North Geelong Warriors ran out a 3-2 winner over Springvale White Eagles despite suffering a second-half fade-out at Elcho Park on Saturday.

It was the Warriors’ first victory at home since defeating Bulleen in Round 4 and came courtesy of three first-half goals, one from Mark Paleka and a double from Juso Julardzija.

A second-half brace from Springvale marksman Vojo Milojevic was not enough to steal a point for the visitors.

North went into today's clash with the 11th-placed White Eagles knowing a win would bring the Warriors to within three points of second place, following Bulleen's unexpected loss to the red-hot Richmond last night. 

Right from the outset, the White Eagles went in search of an opening goal, with Milan Jovanovic’s close-range effort successfully knocked away to safety by North ‘keeper Daniel Zilic in the second minute.

It was the home team however, which troubled the scoreboard attendant in the ninth minute.  

Julardzija managed to trap the ball on the edge of the penalty box, turn on his left foot and let rip a piledriver past stranded Springvale shotstopper Anthony Casset for the opener.

Paleka was in the thick of the action in the 26^th minute, when he found himself in open space inside the box, trapping the loose ball and superbly slamming it past the hapless Casset to make it 2-0.

With three minutes of stoppage time played, Stipe Trbuhovic fed the ever dangerous Julardzija, who managed to score his second and North’s third, with virtually the last kick of the half.

Springvale coach Zlatko Mihajlovic gave his young charges a spray at half time and it seemed to do the trick as a completely different White Eagles outfit came out onto the pitch after the resumption of play. 

In the 53^rd minute, against the run of play, Vojislav Milojevic pulled one back for the visitors when a defensive lapse by North gifted the dangerous striker room to shoot, which he did and brought the scoreline back to 3-1.

A rather flat North outfit was content to batton down the hatches and wait for the final whistle, while the visitors kept plugging away, seeking another goal.

It finally came in the 89^th minute, when Milojevic made a snakey run into the box and was eventually brought down by a North defender. 

He picked himself up to take the spot kick, sending Zilic the wrong way to score his second of the afternoon, ensuring a climactic end to the game.

In the dying seconds of the match, Milojevic had an opportunity to level the scores, but his half hearted attempt was easily saved by a diving Zilic, ensuring North came home with all three points.

After the game, both sets of coaches were rather critical about their respective teams’ performances.

“It was one of the worst, no, definitely the worst game since I’ve been here,” a fired up North Geelong coach Mick Colina said.

“To be 3-0 up at halftime and then to come out in the second half as though we weren’t even there, that’s just totally unacceptable. At times we looked completely flat.

“Nevertheless, it was good to get a win, despite us playing ordinary football out there. And to do it at home, the boys haven’t won here for quite awhile, so I guess I should be happy.”

His counterpart, Zlatko Mihajlovic, was similarly frustrated, but in the end was pleased with the efforts of his young team.

“It hurts for me to give these young guys a spray, but that is exactly what happened at halftime. It needed to be done in order to get the desired effect,” the Springvale coach revealed.

“But when you know what they are capable of and they let two silly defensive errors result in the opposition’s first two goals, it is very frustrating for me as a coach but for the team as a whole.

“But, the way I look at it, we lost the first half battle yet won the second half battle 2-0, so that’s the positive to come out of today’s game,” Mihajlovic concluded. 

In Round 17 action next weekend, North has a mouthwatering 'six-point' battle with second-placed Bulleen at David Barro Stadium, while Springvale hosts Dandenong City at home. Both games are on Saturday.

MATCH DETAILS 

North Geelong Warriors 3 (Julardzija 9’ 48’, Paleka 26’) defeated Springvale White Eagles 2 (Milojevic 54’, 89’) at Elcho Park. (HT: 3-0) 

North Geelong: 1. Daniel ZILIC, 16 Michael GRGIC, 3. Matt TOWNLEY, 99 Nathan LONG (2 Darren LEWIS 82’), 17 Nicholas JURCIC, 23 Michael BOYAR (19. Nicholas ANDERSON 66’), 8 Vito Cichello, 4. Stipe TRBUHOVIC (32 Jackson DAVIS 78’), 10. Rob ZADWORNY, 14. Mark PALEKA, 30. Juso JULARDZIJA

Subs not used: 35 Michael RADOJEVIC, 31. Hamish FLAVELL. 

Yellow cards: None

Red cards: None 

Springvale White Eagles: 30. Anthony CASSET, 2. Joshua BOWEN, 4. Simo JOVANOVIC, 8. Marcus HOLMES, 17. Joel BOWEN (16. Jamie DE SMIT 73’), 19. Vojislav MILOJEVIC, 22. Milan JOVANOVIC, 13. Hamish MILLAR, 5. Scott MILLAR (6. Slavisa SARIC, 42’), 21. Dejan ERAKOVIC, 3. Joey CALDERONE (18. Ryan DON PAUL 73’).

Subs not used: 12. Bojan TOMIC, 11. Sanni DAUDA.

Yellow cards: J. BOWEN 16’

Red cards: None