By Andrew Bishara (@_AndrewBishara)

Two late goals saw Eastern Lions snatch a 3-1 win over Box Hill United at Gardiners Creek Reserve on Saturday afternoon.

Philip Ajao and Jordan Horn were the heroes, despite the former's strike being somewhat controversial. The hosts had earlier taken the lead through Munyaradzi Nyadzayo before United leveled through Alex Schroen.

The visitors started the brighter of the sides and had their chances early.

Adam Porcaro first saw his sizzling freekick palmed away by Lions goalkeeper Andrew Lightfoot, before Franc Carafa saw his shot from an impossible angle near the byline smash off the post.

But its best chance fell to Adam Skowronski, who broke clear on goal, but elected to take an early chance and lob Lightfoot from 30-yards out.

The shot went over the on-coming Lightfoot and over the open goal.

Then against the run of play, the Lions pounced through Nyadzayo.

Chris Page saw his diving back-post header ricochet off the post and bounce right to the foot of the striker, who buried the chance.

For all its chances it took a defensive mix-up for United to draw level in the second half.

A lack of communication between Lightfoot and Thomas Falconer saw Schroen snatch the ball off the defender and dink it over the goalkeeper.

The hosts then had a good chance when Nyadzayo dispossessed the ball off United goalkeeper Christian Pavlidis' hands, despite the custodian saying he had clearly held it.

The ball spilled out of the pack and came to Philip Ajao, but the striker could only send the ball over the empty net.

Nyadzayo next saw his chance palmed over the bar thanks to Pavlidis, before United's Michael Godfrey’s 30-yard piledriver whistled over the bar.

The controversial moment came minutes from time, when Pavlidis ran out to collect a cross and was knocked down by Ajao, spilling the ball.

Horn was quickest to react to header in the goal and despite protests from United the goal stood.

It shook the life out of United and the game was killed off less than a minute later when a lovely through ball from Shaun Kenny saw Ajao break behind the line, round Pavlidis and roll the ball into the empty net.

 

MATCH DETAILS

Eastern Lions 3 (Munyaradzi Nyadzayo 28’, Jordan Horn 87’, Philip Ajao 88’) defeated Box Hill United 1 (Alex Schroen 53’)

Eastern Lions FC: 1. Andrew LIGHTFOOT, 3. Matthew PARRY, 4. Chris PAGE, 5 Thomas FALCONER, 6. Andrew WILLIAMS, 7. Ziggy RAZUKI, 9. Daniel RODRIGUES (14. Jordan HORN 83’), 10. Phil AJAO, 11. Munyaradzi NYADZAYO, 12. David McKESSY (2. Louis RAZUKI 68’), 16. Shaun KENNY

Unused Subs: 8. Mitch BEAMISH, 21. Rob HAVERCROFT, 15. Yianni TOUMANIDIS

Yellow Cards: PARRY 70’

Red Cards: Nil.

 

Box Hill United: 1. Christian PAVLIDIS, 5. Alex SCHROEN, 18. Joey CALDERONE, 2. Nikola SURDOSKI (20. George KALAS 74’), 24. Shaun PETERSON, 25. Michael GODFREY, 17. Aaron PORCARO (19. Christian LAR 81’), 10. Franc CARAFA, 8. Caleb LUDLOW, 15. Jerome COSTANZO (21. Travis CHALK-HATTON 63’), 9. Adam SKOWRONSKI

Unused Subs: 35. Sam GRIGG, 12. Chris GEILS

Yellow Cards: Nil.

Red Cards: Nil.