By Jordan Lim (@jordanlim24)

A 10-man Green Gully has earned a late reward for its resilient showing against the more fancied Bentleigh Greens with a 1-1 draw at Kingston Heath on Friday night.

For the hosts, a win – and a return to the summit of the NPL - looked a foregone conclusion after Matt Thurtell’s sixth goal of the season, coupled with a red card to Green Gully's Aaron Cohen, saw the visitors in a precarious position heading into the break.

But it was a courageous second-half display from Green Gully, making the most of its opportunities, and nabbing an equaliser in 87th minute through Daniel Jones.

Thurtell proved a bright spark early, as he looked to add to his goal a game tally.

He had the first of his opportunities in the 10^th minute, collecting a Chris Lucas cross inside the box, before firing a tame shot at Rani Dowisha.

The former South Springvale keeper was then forced into a sharp save by Jamie De Abreu on his near post, but the winger was adjudged offside as Thurtell released him early.

His next save was more meaningful as he denied Wayne Wallace from the edge of the box, but he was left little chance on the half-hour mark as Thurtell got on the end of a Tyson Holmes cross.

The in-form Bentleigh pair combined for a well-worked team goal; Thurtell’s diving header cannoning off the post on its way in from Holmes’ low cross from the right wing.

Gully midfielder Nikola Markovski looked for an immediate response, and having seen a tame long range effort safely claimed by Al Bray earlier in the match, his next effort proved a much bigger task for the keeper, who clawed away at his near post to keep the pile driver out.

Perhaps too keen to leave his mark on the contest, Aaron Cohen departed the pitch on 38 minutes after a two-footed lunge on Troy Ruthven resulted in a straight red and an early shower.

With it all to do in the second half, Gully used the scenario to make another massive statement in the 2015 NPL season, as it matched Bentleigh in the second half.

Dion Kirk drifted forward from right-back to fizz one past the post before substitute Kobbie Boahene saw a clean strike blocked by Daniel Jones in the heart of defence.

But that was it in the way of half-chances, as both Gully and Bentleigh found themselves creating – and then wasting – golden opportunities.

The visitors were first, as club stalwart Matt Sanders connected poorly with a half volley at the far post, despite little pressure.                                                        

With 15 minutes remaining, a clear Thurtell unselfishly squared up to the central De Abreu, who threw the gift away by sliding his shot wide from a yard out.

That proved to be a major turning point, as a visibly perked Gully outfit launched forward in their search of an equaliser.

It came late into the piece through Jones, who left a stagnant wall and a planted Bray both bewildered as his curling effort flew into the net unopposed from a 20-yard free-kick.

Bentleigh was once again undone in the second half, while Gully proved it's hardly a spent force in the league with another promising performance, to leave both sides nestled in the top four.

 

MATCH DETAILS

Bentleigh Greens 1 (Thurtell 30’) drew with Green Gully 1(Jones 87’) at Kingston Heath Soccer Complex

Bentleigh Greens: 21. Alistair BRAY, 11. Dion KIRK, 5. Jack WEBSTER, 36. Steven TOPALOVIC, 24. Luke PILKINGTON, 4. Troy RUTHVEN, 7. Jamie DE ABREU, 8. Wayne WALLACE (6. Liam MCCORMICK 63’),  18. Matt THURTELL, 9. Chris LUCAS (15. Kobbie BOAHENE 60’), 10. Tyson HOLMES

Unused Substitute(s): 1. Ryan SCOTT, 2. Tom MATTHEWS, 19. Daniel VISEVIC

Yellow Card(s): Wallace 4’, Pilkington 90’

Red Card(s): Nil

Green Gully: 23. Rani DOWISHA, 3. Aaron COHEN, 4. Daniel JONES, 5. Rodrigo VARGAS, 6. Jem BERKANT (2. Matthew REID 46’), 7.Liam SCOTT, 9. Nikola MARKOVSKI, 10. Rinor MURIQI (15. Muhammed UZUMCU 82’), 12. Matthew SANDERS (16. Nathan FOX 82’), 14. Amadu KOROMA, 17. Alon BLUMGART

 

Unused Substitute(s): 1. Kieran GONZALEZ, 18. Anthony MARAFIOTI

Yellow Card(s): Scott 60’, Reid 68’, Markovski 90

Red Card(s): Cohen 38’