By Rory Flanagan (@Rory_Flanagan)

Bentleigh Greens livened up the title race with a 2-1 triumph over league leader South Melbourne at Kingston Heath on Wednesday night.

Goals from David Stirton and Jamie Cumming sealed the largely unexpected win, with Tyson Holmes’ stoppage-time strike proving nothing but scant consolation for the visitors who lost for only the second time this season.

After being forced to delve into the youth ranks to cover a rapidly depleting squad, the result brings plenty of confidence leading into the Greens’ Westfield FFA Cup clash with Blacktown City in Sydney on Tuesday.

However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing as South Melbourne started on the front foot and could easily have led within ten minutes.

Whether James Musa meant it or not, the Kiwi international forced Alastair Bray to backpedal and tip his 50-yard floating ball onto the crossbar.

Less than a minute later, Tyson Holmes advanced into the box and headed against the upright to the relief of the hosts.  

Holmes was again in the midst of the action, sprawling on the floor after Bray attempted to sweep the ball from his feet, but the number ten’s penalty appeals were waived away.

South proceeded to create close to a dozen half-chances, all to no avail before the momentum completely shifted in favour of the fourth-placed Greens.

Christian Cavallo grazed the crossbar with a vicious free kick, leaving Jason Saldaris stranded.

The South custodian went on to have a shaky 20-minute spell that ultimately proved costly.  

After misjudging a high ball into the box on more than one occasion with no consequence, the ‘keeper eventually paid the price for repeating his mistake, allowing Stirton to bundle home from Nick Teichmann’s diving header.

Leigh Minopoulos looked to hit back immediately with a close-range free kick, but Bray reacted swiftly to acrobatically palm the strike away from his top left corner.

Saldaris again looked untidy, almost fumbling into his own net before half time as the Greens entered the break with the lead.

Jamie Cumming doubled the lead five minutes into the second stanza, lashing home a rare goal from a well-worked corner.

Wayne Wallace was in supreme form, and the Bentleigh skipper almost made it three from a flowing team move, forcing Saldaris to scramble backwards and tip the header over. 

Chris Taylor looked to his bench to change the game, bringing on Jamie Reed and Shaun Timmins in place of Mathew Theodore and Minopoulos.

Reed combined with strike partner Lujic like so many times this season, but the latter’s header failed to beat the impressive Bray who clawed over the bar.

With one eye on the FFA Cup, the last thing the Greens wanted were injuries. Luke Gallo was forced off and replaced by Lewis Foster, while flying winger Ryan De Vries left the field for the last five minutes giving South a man advantage.

The visitors made the most of it, pulling a goal back via the left flank vacated by De Vries but it proved too little too late as the home side claimed the points and belted out their club song with gusto.

Despite the strong win, all eyes were firmly fixed on Tuesday’s do or die clash with Blacktown City Spartans.

Bentleigh Greens coach John Anastasiadis, back from completing his A-License overseas, was delighted with the result, which now gives his side the belief that it can tackle next week's cup tie with full force. 

“The three points i thought were well deserved today. it gives me confidence going into the FFA Cup on tuesday... We had fourteen warriors out there today. They were superb," Anastasiadis said.

“[The FFA Cup] is massive. We saw the elation from South Springvale winning, and you watch the morning programs on TV and you see the FFA Cup. You never see that on Sunrise or the Today Show so it is a big thing for us, we could be on Foxtel!"

Meanwhile, South Melbourne coach Chris Taylor lamented some missed opportunities.

“I thought we had four or five good chances in the first twenty minutes and then we made a pretty poor error at the back.. and that’s really cost us the game," Taylor said.

“Oakleigh will take it to the wire now.. we just have to win every game. Just as much pressure is on them as much as us.”

MATCH DETAILS

Bentleigh Greens 2 (Stirton 33’ Cumming 51’) defeated South Melbourne 1 (Holmes 93’) at Kingston Heath Soccer Complex. [HT 1-0] 

Bentleigh Greens: 21. Alistair BRAY (GK), 2. Tom MATTHEWS, 3. James CUMMING, 5. Jack WEBSTER, 8. Wayne WALLACE (C), 10. David STIRTON, 12. Luke GALLO (22. Lewis FOSTER 79′), 14. Ryan DE VRIES, 15. Christian CARVALLO, 16. Nicholas TEICHMAN (23. Christopher DROUTSAS 85’)19. Liam McCORMICK (4. Patrick AVICE 67′).

Unused subs: 1. Lajos Hun

Yellow cards: Stirton, Matthews

South Melbourne: 1. Jason SALDARIS (GK), 2. Tim MALA, 4. Michael EAGAR (C), 7. Nick EPIFANO (18. Dion KIRK 76′), 8. Mathew THEODORE (25. Shaun TIMMINS 65′), 9. Milos LUJIC, 10. Tyson HOLMES, 11. Brad NORTON, 14. James MUSA, 27. Leigh MINOPOULOS (17. Jamie REED 65′), 77. Stephen HATZIKOSTAS.

Unused: 21. Chris MAYNARD, 4 Andrew MULLET.

Yellow cards: none