1996/7 National Youth League Southern Division


These statistics are supplied by Roy Hay and written for the Oz Soccer archive by Greg Stock. We believe them to be accurate and have taken every care to make them so. We would appreciate any correction of errors detected. If you wish to use them for private purposes please feel free to download them. If you wish to publish them contact Roy Hay. If you wish to use them for commercial purposes please contact Roy Hay to negotiate a fee.

National Youth League (Victorian Division),
21-22 December 1996

by Roy Hay

The Victorian Institute of Sport continued its impressive unbeaten run with a four-one win over Collingwood Warriors at Paisley Park on Sunday. The VIS has only conceded four goals in eleven starts with keepers Peter Zois and Martin John in scintillating form. Zois had to be alert in the first half as the Warriors had most of the play but failed to capitalise on a couple of one-on-one situations and numerous other breaks. The VIS pulled off a couple of smash and grab raids as Zoran Petrevski and Lev Osman with a spectacular strike from distance gave it a comfortable half-time lead. This was extended in 62 minutes when Joe Carey poked the ball through the legs of Dean Anastasiadis, but Mile Medjedovic outjumped the VIS defence to head a good goal for the Warriors shortly after. Michael Anderson put over a teasing cross and Petrevski slid in at the far post in 76 minutes to seal the victory for the VIS.

South Melbourne kept up the pressure on Saturday when it beat the in-form Sunshine Georgies by three goals to one at Bob Jane Stadium. Darryl Spiteri gave the Georgies a lead in the first half, but after the hour mark the Blues took control. Alfonzo Opaza was first to score, closely followed by George Goutzioulis, then George Tsirtis added a third near the end.

The Gippsland Falcons were too strong for Altona Gate in the second match at Paisley Park on Sunday. Joe Tricarico, a VIS graduate, opened for the Falcons and Paul Byrne and veteran Billy Wright made it three before the interval. The Magic youngsters showed greater fighting spirit in the second half, pulling one goal back through Darko Todevski. Todevski had another couple of chances to score, but squeezed one wide of the post.

Melbourne Knights fielded a star-studded line-up against Heidelberg United at the Knights Stadium, with John Markovski, Adrian Cervinski, Damien Vojtek, Dragi Nastevski and Ante Deak from the first team squad all in the starting eleven. Yet it was the young Bergers who took the lead in four minutes when Elias Kyriakou's cross was hammered home by Jim Kaloudis. The Knights strode up to the other end and when the keeper fumbled Branko Bacak's cross-shot Markovski tucked away the rebound. Vojtek then played a one-two with Markovski before putting the Knights ahead, and thereafter goals came freely. Bacak put away a fine pass by Vojtek in 19 minutes. Then straight after the break Markovski turned on a near-post corner to belt in number four for the Knights. Adrian Cervinski made it five with a deflected shot before Kyriakou ran through from what appeared to be an offside position to pull a goal back for the Bergers. Vojtek and Markovski combined and the former kept running as instructed to finish the scoring for the Knights. Kyriakou had a clear opening but failed to get his shot on target as the Bergers kept plugging away.

Green Gully and Box Hill shared the points at Green Gully Reserve. David Maglovski scored twice for Green Gully in 30 and 35 minutes, but Damien Guglielmo reduced the lead two minutes later. A late strike by Mimo Orlando provided Box Hill with its share of the points.

An Arthur Tsirtsakis goal for the Melbourne Knights Colts was all that separated his team from Springvale City in an even encounter at Ross Reserve. The breakthrough came in 38 minutes and though the Colts should have been further ahead in the first half, it had to survive constant Springvale pressure in the second to take the three points.

Finally in a reversed fixture Bentleigh Greens defeated Thomastown Zebras by five goals to nil at Kingston Heath. Chris Christakis put the Greens in front after only two minutes, then quick goals by Andrew Charalambous and Christakis again by the 21st minute had finished the game as a contest. Stefan Oter added the fourth in 49 minutes and Charalambous completed the scoring on the hour.