By Matt McNamara

Brunswick City has recorded its first win of the season after a come-from-behind victory over Ballarat Red Devils on Saturday afternoon.

The visitors took the lead early on through midfielder Michael Trigger, but a double from City front man Juan Portilo was enough to see off the Red Devils.

Ballarat had begun well, and found themselves ahead after 20 minutes.  Some neat work on the left by Michael Trigger saw Harding presented with an opportunity which he gratefully took, his tame effort beating Alex Hards before skimming the post on its way in.

The visitors could have been further ahead after Trigger again cut in from the left hand side, skipping past three Brunswick defenders, but his effort just went over the bar.

The home side didn’t have to wait long for its reply,

Portillo sprung into action after beating a very square defensive duo of Daniel Firth and David King before nearly tucking the ball away past Aaron Romein to send the sides into the break level.

Neither side had tested the opposition keepers heavily throughout the opening period, and nothing much changed in the second.

Fasile Aden was looking lively for Brunswick and he almost gave the home side the lead when his effort was just wide after looking like going in.

Brunswick looked to threaten with longer balls over the top to Portillo whilst the Red Devils were looking to isolate Nelson Salvatore out wide with his brilliant one on one ability.

It was Portillo who would again find the net for Brunswick just before the hour mark after he dispossessed King of the ball, before beating two Ballarat defenders and hammering his strike past Romein.

Ballarat threw everything at Brunswick in the final 10 minutes. 

Substitute Dominic Swinton was proving dangerous on the right, and his delivery to Trigger should have seen the latter level the scores, but City held on to record their first win of the season.

Match Details:

Brunswick City 2 (Portilio 32’,58’ defeated Ballarat Red Devils 1 (Harding 19’) at Dunstan Reserve

Brunswick City: 34. Alex Heards, 17. James Duvceski (27. Bol Wurok 59’) 23. Cameron Williams, 29. Lucas Aoun, 39. James Neighbour, 35. Anthony Ianchello, 30. Yach Bol, 10. Juan Portilo (8. George Markelis 92’), 28. Fasile Aden, 52. Reha Kurul, 3. Michael Varkopoulous (9. Ahmet Turer 71’)

Unused Subs: 15. Jake Crea, 6. Matthew Digovine

Yellow Card: Ianchello 20’

 

Ballarat Red Devils: 1. Aaron Romein, 21. Charles King, 4. David King, 14. Daniel Firth (13. Scott Lamont 78’), 23. Daniel Tinker, 8. Joshua Romien, 17. Shaun Romein, 6. Liam Harding (31. Simon Murphy 59’), 11. Nelson Salvatore, 22. Patrick Karras (15. Dominic Swinton 70’), 10. Michael Trigger

Unused Subs: 35. Jake Francis, 40. Jason Hill

Yellow Cards: J. Romein 40’, Murphy 89’