St Albans sneak into second, Townley courage not enough for Warriors

NPL2

by Staff Writers July 4, 2016 5:05 pm0

Image: Mark Avellino

Another win to Whittlesea Ranges sees the promotion contenders begin to build a buffer at the top of the NPL2 West competition, while as many as five other clubs are still in with a shout of a top-two berth in the league, of which only two picked up maximum points – including St Albans, who leapfrog Melbourne City into second.

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5. Five-goal thriller over City sees Whittlesea extend lead
Whittlesea’s win against previously second placed Melbourne City means they extend their lead to five over Melbourne City, and four overall as St Albans jump City into second.

A goalless first half exploded into life in the second. Big striker George Slefendorfas opened the scoring before Adem Mustedanagic doubled his side’s lead to make it look like they were running away with it. However, goals to Austin Wong and Luke Gallo looked to turn the game on its head with just three minutes in regulation time.

Yet just as soon it was Teddy Yabio who restored his side’s lead in the dying stages for a dramatic win.

4. Sunshine snap Bendigo’s four-game unbeaten run 
In a clash against two in-form sides, David Younan opened the scoring for visitors Bendigo City, giving them the lead going into half-time against Sunshine George Cross. The Georgies equalised soon after the break through Nicolas Gonzalez as his shot from distance was unable to be kept out.

George McHeilieh would then go on to score for the visitors, curling his shot in off the post. Ahmet Turer then came on and assisted Hernan Arredondo to drive his shot into the back of the net past the outstretched Rob Munday, and soon after Yusei Kitade scored his first goal for the club with a tremendous first time finish, taking all three points for Sunshine.

3. Third time unlucky for Moreland City as Ballarat win first game since May

Despite a late fight back at CB Smith Reserve, Moreland City were unable to extend their winning streak to three games, falling to a 3-2 loss to Ballarat Red Devils, who claimed their first three point hall in seven games.

The hosts came into the contest on the back of consecutive wins and were hoping to leap-frog the struggling Red Devils with another but fell behind 18 minutes into proceedings when a through ball was met by Michael Trigger who slotted in the opener. The same scenario was played out four minutes after the break as the attacking midfielder beat the offside trap to score his second.

Substitute Jake Francis pounced upon a defensive mistake to hammer home a third in the 68th minute which went in off the crossbar and was adjudged to have crossed the goal line before being cleared. That goal seemed to have spark the home side into life and they got one back in the 74th minute after an expert header off the corner from veteran forward Trent Rixon.

Controversy reigned supreme with Moreland’s second goal which was scored after the home side elected not to give the ball back to Ballarat who had initially kicked out after their goalkeeper Aaron Romein went down injured.

Apai Ukuno went onto score prompting Trigger and other teammates to confront the City players in question. Despite late pressure for an equaliser, James Robinson’s side hanged on for their first win since Round 11.

2. St Albans take second spot after Zebras defeat
Moreland Zebras continued their poor form as St Albans Saints’ Joey Monek began proceedings in the opening minute when a Ben Shaper cross fell luckily to him to volley past Sardelic. St Albans were then awarded a penalty just before the break – McGuffie tucked it away, and to add to the Zebras pain, captain Mile Medjedovic was given his marching orders when a second yellow was handed to him in the lead up to the penalty.

Moreland Zebras would peg one back however through Baggio Yousif, but it would only be consolation. In a tense final few minutes, St Albans midfielder Nic Sarbin was sent off, however his side would hold on and propel them into second spot on the table.

1. Point each frustrates North Geelong against Werribee
North Geelong Warriors were looking to get their promotion campaign back on track after a barren month and almost got to a great start when a ball by Kene Eze found Nick Jurcic whose shot was saved.

The go-ahead goal did end up coming just before half-time when some good build up play involving Michael Anderson and Jurcic set up Eze for a tap in. With the lead looking intact, it was left to a Jonathan Voulgaris set piece to break the Warriors’ hearts, equalising late to make it 1-1.

It rubbed salt into the wound of Matt Towley, who left the game with this:

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