SUNSHINE GEORGE CROSS 1 ( OPAZO 6' )

 RICHMOND 1 ( KRNCEVIC 30 ' )

Line up:JOHN,AZZOPARDI,OPAZO,NAPOLI,ZILIC,KALMAR(RUSSELL 85'),TALEVSKI,TRPCEVSKI,MAGNACCA,SALLEY,DELIC SUBS NOT USED: SIMSEK, CINI, SOARES, GAUCI-SEDDON

It was a much better performance in terms of going forward and creating opportunities which left the fans somewhat satisfied, the Cross can consider themselves a little unlucky not to take all three points as there was no less than 6 genuine strikes on target from the likes of Anthony Magnacca, Alfonso Opazo and Dusko Delic.

The match opened in the best fashion possible for the Georgies as Opazo found himself through on goal as early as the 6th minute, a late tackle from the last Richmond defender could only see the ball roll into the corner of the net in what seemed to be an own goal from a desperate tackle in hope. The referee nonetheless officially awarded the goal to Opazo, therefore taking his tally for the season to four goals.

It could have been 2-0 to the Cross 10 minutes later when Delic launched a long range curling strike which crashed off the cross bar and was cleared to safety by the Richmond defence.

Hard running players Brendan Beni, Henry Fa'arodo and Yanni Galanos were causing headaches for the Cross defence and it was this pressure combined with a lapse in concentration that allowed Richmond to get back into the game on the half hour mark as they virtually walked the ball past a static backline into the area for a cutback ball to find the un marked Jesse Krncevic who slotted the ball past Martin John for the equaliser.


The second half began brightly for the Cross, with the highlight passage of play of the day coming in the 55th minute as a well timed goal bound 20 yard strike from Opazo forced keeper Stewart Webster into a spectacular save to deny the Cross taking a 2-1 lead.

Magnacca also found himself goal bound on two further occasions, but Webster was there again to save the day for the Richmond team with two quality saves once again.

At the other end Henry Fa'arado continued to cause problems for the Cross defence as Richmond used the diagonal and long ball to great effect on the counter attack, and looked particularly threatening on corners and crosses into their tall players.

The game in the second half was one of entertaining end to end football, with both teams searching for the elusive winner which ultimately never came. At times both defences looked to be stretched and found wanting, but poor finishing especially from Richmond, and grand goalkeeping from Webster ensured the score would remain at 1-1.