By Michael Pollock, Ballarat Courier (@sportcourier)

BALLARAT Red Devils have secured their first win of the NPL 1 season with an emphatic performance over rival Bendigo City.

The Reds finally found their groove to run out 4-1 victors in the regional derby at Morshead Park on Friday night.

It was a welcome result for the Reds’ faithful, who watched their club fail to find the back of the net over the first three rounds of the season.

Ballarat broke its curse early, with Daniel Firth putting the home side 1-0 up inside the first three minutes.

Simon Murphy seemingly scored the Reds' second at the 20-minute mark, only to be thwarted by a questionable offside call.

But it didn’t take Murphy long to bounce back, as he found the back of the net minutes later when he slotted the ball past Bendigo's Italian keeper Gianmarco D'Oria from a tight angle.

Michael Trigger came through for a late tap-in to make absolutely sure of the result, with both Red Devils laying claims to the goal.

The Red Devils took a 2-0 advantage into the break after a dominant first half, only for Bendigo to wrest back momentum with a goal of its own in the opening moments.

Liam Harding was subbed on for captain Shaun Romein at the 58-minute mark, while  Callum Ferguson made way for Daniel Tinker several minutes later.

Dom Swinton, who was clearly best-afield after the opening half, was subbed off for Pat Karras at the 70-minute mark as the visitors began to take advantage of the Red Devils personnel changes.

Bendigo peppered the goals midway through the half, but was unable to generate any real opportunities against the disciplined Reds defence.

Trigger and Nelson Salvatore combined to restore Ballarat's buffer, with the latter finding the back of an open net after getting on the end of Trigger's clever cross.

Harding sent a powerful strike inches over the crossbar moments later, before Murphy broke through again from a Salvatore pass at the 77-minute mark.

Ballarat's next match is at home against Melbourne Victory on Saturday, March 28.

 

Match Details

Ballarat Red Devils 4 (Firth 3’, Murphy 24’, 78’, Salvatore 75’) defeated Bendigo City FC 1 (Slevin 50’)

BRD: 1. Aaron ROMEIN, 28. Callum FERGUSON, 21. Charles KING, 13. Scott LAMONT, 14. Daniel FIRTH, 8. Josh ROMEIN, 17. Shaun ROMEIN, 10. Michael TRIGGER, 11. Nelson SALVATORE, 31. Simon MURPHY, 15. Dom SWINTON

Subs: 6. Liam HARDING, 22. Pat KARRAS, 35. Jake FRANCIS, 23. Daniel TINKER, 40. Jason HILL

BFC: 1. Gianmarco D’ORIA, 2. Riley DILLON, 3. Jordan SEETO, 4. Daniel REES, 5. Rylan SADLER, 6. Jason SHADE, 8. Karl SLEVIN, 9. George SLEFENDORFAS, 10. Greg THOMAS, 11. Corey SLEVIN, 18. Daniel PURDY

Subs: 15. Godwill BASHA, 7. George McHEILEH, 20. Finn HUZZEY, 22. Stares GILARDI