Photo: Dion Fountas
Avondale have consolidated top spot on the league ladder with another convincing victory over the Melbourne Knights while Hume City temporarily moved into the top four with a narrow win away at the Port Melbourne Sharks.
The Avengers rewarded club president Anthony Nuzzaco on his 30th birthday with a clinical performance over the in-form Knights who have now lost their past three matches against Anthony Barbieri’s men at Knights Stadium by an aggregate scoreline of 11-1.
The two-time NSL Champions were in the peculiar position of being the away side in their home stadium at Somers Street with Avondale continuing their tenancy arrangement in North Sunshine.
Andrew Marth’s men were dealt a blow in the lead up to the clash with promising young goalkeeper Harry Cakarun suffering an injury which saw Fraser Chalmers return to the starting eleven for his first league minutes since getting sent off in the Knights opening round draw against Hume.
Former Melbourne City midfielder Jonatan Germano proved to be their chief destroyer once more and gave the hosts the lead in the 15th minute with a well taken finish past an outstretched Chalmers.
That goal had come largely against the run-of-play with the Knights looking the more threatening of the two sides early on as the Argentine netted for the fourth successive game in a row.
Yitay Towns almost doubled their advantage soon afterwards while Knights marksman Tom Cahill forced compatriot and former teammate Chris Oldfield to tip his cross onto the crossbar and away.
Germano doubled Avondale’s advantage half way through the second half with another superbly taken free-kick, his fifth goal in six league games and 19th in 25 appearances for the club for a player who was more renowned for his defensive midfield capabilities in the A-League.
The icing was put on the cake in the 87th minute when the table toppers stringed together a 10 pass team move before 2015 Gold Medallist Kamal Ibrahim launched a curling chip over Chalmers and into the back of the net for his second goal off the bench in the space of the week.
The result pushes Avondale four points ahead of the second placed Bentleigh Greens as they now gear up for a mid-week FFA Cup Moonee Valley derby tie against fourth tier Essendon United whereas the Knights will be at home next Friday night against Heidelberg United.
Over at JL Murphy Reserve, Hume City secured their second consecutive 1-0 victory thanks to Nick Hegarty’s 27th minute strike with the reigning Gold Medallist scoring after latching onto goalkeeper Michael Weier’s long ball over the top to net his first of the season.
The visitors dominated much of the play and had numerous chances throughout the 90 to extend their lead while the Sharks looked second best for much of the night and have now lost their last two.
In a further blow to Dominic Barba’s men, versatile midfielder Bonel Obradovic has departed the club having moved to Port in late 2015 and in total made 28 league appearances for the club, scoring once.
Barba will have to now rally his troops for a mid-week FFA Cup encounter away to Werribee City while Dean Hennessey’s chargers have now won their last three games in all competitions without conceding a goal.