Luke Shrebon acknowledges the Tunder fans after scoring his second penalty. Liam Kearney congratulayes him, while Veton Korcari waits his turn. Photo: JOHN PUNSHON
Gallant Zebras defeated
A gallant Moreland Zebras side, under new coach Joe Palatsides, lost 2-1 at Jack Edwards Reserve, on Monday evening.
In fact Steven Weir, the former South forward, could have opened the scoring in just the first minute, as he smashed an effort off the woodwork from distance.
Weir and English forward Stuart Nicholson had great games causing problems for the Cannon’s defence but could only create half chances.
The Zebras held the majority of possession and used their wings through Nicholson, Ray Lally and Weir as they whipped balls into the box, but either a Zebra couldn’t get on the end or Cannons’ cleared.
But all that was to no avail as Diaco drove home a cracking effort past Griffin McMaster on 25 minutes.
And five minutes later McMaster was in it again, but this time failing to punch, which resulted in Walker heading home.
But Zebras continued to fight on with Recchia who headed home a Weir inch-perfect corner.
Daniel Vasilevski also had a great game in midfield and saved a goal for the visitors with a great goal-line clearance.
The game was very entertaining as both sides competed for long periods, which was fantastic for the large Moreland contingent who travelled out to Oakleigh in cold and windy conditions.
But Zebras were just unlucky as referee calls didn’t go their way, balls fell for the opponent and passes were interception well from the Cannons.
Palatsides thought his side played well.
“We didn’t deserve to lose, I think the score’s not indicative of what the game was,” he said.
“Right to the 95th minute we battled… and I think the boys deserved a lot more than what they got for today’s effort.”
In fact Steven Weir, the former South forward, could have opened the scoring in just the first minute, as he smashed an effort off the woodwork from distance.
Weir and English forward Stuart Nicholson had great games causing problems for the Cannon’s defence but could only create half chances.
The Zebras held the majority of possession and used their wings through Nicholson, Ray Lally and Weir as they whipped balls into the box, but either a Zebra couldn’t get on the end or Cannons’ cleared.
But all that was to no avail as Diaco drove home a cracking effort past Griffin McMaster on 25 minutes.
And five minutes later McMaster was in it again, but this time failing to punch, which resulted in Walker heading home.
But Zebras continued to fight on with Recchia who headed home a Weir inch-perfect corner.
Daniel Vasilevski also had a great game in midfield and saved a goal for the visitors with a great goal-line clearance.
The game was very entertaining as both sides competed for long periods, which was fantastic for the large Moreland contingent who travelled out to Oakleigh in cold and windy conditions.
But Zebras were just unlucky as referee calls didn’t go their way, balls fell for the opponent and passes were interception well from the Cannons.
Palatsides thought his side played well.
“We didn’t deserve to lose, I think the score’s not indicative of what the game was,” he said.
“Right to the 95th minute we battled… and I think the boys deserved a lot more than what they got for today’s effort.”
Richmond edge the Warriors
Heidelberg United’s poor start to the season continued with a third straight defeat, this time at the hands to Richmond, as the Eagles were victorious 1-0 in a scrappy game at Olympic Village on Monday afternoon.
Davey van ‘t Schip had Richmond’s best chance in a dull first-half as Sebastian Mattei’s poor clearance was pounced on but, van ‘t Schip, the son of former Melbourne Heart coach John, failed to hit the target.
The game livened up in the second-half with Heidelberg pushing forward but Saso Alexovski was denied by the Richmond defence, before a Zois Galanopoulos effort touched the crossbar.
The poor finishing for the hosts came back to hurt them as Daniel Visevic opened the scoring for Richmond, after a great counter-attack run by Steven Topalovic.
Richmond should have added to the score line but, Michael Catalano struck the crossbar, after Devon Bonne failed to convert.
*Thanks to FFV and Neil Zimmerman for the insight.
Sherbon penalty brace seals victory
Dandenong Thunder cemented their spot on top of the VPL table, after a 2-0 win over Melbourne Knights at George Andrews Reserve, on Saturday afternoon.
However it was Knights who should have taken the lead on five minutes, after Louis Fenton’s header hit the crossbar.
But three minutes later Nate Foster was fouled inside the box, after Knights failed to clear a Shane Rexhepi free-kick.
Luke Sherbon stepped up and sent Aaron Romein the wrong way.
Knights controlled the majority of the game but couldn’t create chances in the front third, but the poor George Andrews pitch did have a part to play.
The visitors had chances through Jacob Colosimo and Jake Nakic, the latter smashed the woodwork.
But Thunder finished off the visitors as Sherbon was taken down inside the box by Knights ‘keeper Romein.
Sherbon stepped up himself and once again, sent Romein the wrong way.
*Thanks to FFV and Ante Jukic for the insight
Gavalas hands Gully triumph
Green Gully came from behind to defeat South Melbourne 3-1, on Saturday afternoon at Green Gully Reserve, to win their second consecutive game.
South Melbourne started as the better side, and that was ensured on 12 minutes as Fernando De Moraes stormed into the box, before Ante Cicak for the hosts cleared into his own net; 1-0 to South.
Gully’s first real chance came on 23 minutes but, Osagie Ederaro headed wide of Peter Gavalas’ net.
In the dying moments of the first-half Gully equalised. After Gavalas failed to clear a Gully corner, Daniel Jones cracked home the equaliser.
Neither side could create much in the second-half but Gavalas handed Gully the lead on 75 minutes. The former Bentleigh ‘keeper scuffed a kick into the path of Mathew Sanders who slotted the ball into the net.
Gavalas’ afternoon was aggravated as he gifted the hosts the victory on 85 minutes. South’s shaky ‘keeper parried Scott Robson’s initial effort; before Jason Hayne crossed in the resulting corner, which dodged Gavalas to give Gully a 3-1 victory.
*Thanks to FFV and Sacha Pisani for the insight
Green Gully came from behind to defeat South Melbourne 3-1, on Saturday afternoon at Green Gully Reserve, to win their second consecutive game.
South Melbourne started as the better side, and that was ensured on 12 minutes as Fernando De Moraes stormed into the box, before Ante Cicak for the hosts cleared into his own net; 1-0 to South.
Gully’s first real chance came on 23 minutes but, Osagie Ederaro headed wide of Peter Gavalas’ net.
In the dying moments of the first-half Gully equalised. After Gavalas failed to clear a Gully corner, Daniel Jones cracked home the equaliser.
Neither side could create much in the second-half but Gavalas handed Gully the lead on 75 minutes. The former Bentleigh ‘keeper scuffed a kick into the path of Mathew Sanders who slotted the ball into the net.
Gavalas’ afternoon was aggravated as he gifted the hosts the victory on 85 minutes. South’s shaky ‘keeper parried Scott Robson’s initial effort; before Jason Hayne crossed in the resulting corner, which dodged Gavalas to give Gully a 3-1 victory.
*Thanks to FFV and Sacha Pisani for the insight
Northcote and Hume finish in stalemate
Northcote City and Hume City have finished level at 1-1 at John Cain Memorial Park, on Saturday afternoon.
Both sides would be disappointed to only take one point as Northcote controlled the game and created the majority of the chances. But after taking the lead late on, Hume would be just as disappointed not have held on.
The first-half started well for Northcote with James Kalifatidis and Milos Lujic causing the Hume City defence some troubles, but Chris Oldfield in goals was able to do well to keep the encounter scoreless.
Hume’s best chances came through Archie Tomic who had his clearance cleared by Kristian Konstandinitis, before Atilla Ofli headed over.
The rest of the half became scrappy with neither side creating much as miss-passes let both sides down.
However Johnathan Voulgaris did fire narrowly wide after some great work on the left from Parys Okai and Alex Rojas.
Northcote ‘keeper Chris Theodoridis was brought into the game just before the break when Nick Hegarty lofted a free-kick, the deputy vice-captain had to tap over.
Northcote started the second-half on the front foot with Voulgaris and Lujic but Oldfield continued his fine form to deny Voulgaris, before Lujic headed over.
Okai and Lujic next went close but Okai’s poor cross narrowly missed the upright before Lujic headed well over.
Hume thought they stole all three points on 87 minutes when Ofli was found outside of the box with Theodoridis rushing out, before the Hume forward lobbed the ‘keeper brilliantly with the outside of his foot, to give his side the lead.
Northcote pushed forward for a late equaliser and found it on the edge of stoppage-time, when Lujic intercepted a poor back pass before tucking away into an open net.
Controversy as Greens defeat Stars
Controversy and drama surrounded the inaugural Kingston Heath derby as Bentleigh Greens defeated neighbours Southern Stars 2-0 at their shared venue.
Both clubs came out of the sheds rather conservatively, with the first major chance going to Southern Stars' Mark Leech at the half hour mark, which in fairness was a hopeful long range shot.
However, the game opened up minutes later with end-to-end football which included what could have been an embarrassing goal for Melbourne Victory youngster, Lawrence Thomas, who fumbled a tame corner but quickly recovered.
Bentleigh Greens returned from the half time break the stronger side, and produced some good football, including a long distance strike from skipper Wayne Wallace which brought the best out of Peter Siddle.
Two eyebrow-raising substitutions were made in the space of 5 minutes with Connor Pain and Scott Bullock, coming off for Anthony Skorich and another Melbourne Victory youngster, Paul Retre.
The move paid off manager John Anastasiadis when in the 73rd minute Bentleigh went 1-0 up through a curling shot from Andrija Lukic, which was originality thought to be offside.
The referee's assistant flagged for an offside decision immediately after the goal, but after the main in the middle discussed the call with his counterpart, he deemed whoever was in an offside position was not interfering with play, and awarded the goal.
From then on, Stars were on the back foot, and the Greens really should have killed off the contest in the 80th minute should in not have been for Peter Siddle keeping out Anthony Skorich from six yards.
Substitute Retre was instrumental in the second goal, which came with five minutes to go, when he skipped past three Stars defenders, layed it off for Skorich, who put the ball across the face of goal which was embarrassingly slotted home by Stars defender Halil Gur.
Retre should have had the goal he deserved in the final minute of play when he smacked the ball against the left post from the edge of the box, but it proved insignificant as Bentleigh won the game comfortably 2-0.
*Thanks to fellow Goal! Weekly reporter, Donald Sutherland
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