By Andrew Bishara (@_andrewbishara)

 

A Gareth Richards strike was enough to see Moreland City claim a 1-0 win over Box Hill United at Campbell Reserve on Saturday afternoon.

After a dour first half, the striker struck early in the second period and lead the way as the hosts held on for its second win of the NPL 1 season.

It was an uneventful first period as the game was bogged down in the centre of the pitch.

Both sides struggled to assert their game plan and create anything positive in the final third.

United's best chances fell to Stanislav Goldberg, who first saw his curling effort balloon over the goals, then saw his tame free-kick collected by City goalkeeper Brandon Galgano.

As for City, Richard Thomas had its best opportunity when on the stroke on half time he collected the ball from a defensive mix-up.

He raced through on goal, but saw his denied by a diving United goalkeeper in Alex Connell.

Moreland kicked off the second half with an added intensity as it pushed high up the pitch and denied United to chance to build up any possession.

It had the ball in the back of the net minutes later, when Thomas again broke through the United line to go one-on-one with Connell.

But the two collided and even though Thomas knocked in the rebound, the goal was chalked off for a foul as Connell was severely hit.

The breakthrough finally came when Corey Thomas pulled the ball back to Mo Korucu who found himself alone with Connell after beating the offside trap.

The midfielder rounded the goalkeeper before squaring the ball back to Richards, who tapped the ball into the open net to give his side the lead.

Richards could have killed the game off minutes from time when Kam Simsul put the striker through, one-on-one with Connell.

But the goalkeeper pulled off a magnificent one-handed save to keep United in the game.

Trying as hard as they could United could not keep up with City's intensity as it held on for a valuable three points.

 

Match details

MORELAND CITY 1 (Gareth Richards 56’) defeated BOX HILL UNITED 0 at CB Smith Reserve, Fawkner

Moreland City: 1. Brandon GALGANO (GK), 21. Nodj SAHIN, 18. Orrie KARA, 6. Julien DOS SANTOS,2. Yang TOU-YENG, 12. Shane CARR, 23. Mo KURRUCU (11. Kam SIMSEK 77’)7. Osman KOSE (17. Liam BRIAN 91’), 8. Corey THOMAS, 14. Casey THOMAS (20. Rob BAZZANO 64’), 9. Gareth RICHARDS

Unused Subs: 5. Ossie KARA, 16. Nathan GOURZELAS

Yellow Cards: TOU-YENG 14’, CARR 43’, SIMSEK 90’

Red Cards: Nil.

Box Hill United: 1. Alex CONNELL (GK), 2. Nikola SURDOSKI, 5. Alex SCHROEN, 25. Michael GODFREY, 18. Joey CALDERONE, 24. Shaun PETERSON (21. Travis CHALK-HATTON 71’), 23. Stanislav Goldberg (15. Jerome COSTANZA 82’), 11. Sebastian BARRERO, 14. Lucas JOHNS, 8. Caleb LUDLOW, 7. Patrick THIAKANE (10. Franc CARAFA 17’)

Unused Subs: 35. Taylor DAVIDSON, 19. Christian LAR

Yellow Cards: Nil.

Red Cards: Nil.