By Tonci Prusac (@tonciprusac)

North Geelong had to endure a tense final 20 minutes before overcoming a dogged Sunshine George Cross outfit to run out 2-1 winners in a nail-bitter at Elcho Park in Geelong on Saturday afternoon.

In the end, a goalkeeping error was the only difference between the two sides, as Michael Grgic and Mark Paleka scored either side of the break for the winners, while Sunshine’s Tom Reilly scored a consolation goal midway through the second half.

North coach Micky Colina made one change to the team that beat Bendigo away last weekend, replacing Matt Townley with Michael Grgic, in his quest to extend his unbeaten run to nine matches since taking over the reins at Elcho Park.

The Warriors could also smell revenge in their collective nostrils, as the team from Melbourne’s western suburbs had defeated them 4-3 in a high scoring affair at Chaplin Reserve, way back in Round 7.

Sunshine started the better of the two outfits, realising its first shot on target in the 3rd minute. 

Kojo Brown's effort from 20 metres out, however, was aimed directly at North Geelong 'keeper, Daniel Zilic.

It was a tame opening 20 minutes, with many turnovers from both sides.

In the 19th minute, the home side had its first genuine shot at goal, but Vito Cichello's highly speculative effort from a fair distance out was well off target.

The Warriors didn't have to wait long, thereafter, to register the opening goal of the game.

In the 28th minute, Robert Zadworny floated in an inch-perfect corner kick to find defender Michael Grgic rise above the pack and head in the opener.

Despite a few half-hearted attempts from both sides, the scoreline didn't change as the teams retreated to the sheds at the half time whistle.

Disappointed with his team’s flat opening 45 minutes, North coach Colina made a substitution at the half time break in an effort to inject some enthusiasm into his charges. 

On came attacker Michael Anderson for promising young teenager, Nikola Jurkovic, who had a fairly solid first half partnering Juso Julardzija up front for the Warriors.

The move paid off as North doubled its lead on 55 minutes, through a scintillating Paleka thunderbolt that screamed into the top right hand corner of the goal from 20 metres out.

Shortly afterwards, Sunshine coach Tony Ciantar brought on another attacker, Bozidar Lojanica for Brandon Zaffina.

The move almost reaped immediate dividends as Lojanica turned at the top of the box and shot from a slight angle, only to see his effort hit the near side netting.

In the 70th minute, however, Sunshine did pull one back in almost identical fashion to North’s opener in the first half. 

Although not a corner, a free kick was whipped in to the goalmouth, where rangy defender Tom Reilly was on hand to rise above the pack and nod the ball in to give his troops a glimmer of hope.

What ensued was a sustained period of end to end football and a tense 25 minutes before referee Bruno D’Aniello finally blew his whistle to signal the end of proceedings and a resulting collective sigh of relief from the home fans.

After the match, North Geelong coach, Mick Colina, wasn’t exactly a happy man, but a relieved man nonetheless.

“It was a tough day at the office. Today we did just enough to get over the line,” Colina said.

“It was just one of those days. We started off very flat and continued in pretty much the same vein throughout. Full credit to George Cross, they battled hard.

“I should be happy with the three points and I guess I am, but if we are going to be fair dinkum promotion candidates, like everyone is saying around here, we need to seriously pick our game up.”

His Sunshine counterpart, Tony Ciantar, on the other hand, was very pleased with his boys’ efforts.

“It was an absolutely sensational performance today, to come back from our drubbing at the hands of Richmond last week,” Ciantar said.

“I asked for a reaction from them, and today they provided it.

“In the end, the only difference between the two teams out there today, was a defensive error, a goalkeeping mistake. The 17-year-old lad (Tuna) is still learning his trade and we needed to give him more cover, which we didn’t and in the end it cost us.

“But, all in all, a fantastic effort from the boys today, I’m very happy with their application out there today.”

North is faced with the assignment of the season, so far, when the Warriors take on runaway league leaders Avondale Heights in Melbourne next Saturday. 

The Warriors cannot afford anything less than a victory to stay clear in second spot. 

Sunshine, meanwhile, are at home to in form Dandenong City at Chaplin Reserve, also on Saturday.

Match Report:

North Geelong 2 (Grgic 28’, Paleka 55’) defeated Sunshine George Cross (Reilly 70’) at Elcho Park, Geelong (HT: 1-1) 

North Geelong: 1 Daniel ZILIC, 2 Darren LEWIS, 16 Michael GRGIC, 6 Stipe TRBUHOVIC, 8 Vito CICHELLO, 4 Nikola JURKOVIC (9 Michael ANDERSON 46’), 10 Rob ZADWORNY, 99 Nathan LONG, 7 Reardo LUKA, 14 Mark PALEKA, 77 Juso JULARDZIJA (19 Matija DRAGOVIC 75’).

Unused subs: 21 Anthony BANOVAC, 35 Michael RADOJEVIC.

Yellow cards: CICHELLO 60’.

Red cards: None 

Sunshine George Cross: 21 Nabi TUNA, 17 Jacob ATTARD, 2 Eddie CETKIN, 5 Christopher DIB, 12 Matthew OGHANNA, 4 Tom REILLY, 6 Damien RASTOCIC, 7 Brandon ZAFFINA (9 Bozidar LOJANICA 57’, 8 Chris OGHANNA (15 Justin CUTAJAR 81’), 14 Anthony CASSAR, 13 Kojo BROWN.

Unused subs: 1 Anthony MURANA,18 James XYDIAS, 3 Jason DOMAZETOVSKI.

Yellow cards: C. OGHANNA 42’. 

Red cards: None