Round 19 Match Report

Tuesday, 12 August 2008

ST. ALBANS SAINTS     0 SUNSHINE GEORGE CROSS 2 Goal Scorers: S. Manceski, Own Goal The pressure was on the Georgie players to come up with a win against the Saints, following wins a day earlier by Dandenong Thunder and Southern Stars. Dandenong had taken over league leadership of the first division following their 3-0 win over Westgate, while the Stars moved to within a point of Sunshine following their last minute penalty goal scored against Clifton Hill. The pressure and the loss of prominent players Wayne Wallace and Paul Wilson appeared to be too much for the Georgies against St. Albans, with the home team dominating play in the opening 30 minutes. The Saints caught the Georgie defence in possession and only failed to take the lead after 11 minutes when a low cross from the left found a Saints player at the far post who was unable to finish off the move. After 30 minutes Sunshine keeper Martin John reacted brilliantly when he deflected a goal bound shot for a corner. From the resultant corner the Georgies breathed a big sigh of relief when a header hit the bar and was cleared to safety. For all the Saints dominance it was Sunshine who took the lead after 35 minutes when Matthew Cini intercepted a Saints move, cut inside and played a delightful pass to Steve Manceski who tucked the ball home from an acute angle. The goal settled the Georgies down and they could have gone further ahead after 38 minutes when a low David Calleja cross eluded the Saint's keeper and two Georgie players standing on the goal line who failed to get a touch. The Saints continued to push the ball around after the break, but once again it was the Georgies who capitalised on their opportunities following a well taken Vasko Trpcevski corner after 59 minutes. The ball eluded a pack of players and finished up in the back of the net after it hit a Saint's defender. Trpcevski was causing havoc with his ball play and from dead ball situations. At the 60 minute mark he unleashed a swerving free kick from 30 metres that whistled past the upright. The Georgies were now well in command and looked capable of scoring more goals. Alex Arregin played Steve Manceski in with a deft pass, but the striker failed to score his second by missing an open goal. It should have been all over after after 77 minutes when Manceski played Peter Koutsoupias through, but his shot was deflected for a corner after the ball hit Saint's keeper Damir Salcin on the leg. St. Albans was reduced to 10 players when a series of foul challenges saw Martin Raspudic sent off for a second bookable offence. The Saints kept plugging away but found the Georgie defence unpenatrable. The 2-0 win was the Georgies 13th victory of the season, a win that saw the Reds reclaim top place once again. Under 21s: ST. ALBANS SAINTS <Postponed> SUNSHINE GEORGE CROSS There are no matches next weekend. The Georgies next match is on Friday August 22 against Kingston City at Grange Reserve Osbourne Avenue Clayton South.

 

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