By Mark Gojszyk (@hahahamark)

Avondale Heights has taken top spot on the NPL 1 table after snatching a 2-1 away win against St Albans Saints at Churchill Reserve on Sunday.
 
The Saints took the lead just after half an hour when towering defender Barry Devlin capitalised on a keeper mistake, before Bosin Georgevski equalised with a quality long-range strike just before halftime.
 
It was a case of missed opportunities for St. Albans, as despite testing the keeper on numerous occasions and hitting the woodwork twice, it fell behind to a late Opeksiy Khrapko goal and never found its way back into the game.
 
The contest started openly with the home side getting in behind Avondale’s defence on a number of occasions. After just two minutes, Juso Julardzija was one-on-one with Anthony Saric but the Avondale keeper won that duel.
 
In the sixth minute Sean McIlroy also found himself through on goal despite complaints of a clear offside, but it didn’t matter as his shot hit the upright.
 
Micovski had Avondale’s first chance soon after but shot high and wide.
 
St Albans looked more imposing throughout the first half, and its good play paid off in the 33rd minute. Following a partially cleared corner, Brodie Paterson looped a high ball into the box which Saric couldn’t handle, fumbling a punch and Devlin was there to header home from point-blank range.
 
The away side then equalised against the run of play when a failed St Albans clearance from a cross dribbled to Georgevski, who took a chance from long range and his sweetly struck shot lodged itself in the back of the net.
 
After the break St Albans looked to re-establish its lead, and nearly took the advantage when Paterson’s free kick was blocked and his follow-up shot was deflected but saved on the line by Saric, who was trying to make amends for his earlier error.
 
Julardzija was lively all game, and almost scored a goal but his curling effort cannoned into the upright and bounced away to safety.
 
St Albans’ inability to convert its chances cost it dearly when Avondale’s Julien Cannizzaro found himself in space on the wing and crossed the ball in, finding Khrapko who handled the ball expertly and tucked it past Stjepan Gal.
 
Substitute Chris Ross thought he had the equaliser but was called offside, and instead received a yellow card for kicking the ball after the call, rubbing salt into the wound.
 
St Albans kept poking and prodding for the equaliser, but couldn’t find the elusive goal.
 
McIlroy had the final chance to level the game for St Albans, inexplicably spraying Danek’s cut-back wide from close range, summing up St Albans’ day.
 
Avondale coach Anthony Barbieri believed the result reflected his side’s endeavour on the day.
 
“It’s not an easy place to come to Churchill Reserve, but the boys gave it their all and we rode our luck on some situations, but we took a couple of chances ourselves and that was the game,” Barbieri said.
 
“We dug deep and showed real character.”
 
St Albans assistant Steve Lawrie credited the opponents for sticking to their game plan and making life difficult for the home side, ruing some missed opportunities.
 
“The game wasn’t really lost by us. Avondale came here with a plan and stuck to it and I thought their effort was outstanding,” Lawrie said.
 
“We certainly did have lots of chances, but as you know that’s football. Some weeks we’ll get four or five [with that many chances].”

MATCH DETAILS
 
St Albans Saints 1 (Devlin 33’) lost to Avondale Heights 2 (Georgevski 44’, Khrapko 76’) at Churchill Reserve [HT 1:1]
 
St Albans Saints: 1. Stjepan GAL (GK), 4 Barry DEVLIN, 2. Ryan McGUFFIE, 17. Adam NAKIC, 15. Konrad DOBRASZIEWICZ, 13. Nicholas CULLEN, 10. Brodie PATERSON, 9. Sean McILROY, 7. Juso JULARDZIJA (11. Ryan BALDACCHINO 79’), 6. Martin MASON (14. Chris ROSS 54’), 8. Craig SWEENEY (16. Ajek DANEK 79’)
 
Unused Subs: 12. Liam FRANCIS, 21. Tonio BARESIC-NEKIC
 
Yellow Cards: PATERSON 22’, NAKIC 62’, DOBRASZIEWICZ 68’
 
Red Cards: None
 
Avondale Heights: 1. Anthony SARIC (GK), 6. Anthony STRANO, 8. Bosin GEORGEVSKI, 7. Andrew LE PAGE (19. Jason PRINCIPATO 76’), 10. Burakhan KOCA (14. Daniel SLOVACEK 90+2), 11. Bale MICOVSKI, (5. Andrew SACHETTA 85’) 24. Resit CULCULOGLU, 27. Julien CANNIZZARO, 15. Zoran PAJIC, 33. Dean CAMPELJ, 34 Opeksij KHRAPKO
 
Unused Subs: 4. Christopher VARTACI, 20. John SCOLLO
 
Yellow Cards: CANNIZZARO 82’
 
Red Cards: None