue their top form by overcoming Hume City, while Avondale got back to winning ways against North Geelong.
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JL Murphy was an old stomping groung of Vassiliadis who coached the club through numerous promotions before consolidating their place in the NPL. His recent appointment at the Melbourne Knights was his return to coaching since departing the Sharks but there was no happy homecoming as a rampant Sharks hit them hard in the second half.
There were eerie similarities to their defeat against Bulleen as a second-half rout saw three goals in some five minutes essentially kill off the contest after the hour mark.
Picking up a pass from Francesco Stella, Zane Sole was left with too much space from distance to line up a shot – much like compatriot Andreas Govas has done this season – and unloaded a belter from distance to emphatically hand his side the lead.
It got better for Port as Oleksiy Khrapko’s dribble in the box and cutback led to an easy finish for Govas, who didn’t need a spectacular effort to add the scoresheet.
Khrapko added a goal of his own with an easy tap in after the Knights couldn’t deal with a cross into the box.
They did peg one back though as pressure on Sole in midfield led to a loss in possession with Tom Cahill tapping in past Brendan White.
But the hosts got the sealer and it was Khrapko played through on goal who rounded the keeper and applied the finish for an emphatic 4-1 victory to give the Sharks breathing space in mid table, enjoying a run of two consecutive wins and four unbeaten while further condemning the Knights in 12th.
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Hume arrived at the Veneto Club minus the recently departed James McGarry and a Dockerty Cup defeat midweek, with the fresher Lions adding to their recent disappointments with a 2-1 win.
It was nearly disaster early as a poor touch by keeper Lewis Italiano gifted a goal to Nick Pannetta but the ball ricocheted over.
The scoring commenced early in the second half when, from a throw in, a sequence of passes ended at the feet of Harrison Michaelis well outside the area, who drove a fierce shot past the outstretched arms of Michael Weier.
Italiano nearly cost a goal early but a later moment proved crucial in winning the game when Atilla Ofli found Jayden Prasad right in front of goal. A crucial save denied the first effort before the second bounced off the upright.
From there the Lions got the sealer as in-form striker Oliver White picked up a pass from Lewis Hawke and rifled in a strike into the top left corner of the net.
Hume did finish strong and Ofli volleyed in a peach from Liam Boland’s lobbed ball forward, but it was too little too late to salvage a result as Aaron Healey’s men made it four wins and a draw in their last five games.
Such is the nature of the ladder with many clubs yet to play catch-up games that now after Saturday via a brilliant run of form they were just a point outside the six and six off top spot – with the remainder of the round’s games yet to come.
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Avondale were looking to bounce back from a 3-0 defeat last week and the opportunity presented itself against a North Geelong outfit who are all but relegated.
Any nerves were settled early for Avondale as a precise pass from dutch import Jip Bartels found Kristian Trajceski for the finish and a 1-0 lead early.
A header from Massimo Murdocca, one of the shortest players on the pitch, extended the lead to 2-0 with less than 10 minutes remaining and the Avengers were looking likely to run out comfortable winners.
However, the Warriors had a sniff when a bundled own goal made it 2-1 in the 90th minute, leading to a nervy last few moments.
But Jonatan Germano quashed any fears in added time and restored the two-goal buffer to give the Avengers a welcome three points and put them equal top for the day alongside South and Heidelberg, with those two yet to play.
