By Shaun Moran @moranshaun

North Geelong Warriors comfortably swept away a leaky FC Bulleen Lions with a 5-2 win in the two sides’ Round 17 NPL1 clash at the Veneto Club on Saturday evening. 

The game came to life thanks to an eight minute period that witnessed three goals.

It was North Geelong which struck the first blow following a period of home side dominance. 

Matthew Townley’s perfectly-weighted cross to the back post was met by Mark Peleka who powerfully headed the ball in at the near post.

Micky Collina’s men soon added a second following a tricky corner kick that came in from the right hand side. 

The ensuing scramble was pounced on by Michael Grgic and he made no mistake slamming the ball home.

Bulleen responded quickly courtesy of Lewis Waddell’s astute poaching. 

The Warriors’ defence was unable to remove the ball from its area, allowing Waddell to tuck the ball away to the delight of the home faithful.

Waddell’s inability to read a floated in cross after the restart permitted Paleka to drift in at the back post and drive his shot on target. 

The ball took a deflection off the former as it found its way into the back of the net.

Waddell was again guilty of being dispossessed in a pivotal part of the park, which preceded North Geelong’s fourth. 

Townley’s subsequent low free-kick on the edge of the area flew straight at Fraser Maclaren who could only palm the ball down and in.

Julardzija slipped in at the back post to cut the ball across the ‘keeper and into the goal to heap further misery on the home side. 

Katebian’s free kick at the death was nothing more than a consolation for a well beaten team.

The fans were treated to some enterprising and stylish football in the early exchanges without either side being able to truly test either custodian.

Both teams huffed and puffed until the closing stages but Bulleen failed to reduce the deficit to round off another difficult day.

Its technical director, Sergio Sabbadini bewailed yet another feeble defensive performance.

“In two weeks, we’ve copped five goals,” he said.

“We have defensive issues. We’re giving away silly free kicks and we’re getting punished. We played fairly well offensively. But just defensively, we’re not holding it together.” 

Warriors boss Micky Collina attributed the win to the work his charges have put in in recent weeks.

“We knew coming here was going to be a hard game,” he said.

“They like to play football and I think tonight there were two sides who wanted to play.

“It’s a tough ask to come here and get points. We’ve been working on our structure and results are starting to show.”

His team will be looking for a similar showing next week at home against Kingston City, while Bulleen will need to lift at Dandenong next Saturday afternoon.

MATCH DETAILS

FC Bulleen Lions 2 (Waddell 37’, Katebian 90’+3) defeated by North Geelong Warriors 5 (Paleka 29’ 51’, Grgic 32’, Townley 64’, Julardzija 90’+2) at Veneto Club.[HT: 1-2]

FC Bulleen Lions: 43. Fraser MACLAREN, 2. Dean ROMAS, 5. Lewis WADDELL, 6. Alex DAO, 8. Matteo BALLAN, 9. Bardhi HYSOLI (21. Kristian SARKIES 60’), 10. Takanori NISHIMOTO, 12. Matt DIMECH, 19. Joshua SABIDUSSI (31. Dylan BRESOLIN 60’), 20. Robert ARMELUNI (11. Gianni DE NITTIS 72’), 33. Joseph KATEBIAN.

Unused subs: 44. Luke GALLO.

Yellow Cards: Waddell (45’), Katebian (46’)

Red Cards: Nil 

North Geelong Warriors: 1. Daniel ZILIC, 15. Michael GRGIC, 3. Matthew TOWNLEY, 13. Nathan LONG, 17. Nicholas JURCIC, 8. Vito CICHELLO, 5. Michael BOYAR (7. Reardo LUKA 59’), 14. Mark PALEKA (2. Darren LEWIS 66’), 10. Robert ZADWORNY, 6. Stipe TRBUHOVIC (36. Jackson DAVIS 81’), 9. Juso JULARDZIJA.

Unused subs: 18. Nicholas ANDERSON, 31. Hamish FLAVELL.

Yellow Cards: Julardzija (51’)

Red cards:  Nil