By BRANDON GALGANO (@BGalgano94)

Photo STEVE STAREK

A new look Port Melbourne outfit has been held to an entertaining draw against Melbourne Knights at JL Murphy Reserve on Friday night.

An opener from Brent Fisher just before the half hour mark got the Sharks on their way before Knights equalised from the spot midway thought the second half through Andrew Barisic to ensure both sides took home a share of the spoils.

It was Port Melbourne though who looked assert their dominance in the early exchanges, with three new signings - Kris Kioussis, Alan Mulcahy and George Krommidas - thrown straight into the starting eleven by coach Eric Vassiliadis.

It was star man Kamal Ibrahim who very nearly opened the scoring inside the first minute with his free kick tipped wide by Chris May before former Dandenong Thunder man Mulcahy fired over from the resulting corner kick.

Melbourne Knights new man Rob Zadworny was dangerous in the opening exchanges with his speed in behind causing all sorts of problems for the Port defence with his effort in the 10^th minute stinging the palms of Michael Stark.

Knights begun to really take hold of the contest and it was Zadworny again who found space on the left before firing his effort over the crossbar.

Barisic then went closest to opening the scoring in the 23^rd minute with the big man acrobatically striking the ball off the crossbar and out with Stark well beaten.

Knights were punished just three minutes later for their inability to open the scoring as Fisher popped up for his first goal of the season.

Some fantastic work from the lively Julius Davies down the left opened up space for Fisher to prod home from close range to give the hosts the lead against the run of play.

The goal seemed to lift the home side into gear with Sharks taking control in midfield and they should’ve doubled their lead just after halftime as Davies found himself with space just outside the six-yard box but his right-footed effort was straight at May.

The loss of skipper Shaun Kelly to injury at halftime though proved to be telling with the Englishmen’s experience and physicality missed by the hosts as Knights begun to get back into the match.

And just as Port seemed to be edging the contest Knights captain Tomislav Uskok was bundled over in the penalty area by Mulcahy with the referee pointing straight to the spot.

Barisic made no mistake with the resulting spot kick, sending Stark the wrong way, to level the scores in the 59^th minute.

They nearly took the lead just four minutes later but for a fantastic save by Stark who got down quickly to a header from Barisic to keep the scores level.

Down the other end, May was kept busy by Ibrahim who was dangerous all night long before Knights had an effort cleared off the goal line with just under 20 minutes to play.

And despite late pressure from both sides with bodies being thrown forward in search of a winner the final score remained at a goal apiece in an enthralling, end-to-end contest.

 

Match Details:

Port Melbourne Sharks 1 (Brent Fisher 26’) drew with Melbourne Knights 1 (Andrew Barisic 58’ Pen) at JL Murphy Reserve.

Port Melbourne XI: 25 Michael STARK, 5 George KROMMIDAS, 19 Shaun KELLY © (6 Chris GROSSMAN 45’), 23 Connor REDDAN, 15 Kristopher KIOUSISS, 4 Alan MULCAHY, 16 Alan KEARNEY, 20 Julius DAVIES (11 Nick KROUSORATIS 68’), 14 Kamal IBRAHIM, 8 Brent FISHER (9 Trent Rixon 75’), 22 Ryan OPPERMAN

Unused Substitutes: 1 Stjepan GAL, 10 Andrew MILICEVIC

Yellow Cards: Kearney 19’ Mulcahy 58’

 

Melbourne Knights XI: 1 Chris MAY, 18 Josh BREKALO, 5 Milan BATUR, 6 Tomislav USKOK ©, 12 Ivan GRGIC, 4 Ben SUREY, 8 James McGARRY, 10 Marijan CVITKOVIC (23 Adrian ZAHRA 53’), 7 Christopher TALAJIC (9 Jacob COLOSIMO 82’), 17 Robbie ZADWORNY (11 Anthony COLOSIMO 66’), 27 Andrew BARISIC

Unused Substitutes: 25 Hrvoje CAKARUN, 2 Luke JURCIC

Yellow Cards: 55’ Barisic