By Marc Sudholz (@marc014)

Richmond and Moreland Zebras played out an entertaining 1-1 draw at Kevin Bartlett Reserve on Friday night.

Both teams were looking to bounce back after defeats to Whittlesea and St Albans respectively, but neither could find the killer blow, as Nick Symeoy’s first-half header was cancelled out by Tom Cahill’s effort early in the second half.

Richmond needed to win to boosts its slim promotion hopes, while Moreland sat one spot below the home side on the NPL 1 table.

The hosts started off the game the brighter of the two sides, with Moreland looking to hit on the counter attack.

Cahill went close midway through the half, with a snapshot from just outside the box going just wide of Nikola Kostandinovski’s goal.

Richmond continued its early dominance, but inspirational keeping from Kostandinovski kept the game level, with a stunning left-footed volley by Liam Flynn from a corner going in if not for the Moreland keeper’s excellent reflexes.

Minutes later, Joel Nikolic had the ball in the back of the net for Moreland, but his effort was ruled out for offside.

With 10 minutes left in the half, Moreland took the lead. Scott Robson’s free kick was delivered perfectly onto the head of the unmarked Nick Symeoy, who put it past Christian Ricci in Richmond’s goal to give the visitors the lead.

Towards the end of the half, Richmond had two good chances to equalise.

Knight put his shot from range over the bar, before Cahill was denied by another brilliant reflex save from Kostandinovski, which saw the Zebras lead at half-time.

Five minutes into the second half, the game was level.

An in-swinging corner from Flynn was met by Cahill’s head for Richmond which went in off the post, giving Kostandinovski no chance.

Eight minutes after drawing level, Tim Purcell’s audacious long-range lob was kept out by Kostandinovski.

With 20 minutes to go, some quick reflexes from Rossi denied Robson for Moreland.

With three minutes left, Nikolic saw a header denied by the post with Ricci beaten.

It was anybody’s game, and both teams nearly won it at the death.

Nikolic’s snapshot was brilliantly kept out by Ricci.

Richmond then hit on the counter, Armenian taking it from his own half with an amazing run into the box.

Richmond had claims for a penalty as he appeared to be held back, but the referee waved the claims away.

Moreland coach Danny Gnjidic was content with the result.

“We’ve probably played better in the last two weeks and been beaten,” Gnjidic said.

“We take a point, we lost two in a row, and that stops that run which we obviously wanted to.”

Richmond coach Rick Mensink was disappointed not to get the victory.

“In the overall sense I thought we were the better football team,” Mensink said.

Mensink was angry that no penalty was awarded at the end of the game.

“[Hamlet] Armenian was in on goal, got a tug on the shirt towards the end there, could have been a penalty, maybe even a card,” he said.

“I thought we definitely deserved to win the football match.”

MATCH DETAILS

Richmond 1 (Cahill 50') drew Moreland Zebras 1 (N. Symeoy 35') at Kevin Bartlett Reserve [HT: 0-1]

Richmond: 1. CHRISTIAN RICCI, 2. ANDREW GOPP, 11. LIAM FLYNN, 5. RYLAN SADLER, 4. MITCHELL BISSINGER, 8. JOSHUA KNIGHT (6. VINCENT BONTEMPS 79), 10. TIM PURCELL (3. PETER SAWAN 60), 18. DANIEL MILBORROW 12. RYAN OPPERMANN (16. GIDEON SWEET 63’), 7. HAMLET ARMENIAN 9. TOM CAHILL.

Unused subs: 20. EDWARD CHADWICK, 15. SAM SHEPPARD

Yellow cards: ARMENIAN 72’, FLYNN 80’

Red cards: None

Moreland Zebras: 21: NIKOLA KOSTADINOVSKI, 18. ADAM CENTOFANTI (12. JOSH MCMONAGLE-IHASZ 58’), 16. MILE MEDJEDOVIC, 3. JOHNNY CRIVELLI, 2. SIMON SYMEOY, 5. NICK SYMEOY, 9. JOEL NIKOLIC, 7. SCOTT ROBSON, 19. BRAD MURRAY, 14. JAMES PAPADIMITRIOU, 8. DANIEL SWEENEY (17. JACK TURNER 72’).

Unused subs: 1: FRANCESCO GRECO, 15. NICHOLAS KALAMBOKIS , 10. DANILLO BONILLO-OSPINA

Yellow cards: SWEENEY 49’, NIKOLIC 80’

Red cards: None