Goal Scorer: Shaun Romein

Starting List - Sunshine George Cross: Martin JOHN, Shaun ROMEIN, Andrew NABBOUT, Craig SWEENEY, Christos KONSTAS, Marco ROSANO ( Luke GROUNDS 45), Douglas CAMERON, 25. Andrew BOURAKIS, Ben COGGER, Taxiarhis APOSTOLIKAS (Ahmet TURER 76) , Barry DEVLIN. Subs: Daniel SWEENEY, Julian BUZZANCA, Cameron SALIK. This was always going to be a tough match for Theo and his new look team, but at least the boys were competitive and could have easily got something from this match. The Georgies introduced three newcomers into the team following the injuries to David Calleja and Evan Christodoulou and the suspension of captain Fidell Richards. In came Craig Sweeney, Marco Rosano and Andrew Bourakis. Melbourne Knights was able to hold on to a 2-1 win over Sunshine George Cross in a fiery encounter on Sunday night. Up to 8 cautions and 1 red card were issued in this must win battle to secure all 3 points. The Georgies were off to a flier taking the lead after only 2 minutes, when Andrew Bourakis swung over a cross from the right that had Taxiarhis Apostolikas stretching to get his foot to the ball. He managed to deflect the ball goal wards that produced a good save from Knight's keeper Seb Mattei. The Knight's keeper could only parry the ball into the path of Shaun Romein, who tapped the ball into the net. The Knights re-acted to this set back by pinning the Georgies in their own half with slick passing. Sunshine George Cross looked at ease coping with the Knights attacks, with most of the Knight's efforts fizzing out. Knight's danger men were Danny Tiatto and Kevin Townson but their finishing was poor. After 38 minutes Martin John was called into action making a good save from Anthony Bran. At the other end Shaun Romein produced a shot that went close to increasing Sunshine's lead. Melbourne Knights fans were in raptures when they levelled the score 4 minutes before the break. Danny Tiatto looked to have fouled Shaun Romein from behind, but after second thoughts, the referee waved play on, allowing Jean Debois a shot from just outside the penalty area. The ball deceived Martin John as it glanced off the upright into the net. The Knights were not content with a 1-1 half-time score line and took the lead on the stroke of half time. A swinging centre from Jean Debois on the left wing was flicked onto the far post, where Kevin Townson's header struck the underside of the cross-bar and bounced down. The referee's assistant awarded the goal to give the Knights the lead. Sunshine introduced Luke Grounds for Marco Rosano at the break with Grounds going into the centre of the defence and Craig Sweeney going to right back. Sunshine began the second half better having the majority of the play. There was very little goal mouth action, but the battle in midfield was hotly contested that kept the referee busy issuing yellow cards. After 68 minutes Jean Debois was red carded for a second bookable offence and on his way out he indicated he has had enough of Victorian football. This was his second dismissal in the last month after a spate of cautions. The Georgies had lots of possession, but ran out of ideas going forward. Melbounre Knight's goalkeeper Sebastian Mattie was never threathened with the Knights defenders coping with ease any Sunshine attack. Mattie was spared his blushes when he tried to stop an Andrew Nabbout shot with his foot, allowing the ball to go under his foot, just past the upright for a corner kick. Kevin Townson looked very menacing playing a one man attack with the Knight's ploy of counter attacking looking more likely to produce a Knight's goal. The Knights were able to hang on for a much needed win in a weekend that saw the bottom teams closing the gap on the teams above as the battle to escape relegation intensifies.

UNDER 21: SUNSHINE GEORGE CROSS 3 MELBOURNE KNIGHTS 4

Scorers: Alec Strycharski 2, Aziz Paytoncular 1.

In a very open and thrilling encounter, Melbourne Knights edged out the Georgies 4-3. This game could have gone either way with fortunes swinging one way than the other. It was the Knights who took the lead, but the Georgies hit back to take a 2-1 half time lead. The Knights drew level and took a 3-2 lead midway through the second half. The Georgies had Tyrone Demitriou dismissed but managed to get back on level terms only to lose thois absorbing contest with a very late strike that gave Melbourne Knights the points. The 2 own goals by the Georgies contributed to their downfall in the match.