By Kristian Stojanov (@kikocez)

Springvale White Eagles returned to winning ways on Saturday afternoon, defeating Whittlesea Ranges 5-2 at a wet and windy White Eagles Stadium.

As the heavy rain began to pour down in the first half, it didn’t take long for the Ranges to create the first chance when Nicholas Sarbin fired just wide of the post three minutes in.

The first real chance for Springvale came after 15 minutes when a low cross from Hamish Millar found an unmarked Marcus Holmes, only to have his shot cleared off the line by Ranges defender Damian Siljanoski.

Holmes had a second attempt but Siljanoski stood tall once again and blocked the incoming shot.

Just one minute later however, Millar yet again found an unmarked Holmes who this time made no mistake, firing home to put the home side 1-0 up.

Ten minutes later, Springvale doubled its lead when Ranges ‘keeper Lachlan Stagg attempted to clear the ball, only to slice it in the path of Millar who passed the ball into an open net.

On the half-hour mark, Millar was again put through on goal by Dejan Erakovic, but this time Ranges custodian Stagg stood firm to block the shot out of harm’s way.

Stagg was again called into action when a free kick just outside the box from Stojan Milojevic was handled well by the ‘keeper.

From the resulting clearance, Daniel Peluso made a blistering run into the box only to have his shot blocked by Jovanovic, but the ball fell kindly into the path of Whittlesea’s Matthew Iuliano, who made no mistake slotting the ball home with four minutes to go until halftime.

From the restart however, Millar once again delivered his dangerous low-driven cross to find Vojislav Milojevic, who cheekily flicked the ball into the back of the net to restore the home side’s two-goal cushion.

It only took Springvale 40 seconds after the restart to put the game out of reach for the Ranges when a cutback from Milojevic found an unmarked Ryan Don Paul, who buried home his shot in the bottom right-hand corner to make it 4-1.

Springvale nearly had a fifth goal after 55 minutes when a powerful header by Erakovic nearly found the top corner, only to be denied by a goal-line clearance from Siljanoski.

With 10 minutes remaining, Whittlesea was awarded a penalty after a Springvale defender was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box.

Kliment Dimitrieski made no mistake from the spot, burying the ball down the middle.

With full time approaching, Milojevic banged home his second of the match in stoppage time to cap off a solid performance from the home side and inflict more damage to the Ranges.

MATCH DETAILS

Springvale White Eagles 5 (Holmes 8’, Millar 25’, V.Milojevic 42’, 90+3’, Don Paul 46’) Defeated Whittlesea Ranges 2 (Iuliano 41’, Dimitrieski pen. 80’) at White Eagles Stadium [HT: 3-1]

Springvale White Eagles: 12. Bojan TOMIC (GK), 14. Joshua BOWEN, 18. Ryan DON PAUL, 4. Simo JOVANOVIC, 6. Slavisa SARIC, 8. Marcus HOLMES, 16. Jamie DE SMIT (22. Milan JOVANOVIC 73’), 19. Vojislav MILOJEVIC, 10. Stojan MILOJEVIC (9. Joel BOWEN 53’), 13. Hamish MILLAR, 21. Dejan ERAKOVIC (7. Keletso MTHEMBU 63’)

Unused subs: 30. Anthony CASSET, 3. Joey CALDERONE

Yellow Card(s): 9. Joel Bowen (78’)

Red Cards: None

Whittlesea Ranges: 2. Lachlan STAGG (GK), 4. Mark VANGELI, 9. Kliment DIMITRIESKI, 3. Berkam YURBAKUL (20. Christopher STOJCEVSKI 50’),10. Matthew IULIANO, 13. Adem MUSTEDANAGIC, 14. Daniel PELUSO, 18. Nicholas SARBIN (16. Mile RISTOV 50’), 19. Damian SILJANOSKI, 23. Daniel SOTIROPOULOS, 25. Daniel GIOGHA (17. Girolamo COSTANZA 73’)

Unused subs: 27. James RIZZARDO, 7. Jarrod DEL MONACO

Yellow card(s): 14. Daniel Peluso (87’)

Red card(s): None