By Ahmed Yussuf (@ahmedyussuf10)

Oakleigh Cannons defeated Northcote City 3-1 away from home in a close encounter at John Cain Memorial Park on Sunday afternoon.

An early goal courtesy of Dean Piemonte pushed Oakleigh into the lead within the first ten minutes. 

But Northcote protégé Wade Dekker pegged second-placed Oakleigh back with a lovely strike twelve minutes later.

However, with Oakleigh’s season depending on every passing game as the club chases competition heavyweights South Melbourne, a winner was found.

Super sub Venton Korcari became beneficiary when Northcote shot-stopper Chris Theodoridis spilled a free kick from range. 

Oakleigh’s number 10 stroked the ball into the back of the net with ease from close range.

But to add insult to injury, as time ticked over, Northcote conceded a third on the break. 

Nate Foster outran his opposition defenders from deep to go clear on goal and to score the sealer.

Seven minutes into the first half, Foster dribbled his way into the box.  

The Oakleigh attacker looked poised to shoot, and with Theodoridis out of his area, he shot from inside the box. 

And with onrushing defenders to thwart Oakleigh’s attack, Piemonte made sure the ball trickled over the goal line tapping in from close range. 

Northcote City youngster Wade Dekker equalised soon after with a lovely strike from just inside the box to beat John Honos. 

Before the break Northcote began to cough up possession in key areas in the park. 

A defensive mix-up late on allowed Dusan Bosnjak a sniff on goal, but luckily for the home side his shot was wide of the goalmouth.

With the second half underway Northcote began to create more. 

Jonathan Bounas lofted over a nicely worked pass to Marino Gasparis. 

However it was read well by Oakleigh custodian Honos who charged out to claim.

Bounas grew in confidence, and he surged out from midfield with power making his way outside the penalty box to shoot, but Northcote’s midfield engine couldn’t find the target as his shot sailed just over the crossbar.  

Oakleigh’s dominance began to wane with every passing Northcote attack. 

But Miron Bleiberg’s substitutes connected for the second goal a wave of Oakleigh attack was brewing. 

Andreas Govas, known for his set piece delivery, stood over the free kick. 

Theodoridis meekly saved Govas’ shot on goal, and the ball fell opportunistically to Korcari who slotted away from close quarters.

Oakleigh continued their search for more goals. 

With Foster’s run from deep, much like he’s done most of the game, a key to their attack. 

This time Foster found himself one on one with Theodoridis, but Northcote’s gloveman quickly made up for his earlier spill and came out big to thwart Oakleigh’s star attacker.

Foster redeemed himself from his earlier misses to seal all three points for Oakleigh when a ball neatly put through by Gouvas released the pacey attacker, who finished expertly to make it three. 

Northcote City coach Goran Lozanovski was disappointed with the result but happy overall with the effort from his team with personnel absentees.

“We [Northcote] were in the game before we gave them [Oakleigh] a gift with our keeper [Theodoridis] dropping the ball,” Lozanovski said. 

“If you give gifts away you’re going to put yourself on the back foot. 

“I thought we wee probably the better side overall.” 

Oakleigh Cannons coach Miron Bleiberg admitted to not playing their best but the teams experience held through. 

“[This is] the type of game you need experience players,” Bleiberg said. 

“So I brought on Venton [Korcari] and Aron [Wilford] and it worked for us. One scored the more important second goal, one was a rock at the back.

“We won not because we were the better team, but more experienced.”

MATCH DETAILS: 

Northcote City 1 (Wade Dekker 19’) defeated by Oakleigh Cannons 3 (Dean Piemonte 7’, Venton Korcari 62’, Nate Foster 83’) at John Cain Memorial Park. [HT:1-1]

Northcote City: 22. Chris Theodoridis, 6. Aaron Ward, 3. Nasr Said, 4. Kristian Konstantinidis, 10. Marinos Gasparis (17. Anthony Rizk,72’), 24. Jonathan Bounas, 5. Phillip Petreski, 15. Wade Dekker, 11. Liam Wooding, 16. Greg Lombardo,14. Michael Catalano (21. Ricardo Gonzalez, 77’)

Unused substitute(s): 1. Luke Gavalas,19. Jacob Eliopoulos 

Yellow card(s): 16. Greg Lombardo 67’

Red card(s): Nil

Oakleigh Cannons: 1. John Honos, 7. Bonel Obradovic, 18. Adam Le Cornu, 12. Tremayne Sadler (5. Aron Wilford, 45’), 3. John Black 16. Ariel Ritz, 14. Nate Foster, 8. Dusan Bosnjak (21. Andreas Govas, 54’), 19. Goran Zoric, 17. Dean Piemonte (10. Veton Korcari, 46’), 23. Dominic D’Angelo

Unused substitute(s): 35. Harry Raworth, 4. Ian Kamau

Yellow card(s): 14. Nate Foster 25’, 18. Adam Le Cornu 72’, 23. Dominic D’Angelo 87’

Red card(s): Nil

Image credit: Graeme Furlong