By Eva Worden

FC Bendigo dealt FC Bulleen Lions’ promotion hopes a blow with a 2-0 victory at Epsom Huntly Reserve on Saturday on Saturday night.

First-half goals to Josh Romein and Alon Blumgart sealed the points for the home side, leaving Bulleen five points from the top two and a spot in the NPL next season.

Both sides opened the first half aggressively with Bendigo’s Daniel Purdy hurling towards the goal in the opening minutes only to be stopped by Dylan Baresolin.

Bendigo’s first goal came in the 10th minute after a corner from Viktor Rodriguez found Trent Waterson, who set up Josh Romein for a header.

Bulleen had several attempts on goal, including league leading goalscorer Joseph Katebian’s free kick which sailed over the goal midway in the first period.

Bendigo doubled its lead in the 34th minute when Blumgart finished off a chain of passes with a long-range strike.

At half-time the match had been decided, as Bulleen failed to muster a comeback in the second half.

Both ‘keepers displayed excellent skills within the same minute when Bendigo’s Daniel Purdy shot at goal, only for Matt Banovic to keep it out.

Just 30 seconds later, Bulleen’s Gianni De Nittis tested Sebastian Mattei with a shot on target, but the ever reliable Bendigo shot stopper was alert to the danger.

The medics were called onto the pitch in the 78th minute for Matt Banovic, who had to be taken off for Bulleen substitute ‘keeper Gian Tapia.

The Lions almost gave their goal difference a boost just a minute before full time, with Matteo Ballan smashing his effort into the post.

Bendigo coach Steve Martin said he was pleased with the efforts of his players considering it was their third game in three days.

“We were quite solid at the back, we had some younger, more inexperienced players in today which was really pleasing to show how they can play their role within the team to get the result,” Martin said.

“Overall it has been a work in progress and slowly but surely we are starting to understand each other’s roles and play for that 90 minutes.”

Bulleen coach Fabrizio Soncin was disappointed with the slow start.

“We arrived in the game 45 minutes too late,” Soncin said.

“Poor decisions were made and they (Bendigo) looked hungrier, not that we didn’t want to win the game, just tactically they (Bendigo) got it right and we didn’t respond correctly in the first half.”

Next week Bendigo takes on Kingston City FC, while Bulleen will host Sunshine George Cross.

MATCH DETAILS

FC Bendigo 2 (Romein 10’, Blumgart 34’) defeated FC Bulleen Lions at Epsom Huntly Reserve [HT: 2-0]

FC Bendigo: 1. Sebastian MATTEI (GK), 5. Josh ROMEIN, 6. Alon BLUMGART, 7. Trent WATERSON 8. Viktor RODRIGUEZ, 11. Josh DWYER, 13. Finn HUZZEY, 14. Ryan DAVIDSON, 16. Steve MARTIN, 17. Jonathan RYAN, 18. Daniel PURDY

Subs: 12. Eh Soo SHE, 15. Sam SCOBIE, 22. Christopher XERRI, 2. Tom SHAPER, 19. Goodwill BASHER

Yellow cards: DAVIDSON 85

Red cards: None

FC Bulleen Lions: 1. Matt BANOVIC (GK), 2. Dean ROMAS, 6. Alexander DAO, 8. Matteo BALLAN, 9. Bardhi HYSOLLI, 10. Takanori NISHIMOTO, 11. Gianni DE NITTIS, 12. Matthew DIMECH, 14. Edison PONARI, 21. Joseph KATEBIAN, 31. Dylan BRESOLIN

Subs: 23. Billy ROMAS, 41. Gian TAPIA, 4. Samuel BORGHESI, 13. Dean LORENZI

Yellow cards: None

Red cards: None