By BILLY GREEN

 

Nunawading City has been lucky to escape with only a 1-6 loss against a dominant Springvale White Eagles. 

Indecisive in defence, unnecessarily creating risks moving the ball across goal, and crumbling under the persistent forward-half defence of Springvale; Nunawading was simply out-classed by the White Eagles.

With both teams still yet to register a win this season, there was a lot on the line, but Springvale asserted itself from the onset.

Striker Stojan Milojevic missed two consecutive shots on goal early, but it was third time lucky as he scored the first of six Springvale goals from a Marcus Holmes cross in the 10th minute. 

Minutes later, Springvale added another to the board, this time through Dejan Erakovic.

Just two minutes passed before Milojevic added his second to make it 0-3. 

The efforts of the White Eagles were paying off, with a stagnant Nunawading left in the dust as it was out-run and out-bodied.

Opportunities continued to come from the relentless Springvale - Hernan De Rito, Milojevic and Holmes all missing chances.

Nunawading would have been happy to hear the half-time whistle, and retreated back to their dressing rooms down 0-3. 

Any hopes for a second-half resurrection by the home team was quickly put to rest - Keletso Mthembu, who had been looking dangerous on the wing all day, centring it for Milojevic’s substitute, Milan Jovanovic for an easy goal for 0-4. 

Springvale’s defence in their forward half really shone through, locking the ball in with the high press, and making it seem like an impossible task for the Nunawading City players to get it out. 

At the 54-minute mark, an in-form De Rito placed the ball into the path of Slavisa Saric to give Springvale a 0-5 lead.

As the game drew closer to a finish, Nunawading's defender Spencer Egan-Tanner made a mess of a cross, falling short and gifting De Rito an unmissable shot on goal. 

Striker David Antequera finally scored a goal for Nunawading in injury time, but it was little more than a consolation.

Nunawading have now suffered their ninth loss in a row for the season, while the White Eagles left with a well-deserved win, and their first of the season.

 

MATCH DETAILS

Nunawading City FC 1 (Antequera 90+2’) lost to Springvale White Eagles (Milojevic 12’ 17’, Erakovic 15’, Jovanovic 47’, Saric 54’, De Rito 85’) at Mahoney’s Reserve

 

Nunawading City: 1. Keegan COULTER, 23. Jack GOW, 10. Ivan SKORICH, 7. Anthony GIANNOPOULOS, 12. Chris GURR (31. Dylan FECCI 67’), 8. Mincen CUI (20. Stefan PAPAGEORGIOU 32’), 3. Trung LUU, 16. Spencer EGAN-TANNER, 19. John-Luc SILVESTRI (21. Felix DIMITRAKIS 46’), 5. Peter EVANGELAKOS, 9. David ANTEQUERA

Unused Sub(s): -

Yellow Card(s): Nil

Red Card(s): Nil

 

Springvale White Eagles: 30. Jeremy SANDOVAL, 2. Jordan BALLERINI, 3. Vedran TOMIC, 6. Slavisa SARIC, 7. Keletso MTHEMBU, 8. Hernan DE RITO, 10. Stojan MILOJEVIC (Milan JOVANOVIC 42’), 13. Hamish MILLAR, 17. Sebastian LECAROS, 21. Dejan ERAKOVIC (16. Nemanja SALAMANDIC 68’), 23. Marcus HOLMES (5. Scott MILLAR 68’)

Unused Sub(s): 1. Nebojsa VUJIC

Yellow Card(s): Nil

Red Card(s): Nil