Round 11 North Geelong (1) v Altona East Phoenix (0)
Author: Bradley Green Courtesy: Geelong Advertiser
North Geelong Warriors eked out a crucial 1-0 victory over promotion rival Altona East Phoenix, thanks to Matthew Demo’s winner.
Demo pounced 10 minutes into the second half after Phoenix failed to deal with goalkeeper Daniel Zilic’s long punt downfield.
The visitor’s defence dithered under the high ball, allowing debutant Marko Kuna to slip Demo through on goal. The teenager drilled his shot past Phoenix keeper Kieran McDowell.
Warriors failed to find any kind of rhythm in the first period, with its scrappy, dis-jointed play highlighting the absence of key midfielders Mijo Trupkovic and the departed Ante Deak.
Phoenix dominated possession for long periods of the first half, with Warriors grateful to Zilic for keeping the scores level at half time.
The experienced keeper blocked a stunning volley from Pan Meletis with the game barely five minutes old and repeated the trick shortly before halftime.
With Warriors over-run in midfield, veteran striker Adrian Cervinski was switched to the centre of the park in the second half.
The move allowed Robert Zadworney, who endured a frustrating first period, to push further forward, with impressive results.
Zadworney’s corner was headed across goal by Jonathan Davey to Cervinski, whose overhead kick was met by an equally outrageous scissor kick by Kuna, only for the ball to go agonisingly wide.
With Phoenix pushing forward, Zadworney nearly sealed the game himself after being put clear by John Patti. With just the goalkeeper to beat, Zadworney narrowly missed the target.
Warriors are now a point clear at the top of State League 2.
“I had words with the players at halftime and we turned it around in the second half,” Warriors coach Vinko Buljubasic said.
