By Chris Hearn (@_ChrisHearn)

A missed penalty in second-half stoppage time denied Werribee City maximum points as it drew 1-1 with Pascoe Vale at Galvin Park on Sunday.
 
In a fiery affair that saw a man from either side shown red, Werribee’s Joshua Groenewald struck after Jonathan Voulgaris’ early goal for the visitors.
 
The result leaves Vale four points clear of the last-placed Goulburn Valley Suns, while Werribee remains mid-table on 11 points.
 
After disappointing losses to both sides last week, a draw will leave neither feeling too pleased.

In an eventful opening, Vale started much faster and went ahead in the fifth minute.
 
Voulgaris found himself in a pocket of space and raced towards Tommy Dunn, firing a classy finish past the goalkeeper.
 
Dunn would be Werribee’s saving grace later in proceedings though, saving brilliantly from Voulgaris as his effort was tipped onto the post, and commanded his area with aplomb under severe pressure.
 
Pascoe Vale’s Michael Ferrante was allowed to dictate the midfield, forcing Milan Savic and Ryan Filipovic to play long diagonals, which Vale dealt with easily.
 
Voulgaris was a marked man, as Filipovic and Daniel Petrov were booked for scathing challenges on the goalscorer.
 
Groenewald was fortunate to remain on the pitch as he too targeted Voulgaris, but the referee was unsighted.
 
Vale were vocal in their protestations against Groenewald not being given his marching orders, and his next contribution would be to their detriment – his header was guided expertly past Stefaan Sardelic in the Vale goal in the 49th minute.
 
The goal looked to ignite the home side furthermore, but it could not find a finish past Sardelic. Groenewald went close to adding to his tally on 66 minutes, but his shot from 10 yards was blocked.
 
The flashpoint of the second half arrived on 76 minutes, as Werribee’s Petrov was given his marching orders for his second bookable offence.

It looked a harsh decision as the defender’s contact in the tackle was minimal at best.
 
Werribee’s dominance continued, however, as late substitute Daniel Sweeney provided a moment of inspiration in the 94th minute.

He jinked brilliantly into the Vale area, firing his shot against the post, before Filipovic’s goal-bound strike was handled on the goal-line by Tomislav Milardovic.

Captain Milan Savic took responsibility from the spot, but inexplicably fired his shot wide and the points were shared.

Werribee coach Nino Ragusa was pleased with the way his side reacted after consecutive losses.

“I was looking for a response and it took 45 minutes,” Ragusa said.

“After halftime it started to change for us, we became more positive and the game balances itself out.”
 
Pascoe Vale coach Vitale Ferrante was disappointed at not going further ahead.

“We absolutely dominated the first half, really good pressure, good football, scored a great goal and should’ve scored another two,” Ferrante said.

“Second half, they started playing a style that was more direct and we didn’t handle it as well as we should have.
 
“They scored a goal and then got a red card. In the end, we got away with murder.”

MATCH DETAILS

Werribee City 1 (Groenewald 49’) drew with Pascoe Vale 1 (Voulgaris 6’) at Galvin Park [HT: 0-1]
 
Werribee City: 1. Tommy DUNN, 4. Ryan FILIPOVIC, Milan SAVIC 14. Bobby VIDANOSKI, 17. Matthew CUNDARI (10. Damir MARUSIC 76’), 19 Robbie NAUMOSKI 20. Daniel PETROV 26. Ray MARKLEY (11. Demenico MARAFIOTI 85’), 33. Joshua GROENEWALD (8. Daniel SWEENEY 88’), 43. Steven CUDRIG

Substitutes not used: 5. Nemanja GOVEDARICA, 12. Roderick YOUSEF

Yellow Cards: Ryan Filipovic 21’, Steven Cudrig 23’, Daniel Petrov 32’, 76’

Red Cards: Daniel Petrov 76’
 
Pascoe Vale: 1. Stefaan SARDELIC, 2. Adrian TALARICO, 3. Nathen MEGIC, 4. Tomislav MILARDOVIC, 7. Luca SANTILLI, 10. Davey VAN’T SCHIP (16. Marco SANTILLI 67’), 11. Jonathan VOULGARIS (6. Roberto DI VITO 75’) 13. Matthew LAZARIDES, 15. Mark PISTININZI, 21. Michael FERRANTE, 22. Carl RECCHIA.
 
Unused subs: 12. Eli LUTTMER, 14. Alvaro CARRILLO, 25. Yaren SOZER
 
Yellow Cards: None
 
Red Cards: Tomislav Milardovic 90+4’.

Image credit: Charlie Lombardo