SPRINGVALE WHITE EAGLES 1
( TOMIC 90' )
SUNSHINE GEORGE CROSS 2
( DELIC 43', KALMAR 59' )

LINE UP: JOHN, NAPOLI (AZZOPARDI 45'), TSOUMERKAS (CINI 85'), GILMOUR, TALEVSKI, MAGNACCA, ESPOSITO ,DELIC, KALMAR, SOARES (TRPCEVSKI 45') DIMOVSKI. SUBS NOT USED: FIORENZA, OPAZO

Well executed goals either side of half time to Dusko Delic in the 43rd minute and Nick Kalmar in the 59th was enough to get the Cross over the line, despite a late scare when Springvale's Rados Tomic breached the Cross defence in stoppage time to pull a goal back. Fortunately for the Georgies, the White Eagles were unable to find what would have been a back-breaking equaliser in the dying minutes.

Coach John Markovski took the bold move of relegating captain Colin Azzopardi, striker Alfonso Opazo and playmaker Vasko Trpcevski to the bench. Markovski also kept himself out of the squad altogether

Into the starting eleven came late season signing from Fawkner, Pece Dimovski, for his first start for the Georgies, and long time 2007 absentee, club stalwart Eddie Soares. Michael Esposito took his place up front in an unorthodox pairing with Dusko Delic. The unusual strike force of Esposito and Delic proved crucial as Delic capitalised in the 43rd minute from a defence splitting pass in the area to finish from 6 yards.
Esposito, acting as the target man, continuously held the ball up well allowing the speedy midfield of Goran Talevski and Kalmar to make ground in support.

Talevski almost did as he pleased on the right and carried the ball great lengths into attacking positions from the right hand side and it was one of these runs that resulted in Kalmar receiving a ball at the top of the 18 yard box. The young midfielder then perfectly executed a curling shot into the corner from outside the area.

However the youthful and talented Springvale youngsters were not without their own chances but ultimately inexperience let them down in front of goal, and on a couple of occasions all the experience of Martin John was called upon to keep the Georgies net intact with a couple of dramatic saves.

However it was ultimately the Georgies dominance in front of goal, which in recent weeks painfully did not convert into goals, that finally paid dividends, and with further strikes from Talevski thundering off the post and Brett Gilmour stretching the keeper from distance with a pile driver the score could have been higher against the team that has conceded 63 goals this season.

Now the Georgies face a busy late winter/early spring schedule of 4 matches in 15 days in an effort to salvage the 2007 season and ensure survival for a fourth succesive season in Victoria's top flight

CAUTIONS: DIMOVSKI 70'