Image: Mark Avellino
A resurgent second half saw Green Gully run over the top of Port Melbourne to claim a 4-2 win at JL Murphy Reserve.
In an entertaining first half that produced four goals, Bonel Obradovic struck first for the hosts with a sensational strike from the top of the box, leaving goalkeeper Rani Dowisha with little chance to keep it out as it flew into the back of the net.
Green Gully would level the scores almost immediately however as Nick Krousoratis headed home just a minute later.
Capping off a frantic five minutes, Andreas Govas produced the goal of the night to restore Port’s lead just after the half hour mark. A similar effort to his long range stunner against South Melbourne two weeks ago, the midfielder unleashed a pearler from well outside the area which sailed into the top corner as Dowisha was rooted to the spot.
Jay Davies found Green Gully’s second equaliser minutes before the half-time break as his low, curling free-kick from the left side of the box beat everyone including the goalkeeper, sneaking just inside the post.
The visitors were a different entity when play resumed in the second half and Wade Dekker’s goal in the 50th minute set the tone. Alex Caniglia’s initial header from close range had floated over goalkeeper Brendan White but Dekker rushed in to tap the ball in over the line.
Caniglia would get on the score sheet 12 minutes later. Left unmarked at the back post, Krousoratis’ low cross from the right side of the box beat everyone except the ex-Richmond winger who tapped the ball home for the easiest of finishes, his fourth in three weeks.
Linking up once again with Dekker, Caniglia could’ve had a second goal after finishing a sublime combination which started with his charging run down the left flank. A quick string of passes ended with Dekker flicking a low cross from the right side goalwards toward Caniglia who tapped in once again at the back post but this time the assistant referee’s flag was raised for offside.
Despite continually piling on the pressure, Gully were unable to stretch its two goal gap but the 4-2 scoreline sufficed for Brian Vanega’s men who claimed back to back wins ahead of a stern test against fast-starting Avondale next week.
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Over at Knights Stadium, Kingston City secured their first top-flight win in nearly a decade with an upset 2-0 triumph over the Melbourne Knights.
The home side were looking to carry on the momentum after stunning the Bentleigh Greens 3-1 away last week but were without the services of injured midfielder Jake Barker-Daish.
The visitors meanwhile were coming into the clash following a four-game turnaround from their last game and had collected three draws from their opening three matches of the campaign.
Nick Tolios’ men had the first real shot in anger when tricky winger Mouad Zwed hit the crossbar having struck his shot from just outside the area in the 10th minute.
Knights forward Kym Harris also tried his luck from outside the area only to be denied by City shot-stopper Kile Kennedy who was looking to secure his first clean sheet of the season.
Velibor Mitrovic’s free kick sailed just over the bar before Kennedy made a low diving save to deny Knights danger Elvis Kasomba as the two teams entered the half-time break level.
Andrew Marth’s men produced the first noteworthy chance of the second term when Kasomba’s run down the right set-up Danny Dixon only for the English-born winger to put his effort over the bar.
A foul on Zwed inside the penalty area by Knights captain Ben Surey allowed Mitrovic the opportunity to put his side in front on the 57th minute mark with attacking midfielder making no mistake from the spot, netting his third goal of the year with all three strikes coming from the eleven metre mark.
Kingston almost doubled their advantage just minutes later when a deflection fell into the path of Zwed, however the Polish-born Libyan could not direct his shot on target.
The game’s turning point occurred up the other end on the hour-mark when Kasomba was brought down in the box however Jason Hick’s failed to convert as his spot-kick struck the upright.
The miss proved costly as the 2016 NPL2 Champions doubled their advantage when substitute Slaven Vranesevic stepped-up and launched a free-kick from outside the area which beat Harry Cakarun in Knights goal, causing jubilation on the visitor’s bench.
That goal deflated the home side who have now lost two from two at home this season while City remains unbeaten going into next week’s home game against Hume City.