By Chris Hearn (@_ChrisHearn)

Whittlesea Ranges earned its first win of the NPL1 West season, upsetting Bulleen Lions 2-0 at Epping Stadium.


Giosue Tolomeo's first league goal was followed by former Bulleen player Daniel Peluso's late clincher after a period of opposition supremacy.

The young Ranges outfit started stronger, and should have gone ahead in the 8th minute. Matthew Cundari's well-timed run saw the striker played through by Mario Pirania, but skied his effort.

Sami Nour was rewarded for his last-gasp equaliser at Moreland in Round 4 with a starting spot, and combined well in the early exchanges with Cundari and Peluso.

Bulleen remained resolute as Ranges pushed for the opening goal, but were caught napping on 40 minutes by Tolomeo.

The winger latched onto Cundari's arrowed through-pass which caught Andrew Mullett napping, and dispatched comfortably past Bulleen goalkeeper Luke Gallo.

Bulleen started the second half with greater purpose, pinning the Ranges defence back to the edge of its 18-yard line. This increase in tempo committed extra numbers forward, playing into the hands of Vinko Buljubasic's pacy attackers.

Peluso found Tolomeo on the wing, before cutting inside to force a save from Gallo which should have acted as a warning.

The visitors fought back, as Bardhi Hysoli played a well-weighted pass through to forward Takanori Nishimoto, but after taking his touch wide, the powerful shot never troubled Gian Tapia's goal.

As the game entered the final 15 minutes, the hosts visibly tired, but most importantly still had a one-goal lead to protect.

Bulleen made three attacking switches, bringing on Gianni De Nittis, Dylan Bresolin and Anton Nardella but failed to create a clear-cut opportunity.

As the visitors continued piling men forward, Peluso capitalised.

He tapped home from substitute Ridvan Saglam's cutback to ensure the points were safe after Matthew Iuliano's smart pass to begin the move.

Bulleen travel to face Richmond next Friday while Ranges will look to continue its marked improvement against Kingston City at Epping Stadium on Saturday..

 

MATCH DETAILS

Whittlesea Ranges 2 (Tolomeo 40', Peluso 88') defeated Bulleen Lions 0 at Epping Stadium (HT 1-0)

Whittlesea Ranges: 1. Gian TAPIA (GK), 3. Mohamed MOHAMED (2. Pavle DURKIC 90), 4. Mario PIRANIA, 6. Andrew TAYLOR, 7. Matthew CUNDARI, 20. Tobias HAEGELE, 9. Daniel PELUSO, 11. Sami NOUR (16. Ridvan SAGLAM 71'), 23. Giosue TOLOMEO (10. Matthew IULIANO 82'), 17. Stefan BARICEVIC, 19. Adem MUSTADANGIC

Unused substitutes: 14. Rami MUSTAFOSKI, 27. Jarrod HILL,

Yellow card(s): 6. Andrew TAYLOR 89'

Red card(s): None

FC Bulleen Lions:, 21. Luke GALLO (GK), 3. Will ABBOTT, 4. Samual BORGHESI, 6. Bardhi HYSOLI, 8. Matteo BALLAN, 9. Sayed REZA HUSSAINI (11. Gianni DE NITTIS 80'), 10. Takanori NISHIMOTO (17. Anton NARDELLA 85'), 12. Eli LUTTMER, 13. Dean LORENZI (31. Dylan BRESOLIN 65'), 18. Felix ROSMAN, 22. Andrew MULLETT

 

Unused substitutes: 1. Matt BANOVIC, 5. Lewis WADDELL

Yellow card(s): 22. Andrew MULLETT 14', 9. Sayed REZA HUSSAINI 67', 3. Will ABBOTT 81'

Red card(s): None