SUNSHINE GEORGE CROSS 2
           ( OPAZO 20', GREECHAN 65' )
SPRINGVALE WHITE EAGLES 1
          ( ARSOVSKI 75' )

LINE UP: John,Zilic,Azzopardi,Salley,Napoli,Kalmar,Magnacca,Falzon,Simsek(Delic 66'),Opazo (Gauci-Seddon 90'),Greechan Subs not used: Fiorenza,Trpcevski,Cini

With both teams in the relegation zone, it was crucial for both teams to gain maximum points out of this encounter.

The first half began at a slow tempo with the home team dictating and controlling the play in the first quarter hour, and it was on the quarter hour when Sunshine's Johnny Falzon created the first real chance finding space in the area but his strike was deflected away at close range.

The home fans got just what they wanted 4 minutes later when from a corner, Springvale failed to clear their lines, the ball was chipped into the area and Alfonso Opazo launched himself into the air and
scissor kicked the ball over the keeper Nikola Roganovic and into the net.

Springvale failed to threaten the Sunshine goal in the entire first half, not creating one genuine shot on target as Georgies keeper Martin John at times went for 10-15 minute spells without touching the ball.
It was only the hard work of Goran Zoric in the midfield that was threatening the Georgies in any way.

The goal was the tonic that Sunshine needed to give it the initiative and confidence to grind down the clock to half time. Thw White Eagles did not show the urgency required to get back into the game,
the Georgies two mistakes around the penalty area in conceding two set pieces the only two realistic threats by the away team, but both strikes failed to hit the target.

The second half saw Springvale swing the changes as a half time talk must have changed the players outlook on the match. Tas Psonis was brought on for Nemanja Samardzic at the beginning of the first half with almost instantaneous dividends as a bouncing ball in the Sunshine area was not cleared properly and Psonis's header went agonisingly wide of the post. Psonis was was the difference in the second half as his outstanding midfield display gave Springvale renewed hope of a result from this match.

The visitors pressed in the second half but poor finishing was the only piece missing in the puzzle as a softly hit ball was cleared off the line by Sunshine and another strike could only come off the cross bar.
A nervous Georgies were now under siege, yet the Eagles could not capitalise.

As is so often the case in a football match that is in the balance, the Georgies punished the Eagles at the other end, as firstly Chris Greechan found himself beating the last defender only for his one on
one shot to cannon off an advancing Roganovic. However Greechan redeemed himself a mere minute later when a deep cross from Opazo from the right was headered in at the far post by Greechan to stretch the lead to 2-0 in the 65th minute.

However, Springvale was back in contention 10 minutes later, albeit with a stroke of luck as Igor Arsovski's half cross/half strike from out wide on the right completely fooled the Georgies keeper John, who raising his arms thinking the ball was going out and wide, was beaten as the ball rocketed into the net at a sharp angle.

The game then turned ugly for the last quarter hour as desperate defending by Sunshine kept the Springvale attackers at arms length, with Zoric again causing head aches for the home team with his runs out wide.

However, Springvale's inneffectiveness in finishing in the area and the Georgies backs to the wall defending and clearing of the ball, allowed the clock to go past the 90 minute mark and two minutes of stoppage time before the referee's final whistle signalled a 2-1 win to the Georgies.

The result leaves Springvale deeply mired in the relegation zone with only 5 points from 8 starts, yet the Georgies breathe a sigh of relief after an indifferent week to reach 10 points to creep up to mid table.