By Lucas Pavlidis (@LucasPavlidis)

Avondale Heights has missed out on the chance to secure promotion with three rounds remaining, after it was held to a scoreless draw with Box Hill United at Wembley Park on Saturday afternoon.

It might have been a matter of the occasion getting to the visitors, but chances fell few and far between for both sides as league leader Avondale pushed to ensure promotion before season’s end.

Box Hill began the match with great intent, with its first chance coming within the opening five minutes of play.

Kenjok Athiu did well to round his defender inside the box and squared the ball for the oncoming Rinor Muriqi, who couldn’t find the final finish.

Box Hill continued to push after catching Avondale on the back foot with its explosive opening. Two great balls into the head of Athiu amounted to nothing, with the physical striker causing early problems for the travelling side.

Avondale’s Jason Principato came the closest to converting in the first half when played through on goal after springing Box Hill’s offside trap. Alex Connel, who replaced the suspended Alex Pavlidis in goal, dramatically saved the midfielder’s half volley.

Box Hill immediately countered after the save through a surging run from Muriqi.

The midfielder failed to make an impact after his first attempt on goal and struggled again after being unable to get the ball under his feet and set up the oncoming Athiu, who could have been through on goal.

The half-time break couldn’t come quicker for anxious supporters, who occupied the main stand with very little spaces left.

Andrew Le Page nearly brought the house down with his stunning effort from distance, but Connel was again on hand to save the strike.

Box Hill captain Nick Kokolakis then tried his luck on goal, but leaned back at the vital moment to scuff the shot.

Le Page was proving to be Avondale’s go-to man - as he has been throughout the season - and could have opened the scoring if not for his shot over the bar.

George Howard then should have given the home side the lead from six yards out.

He was found well by Muriqi and where it looked easier to score than miss, the latter was the result - a side-footed effort from the Melbourne Victory trialist would have given his side the advantage.

The final moments of the match were scrappy from both sides. The chances fell and were squandered by players who on their day would have made the difference.

Veteran Avondale defender Anthony Fallone commented on his side’s rise to prove the nay-sayers wrong season after season.

“The boys have been focused since Round 1. We’ve picked up a point here against Box Hill and maybe next week against Springvale we’ll get the three points and wrap it (promotion and possibly the NPL 1 title) up there,” Fallone said.

“I’ve been here for three years and every year they (nay-sayers) put us down. I think the bunch of boys we have, they stick together. We know how we play and we play for each other.”

Box Hill manager Arthur Georgiou’s viewed mirrored those of the fans, in that the match did not live up to its lively expectations.

“It was lackluster. I don’t think either side took the ascendancy. It was cagey from Avondale at times,” Georgiou said.

Box Hill rotated the midfield to alter the direction of the game, but Georgiou was unhappy with the second-half performance.

“The second half was scrappy. It was end-to-end errors from both sides. The first 10 minutes we had three balls into the six-yard box which were fantastic patterns of play, which we worked on at training. We thought that would set the tone, but it just became a scrap,” he said.  

MATCH DETAILS

Box Hill United 0 drew with Avondale Heights 0 at Wembley Park

Box Hill United: 1. Alex CONNEL (GK), 29. George HOWARD (5. Alex SCHROEN 80’), 23. Josh VALADON, 22. Nick KOKOLAKIS, 14. Kenjok ATHIU, 12. Adrian DEL MONACO, 11. Matt WATERS, 10 (26. Aaron PORCARO 61’). Rinor MURIQI (8. Amjad MARIEH 76’), 7. Damien PETERS, 4. Chris IRWIN, 3. Matt COLLIER

Unused subs: 21. Christian PAVLIDIS, 20. Jarrod DEL MONACO

Yellow cards: None    

Red cards: None

Avondale Heights: 1. Anthony SARIC (GK), 6. Anthony STRANO, 7. Andrew LE PAGE, 8. Bosin GEORGEVSKI (3. Fabian GUGLIANDOLO 55’), 11. Arturo YMERI, 14. Daniel SLOVACEK (27. Christopher GALEA 68’), 15. Zoran PAJIC, 19. Jason PRINCIPATO (5. Andrew SACHETTA 83’), 24. Resit CULCULOGLU, 31. Michele CRAZIA, 90. Anthony FALLONE

Unused subs: 21. Ben SGRO

Yellow cards: Principato 43’ Culculoglu 70’

Red cards: None

Image credit: Mark Avellino