SUNSHINE GEORGE CROSS 1 HEIDELBERG UNITED 0. Goal scorer: John Sapazovski 44 min.         

Line up: M. John, N. Schwal, M. Cini, J. Clancy, J. Webster, C. Konstas, W. Wallace, N. Hooks, A. Kearney ( B. Cogger 63), J. Sapazovski (P. Koutsoupias 66), F. Richards ( D. Hatzimouratis 60). Subs; S. Manceski, A. Pecora.  

It  was back to the wall stuff for the Sunshine George Cross on Sunday as the Georgies
 

entertained the high flying Heidelberg United at Chaplin Reserve. This was no place for feint hearted players or supporters as Sunshine Georgies and Heidelberg United staged a thrill a minute and dramatic spectacle at Chaplin Reserve. The home team fans saw their beloved Georgies pull off an unlikely 1-0 win over the classy Heidelberg United side, who must still be wondering how they failed to earn at least a draw from this match. They pinned the home team in their own half for most of the second half but in the end it was to no avail. Sunshine scored the only goal of the game in the 44th minute through twice taken free kick. The kick was ordered to be retaken by the referee after Ederaro encroached before the kick was taken. The second attempt from just outside the penalty area by John Sapazovski was brilliantly curled around the wall and past the lunging Peter Gavalas in Heidelberg's goal to give the Georgies the lead. It was the Sunshine George Cross who began the match on the front foot when a long Nicholas Schwal throw-in was headed on by Wayne Wallace into the path of Fidel Richards who from 3 metre out blasted wide. Heidelberg took control after an even 20 minutes and looked most dangerous through Osagie Ederaro. His speed and skill troubled Georgie defender Joe Clancy. Three times he set up fellow striker with good openings, but all were wasted. 2008 Victorian player of the year Graham Hockless was another dangerous weapon with his long throw-ins that caused the Georgies many problems. Heidelberg displayed great skill and fine understanding with their one touch football, but failed to trouble Martin John in Sunshine's goal in the opening half. The Georgies attacks were few and far between and lacked team work. Wayne Wallace broke free down the wing, but his pass across goal was behind his team mates. Good work by Fidel Richards set up John Sapazovski who was through on goal, but Heidelberg goalkeeper Peter Gavalas narrowed the angle and saved the shot. The Georgies surprisingly took the lead just before the break with 'Sapa's' wonder goal at the Anderson Road end of the ground. As expected Heidelberg came out in top gear after the break and attacked at will. They went close several times with the Georgie defenders throwing themselves in desperation blocking shots. It was corner kick after corner kick, but the George Cross defence would not yield as Heidelberg's frustrations began to grow. Hockless sent in a perfect corner for Anthony Magnacca to run onto. His strong header from 10 metre out had goal written all over it, but Martin John rescued his team once again with a superb save.The shots kept coming in, but one way or another the Georgies repelled them. Sunshine task was made harder when they were reduced to 10 men after 66 minutes when captain Wayne Wallace was sent off for a wild kick. Prior to the sending off the game went through a crazy period with players going in hard, kicking wildly and some very illegal tackles. The referee allowed it to go on for a long time before he decided something had to give and it was Wayne Wallace who paid the price. Heidelberg tried to exploit the full width of the pitch, but try as they may they repeatedly came up against a brick wall. To their credit the Georgies played it smart and could have added to the score when Nicholas Schwal released Peter Koutsoupias whose shot went just wide. Martin John was again in the thick of the action with a sprawling save to add to Heidelberg growing corner count. Heidelberg had the ball in the net in the closing stages of the game, but Ederaro was ruled offside much to the disgust of the Heidelberg supporters. Sunshine created the best opening opening of the half when debutant Dimitri Hatzimouratis was through one on one with the Heidelberg keeper. Peter Gavalas saved his side with a timely tackle to deny the youngster a debut goal, but the Georgies were able to hold on and secure the most gutsy win of the season. The win moves the Sunshine George Cross to within 1 point of fifth placed Heidelberg and at this stage a final's spot for the Georgies is looking very promising.

UNDER 21: SUNSHINE GEORGE CROSS 1 HEIDLBERG UNITED 2 . Heideberg United defeated the Georgies 2-1 who were reduced to 9 players following the dismissals of Dion Portelli and Brendan Grech. Heidelberg lead 1-0 at the break, but the Georgies drew level through a Liam McDermott goal. Heidelberg were awarded a soft penalty midway throught he second half but Cameron Salik kept his side in the game by brilliantly saving the shot. Within a minute the Georgies were reduced to 10 men when Dion Portelli was sent off and not long after the Bergers took a 2-1 lead. The game was over for the Cross when Brendan Grech was also dismissed as our youngsters suffering their fifth successive defeat.