By Eva Worden

FC Bendigo has clinched its second win over Kingston City FC this season with a 3-1 victory at Epsom Huntly Reserve on Saturday night.

Alon Blumgart starred with a brace, while Josh Romein also found his name on the scoresheet, with Kingston City finding a late consolation via Max Etheridge.

The first few minutes of the game proved difficult for both teams as possession of the ball continually shifted and the dominant team was yet to be established.

The hosts flicked the ball between Matthew Breeze, Viktor Rodriguez and Daniel Purdy until Blumgart finished off the chain with the opening goal at 14 minutes.

Etheridge and John Maclean both came close to scoring for Kingston in the first half, but they were out of the luck as their strikes flew wide.

The visitors missed all but one opportunity to redeem themselves in the second half and Bendigo only went from strength to strength.

The medics were called early in the second half for Tasos Agapitos, who clashed with Rodriguez as both attempted to gain possession of the ball, but both players were able to continue.

Both sides enjoyed a share of the possession in the early parts of the second half, until Blumgart scored his second in the 57th minute with a brilliant volley.

Maclean desperately tried to reduce the margin, but his half-volley sailed over the bar.

Bendigo scored its third in the 78th minute, with Breeze’s corner finding Romein, who leapt high to spectacularly head in.

Not long after the third goal, Martin injured his collarbone after falling and landing on his forearm, and was subbed off for Finn Huzzey.

Kingston found its consolation in the 88th minute, with a free kick from Etheridge finding the back of the net.

FC Bendigo coach Steve Martin was happy with his side’s second consecutive win.

“It was a game of two halves. We were up 1-0 in the first half but I wasn’t so happy with how we were playing. We were going outside some of our team structures in regards to not moving the ball quick enough and ill-discipline,” Martin said.

“The second half was a lot better in regards to sticking to our team tasks of keeping it simple, keeping the ball moving and that showed - it was 3-0 up. Something we have been reinforcing to the boys is to stick to the basics and you get the results.”

Losing coach Nick Tolios was disappointed with his team’s effort.

“It was disappointing from our end. We had a lot of players put their head down and experienced boys you would think would step up and try to get some of the younger players up went missing,” Tolios said.

“There are two more games and hopefully we can finish up a lot stronger than we did today. It’s disappointing coming all this way and to not get a result, but credit to Bendigo - they kept fighting.”

Next week FC Bendigo takes on Brunswick City SC, while Kingston City comes up against Sunshine George Cross.

MATCH DETAILS

FC Bendigo 3 (Alon Blumgart 14’ 57’, Josh Romein 78’) defeated Kingston City 1 (Etheridge 88’) at Epsom Huntly Reserve [HT: 1-0]

FC Bendigo: 1. Sebastian MATTEI (GK), 2. Tom SHAPERS (85’), 3. Ben SHAPERS 4. Aaron COHEN 5. Josh ROMEIN, 6. Alon BLUMGART, 7. Trent WATERSON 8. Viktor RODRIGUEZ, 10. Matthew BREEZE 11. Josh DWYER (77’), 13. Finn HUZZEY (83’), 16. Steve MARTIN, 17. Jonathan RYAN, 18. Daniel PURDY

Unused subs: 22. Christopher XERRI, 32. Godwill BASHA

Yellow cards: Viktor Rodriguez (47’)

Red cards: None

Kingston City: 4. James KARVELIS, 5. Kemal CURAN, 6. Nicholas MODAFFARI, 7. Velibor MITROVIC (61’), 9 Maximillian ETHERIDGE, 10. John MACLEAN, 11. George STAVRIDIS, 12. Stelios KONSTANTINIDIS, 13. Nicholaus WOOLWARD, 14. Arthur PAPADOPOULOS, 15. Gino DEFEO (66’), 16. Nicholas STAMATIOU (70’) 18. Tasos AGAPITOS, 19. Andrew DOIG

Unused sub: 2. Peter LORD

Yellow cards: None

Red cards: None