By Matt McNamara

A Sean McIlroy brace has helped Kingston City defeat previously unbeaten Goulburn Valley Suns 2-1 on Saturday evening at The Grange Reserve.

The Scotsman scored early in the first half, before getting his second after the break whilst Sean Ellis scored a late consolation goal for the visitors.

Kinsgston was had the advantage early when a mixup between Nick Kalafatis and Phil Petrovski saw McIlroy poke the ball into an empty net.

The visitors were struggling for any real fluency, and had limited opportunities in the opening half.

After the break, McIlroy doubled Kingston City’s advantage on the hour mark, neatly turning his maker and beating an outstretched Petrovski to extend the lead.

Kingston could have been further ahead if it not for the heroics of Petrovski; Benajmin Osei-Safo had his point blank effort saved by the former Melbourne Victory keeper.

The Suns were almost allowed back into the game when Sean Ellis was given time and space in the middle of the park and his driving effort was sublimely saved by Fraser Maclaren, who just managed to fingertip the strike around the bar.

The visitors continued to press late on, Adam Scott guilty of striking two great set piece chances over the bar.

But the visitors’ hopes were revived late on when Ellis hit an absolute screamer that beat Maclaren.  Ellis again found space and hit a rocket which sailed directly into the top corner.

The match ended in dramatic circumstances when the Suns players were adamant that Laurent Coralie had handled in the area but the referee waved away the late penalty claims.

Kingston Striker Sean McIlroy was delighted with his recent scoring run.

“Whenever you’re scoring goals it’s a great feeling.” McIlroy said.

“The priority is getting points but if I can score along the way then that’s a bonus.”

Kingston City travel to Brunswick City next week, while Goulburn Valley take on fellow regional side Ballarat Red Devils.

 

Match Details:

Kingston City 2 (McIlroy 25’,60’) defeated Goulburn Valley Suns 1 (Ellis 84’) at The Grange Reserve 

Kingston City: 1. Fraser MacLaren, 3. Kemal Curan, 4. James Karvelis, 5. Nicholas Teichman, 6. Nicholas Modaffati, 16. Nicholas Stamatiou, 9. McIlroy, 7. Benjamin Osei-Safo (8. Deniz Sabanovski 78’), 11. Stelios Konstandtinidis, 14. Damian Iaconis (2. George Stavridis 85’), 19. Andrew Doig (17. Laurent Coralie 69’)

Unused Subs: 13. Douglas Lindberg, 18. Gino Defoe

Yellow Cards: Curan 52’, Stavridis 63’, Iaconis 84’, Maclaren 92’

Goulburn Valley Suns: 1. Philip Petrovski, 5. Jordan Montagner (4. Naum Sekulovski 46’), 6. Nikolaos Kalafatis, 16. Matthew Lelliot, 3. Greg Nash, 8. Jamie England, 11. Shaun Kane (18. Connor Campbell 77’), 19. Sean Ellis, 10. Fahed Alghazaly, 20. Vani Shamoon (7. Adam Scott 46’), 9. Craig Carley

Unusued Subs: 15. Liam Moller, 22. Jake Keating

Yellow Card: Carley 51’