In another week of NPL 2 East, there were some thrilling last gasp winners along with big blowouts as some star performers continued their blistering form. Here are five numerically appropriate talking points from the weekend’s action.
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1. Goulburn Valley Suns snatch a point in stoppage time
You may as well have scrapped the regulation 90 minutes, because all the action happened in added time. With a cautious approach to the first half, and no score added in the 45 minutes after the break, it all came to life in the 91st minute with a goal through Jerry Karpeh. In what seemed like forever, it was up to 96′ when Fahad Algazahly equalised at 1-1, leaving both sides with mixed emotions and questions post-game.
2. Box Hill close in on 2nd spot after a last gasp win
It came against a plucky Brunswick, who have become worryingly accustomed to dropping late points. In a similar to circumstance to their 1-0 defeat to North Geelong in stoppage time, the hosts couldn’t hold off the fast finishing Box Hill, conceding the winning goal in the 94th. No surprises for guessing who scored the winner, with fullback-turned winger Alex Schroen applying the final touches for his eight goal of the campaign.
3. Dandy City make it three wins from their last three
And this one would be the easiest of them all (the other two coming against Sunshine and Whittlesea), coming up with a 7-0 win over Nunawading City. Gonzalo Freddi was the chief destroyer with a first half hat-trick, while Ashley Cattermole, Shaun Filipovic, Jarod Blackbourn and Dario Matkovic also added to the scoresheet – the latter two scoring off the bench in the second half.
4. Four-goal Barnes extends Thunder’s lead to four points
Can anyone stop Barnes or Thunder? Still yet to drop a point all season, they continue to set the benchmark in NPL2. It’s now 18 goals in the last nine games for Englishman, a brace a game ratio – incredible numbers in any league. At the other end it was no Simon Colosimo, no worries, as Thunder held a clean sheet in the 6-0 win albeit not without a few controversies. Veton Korcari and Daniel Bennett also added to the scoresheet.
5. Five star Springvale spring into fifth
It all happened in fives, with Springvale scoring five goals in their fifth straight win to propel them to fifth on the ladder. It was deadly duo John Pykett and Damir Stoilovic doing the damage again, scoring a brace each, taking their tallies to six and eight respectively for the season, while Isaiah Joseph also netted. Zac Walker continues to be a shining light in a tough season on the border, scoring to also take his personal tally to seven.
Image: Sonia Licciardi