Chiappetta crushes Knights

Northcote City claimed their second victory at home with a crucial 2-0 victory against an unlucky Melbourne Knights, who on any other day could have walked away from John Cain Memorial Park with all three points. The win sees the home team push two games clear of the relegation zone and on the cusp of a finals position, while the Knights are languishing third from bottom, with little reward for some enterprising football thus far this season.

In a bizarre opening sequence of events, Northcote were staring at a deficit with barely thirty seconds played, Kevin Docherty awarding a penalty to the Knights after indecision in the City defence resulted in a foul in the box. Liam Cannell stepped up to take the kick, and Theodoridis guessed correctly as he palmed the ball away after executing a copybook dive to his right. In truth, Cannell’s strike sat at a perfect height for Theodoridis, but the save needed to be made, and concluded a fascinating opening exchange.

The Knights were not fazed by the penalty miss, settling into their rhythm quickly and dominating midfield as the hosts struggled to venture into their own third. Jean Dubois had an early sighter at goal from just outside the box, his powerful shot caught neatly by Theodoridis, who appeared destined for a busy afternoon as Anthony Colosimo and Anthony Bran sent speculative shots over the crossbar only minutes later.

The contest took an amazing turn of events as Dubois was shown a yellow for deliberate time wasting. Barely a minute later, he was adjudged to have illegally entered the field of play from the sidelines after sustaining an injury. Kevin Docherty rightly issued his second yellow card to Dubois as the Knights were relegated to ten men with more than 70 minutes left to play.

Again, despite the setback, Melbourne assumed total control, causing the City defence no end of trouble, and a second penalty was awarded after George Papadopoulos fouled Cannell in the box on the half-hour. Keen to atone for his previous miss, he strode confidently to the mark, yet his powerful shot cannoned into the crossbar and back into the field of play. Two spot kicks - two misses: and Cannell was visibly distressed as he picked up a yellow card in the ensuing passage of play for committing a foul in one of Northcote City’s few counter attacking forays.

Gazmend Ajdini should have put the visitors ahead in the 33rd minute, as he was put through on goal with only the keeper to beat. However his first touch was heavy, and Theodiridis did well to come off his line and close down space, smothering the eventual shot with ease. The Melbourne Knights throng gathered on the western side of the grandstand were undoubtedly bewildered at how the match was goalless at the interval, the Knights clearly in the ascendancy despite the numerical disadvantage.

However, Northcote began the second half more confidently, maintaining possession for longer periods in an attempt to expose the fitness of the ten-man Knights. Peter Tsolakis emptied his bench with 20 minutes to play, as City’s fresher legs searched for a winner. Ultimately, it proved to be the set piece combination of Nick Tzoulis and Adriano Chiappetta which finally undid the Knights in the 81st minute. A well struck corner was met impressively by the towering defender whose rifled header left Antony Loncaric with little chance. The home fans finally got their goal.

Chiappetta confirmed the victory three minutes from time, when another Tzoulis corner troubled the Knights defence. The resulting goalmouth scramble left an unmarked Chiappetta licking his lips as he powered a drive from point blank range into the heart of the Knights goal. The excited defender celebrated with a shirtless run to his bench, marking a double for the first time in his VPL career.

Northcote City travel to Broadmeadows Valley Park next Saturday for a clash with second placed Hume City, requiring an improved performance to challenge one of the competition front-runners. The Knights host neighbours Green Gully, searching for a much-needed victory to match the level of play they displayed in the first half.

Originally published in Goal! Weekly and on the Northcote City website.

Cannons hold City in tense derby

Oakleigh Cannons confirmed its status as the team to beat in 2010 with victory over a fast-finishing Northcote City at John Cain Memorial Park. In a match which had a spiteful edge to it all afternoon, the Cannons appeared set for a comfortable win with two goals early in the second half, but were forced to earn all three points by a desperate City who were relentless in their attempts to pinch an equaliser in the final quarter of an hour.

The first half produced some entertaining football, the home team rising to the challenge of its more fancied rivals. However, the Cannons created the first serious opportunity in the 12th minute with a counter attacking play down the right hand side resulting in a Jerry Karpeh drive that should have hit the target. Six minutes later, the hosts could have claimed an all-important lead when Trent Rixon was allowed space, his right-foot drive slamming directly into Griffin McMaster’s bread basket. Mark McGough was almost rewarded after some enterprising play in the 23rd minute, his shot however, only troubled the side netting.

The end-to-end nature of the contest was typified in sixty seconds late in the first half. Oakleigh drove a hole through the City midfield, allowing Karpeh to run onto a great ball, and a brilliant first touch allowed him enough time to take his shot which went just wide of both Theodoridis and the left post. From the resulting goal kick, City proceeded to return the favour with some great movement, Nixon provided with a great opportunity, only to blast his shot over the bar.

However, despite some great football, the first half will be remembered for two incidents which turned the heat up on an engaging contest. A late Nixon tackle a minute before the half left Stelios Drakos sprawled on the grandstand wing, and players from both teams charged into the contest to form a melee normally reserved for that other brand of football Melburnians dearly love. The verbals continued as the half-time whistle was blown, with more physical exchanges between officials and players as the teams met in the player’s race.

With a highly charged atmosphere, the second-half began with an air of anticipation, but the Cannons returned from the interval much sharper, taking two chances which illustrated their class at this level. Bill Damianos seized first, taking a neat chance after Cameron Watson set him up in the 59th minute. Ten minutes later, Jerry Karpeh doubled the Cannons lead scoring the goal he had threatened all afternoon, lobbing the keeper with a calm finish.

At this point, Northcote could have been forgiven for dropping their heads, but as they have done all season, they illustrated a never-say-die attitude and hit back in the 76th minute, Rixon pouncing on a loose ball in the box to give the home fans a hint of a comeback. They almost got it barely minutes from time when substitute James Kalifatidis shot wide from an excellently worked move. If that wasn’t enough, the home team could have felt aggrieved for not winning a penalty in added time, McMaster appearing to bring down Nixon in the box. As the referee waved away the protests, so to did Northcote’s chances, and Oakleigh welcomed the final whistle relieved winners.

The Cannons victory takes them to 27 points and cements their lead at the top of the table, a couple of points clear of Richmond who have a game in hand. Northcote currently sit a point away from a finals spot, with a game in hand over fifth placed Sunshine George Cross. Oakleigh return home on Monday night against an inconsistent Green Gully. Northcote City will host South Melbourne in what is an away fixture for them at John Cain Memorial Park on Sunday.

Originally published in Goal! Weekly and on the Northcote City website.

Vlahos seals victory as Hume claim home final

Hume City secured a home final in the Alanic Victorian Premier League with a thrilling 4-3 victory over a gallant Northcote City at John Cain Memorial Park. In a match that ebbed and flowed, the visitors withstood torrential rain and a determined opponent to edge out the hosts in a pulsating contest.

The match began under threatening skies, and Hume was quick to stamp its authority on the contest, controlling possession with great skill and movement. It was a set piece which almost opened the scoring on eight minutes, a free-kick from Ross Thompson zipping by the right-hand goalpost. Philip Riccobene followed suit two minutes later, this time from open play, but in truth, his shot did little to trouble Chris Petropoulos in goal.

Northcote looked certain to score against the run of play in the 12th minute with Trent Nixon put through on goal, but the striker was superbly tackled by Fabio Dilizia before he could execute his shot. The heavens opened shortly after, and this appeared to even out the contest, Rixon again proving dangerous as he cut back a superb ball across goal which only just failed to find James Kalifatidis in the six-yard box.

Hume City should have gone ahead in open play in the 20th minute, as they teased a dazzled Blues defence with some intricate passing, a foul on Andy Vlahos from Adrian Chiappetta eventually resulting in a penalty decision from referee Hakan Anaz. Thompson calmly stepped up and rifled his strike to the left of Petropoulos, Hume taking a deserved lead.

The hosts were down a key defender when Antoni Jankosvki appeared to pull a hamstring while chasing back hard in defence. He was replaced in the 31st minute by the evergreen George Papadopoulos, making his last ever home appearance for the club after fifteen years. He would have been unimpressed as Andy Vlahos played a great ball through to Richard Cardozo who scored with an expert left-foot finish. The visitors appeared in control after 37 minutes with a two-goal lead, however, just before the half, Trent Rixon was fouled in the box, and the competition’s leading marksmen converted the penalty with a powerful shot down the middle which cannoned in off the crossbar.

The hosts were no doubt buoyed by halving the deficit, and approached the second half with new found confidence, Rixon almost scoring the equaliser in the 48th minute with an audacious attempt that beat the keeper and unfortunately for him, the crossbar too. The Blues would eventually restore parity barely two minutes later when Mark McGough beat Lupce Acevski with a superbly controlled strike. The momentum had definitely swung by this point, and when Rixon scored his second with a fantastic header from a superbly taken free-kick, the home team had the lead after 53 minutes, and were full of running.

But just as Northcote appeared set to dominate the contest, an inexplicable handball in the box from Paul Savio resulted in another penalty kick, which Thompson duly converted after sending Petropoulos in the wrong direction.

The remaining half-an-hour of play was exhilarating football at its best, both teams throwing caution to the win in search of the winning goal. Nixon almost sealed his hat-trick in the 74th minute after a mazy run from John Voulgaris set him up, but his shot hit the crossbar leaving the home fans exasperated. A couple of minutes later, Northcote appeared to score from a goal-mouth scramble, but amidst all the players in the box, the ball couldn’t find its way into the net.

Barely a minute later, Vlahos appeared certain to clinch the three points after being put through with half the pitch at is beckoning and only the keeper to beat, but Petropoulos timed his run perfectly and shut him down to avert the danger. However, Vlahos ultimately claimed the win just three minutes from full time making no mistake with a cool finish underlying his class at this level.

As it stands, Hume City will take on Green Gully in the Qualifying final next week, but a pending Supreme Court decision may see South Melbourne confirmed as their opponent. Northcote City are scheduled to play Dandenong Thunder at the Veneto Club on Wednesday evening, where a victory would confirm their appearance in the finals at this stage. However, should the Supreme Court rule in South Melbourne’s favour, then the Blues will be eliminated from finals contention regardless of the result.

Originally published in Goal! Weekly and on the Northcote City website.