By James Manton

A valiant performance from Brunswick City pushed Richmond to the whistle on Friday night, though was unable to prevent a 2-1 loss at Kevin Bartlett Reserve.

City - whose starting side was filled predominantly with newly-acquired players - surged late in the game, but the hosts proved too classy on the night with Brunswick midfielder Baran Kockaya suffering a potentially serious knee injury.

Tom Cahill proved a menace to the Brunswick defence throughout the night, with his headed attempt from a Liam Flynn corner nearly opening the scoring just a few minutes in.

Brunswick's reply came shortly afterwards, as Anthony Ianchello had a carbon copy header just go high and wide of the top corner.

It did not take long for Cahill to truly stamp his presence on the game, as Flynn pounced on a defensive mistake to make a run to the byline, playing a powerful cross right to the forehead of the waiting Cahill who emphatically put the ball into the top corner.

The home side maintained its dominance for the rest of the first half and looked set to continue it after the break as Cahill once again showed his class, curling a shot from the edge of the area which was just tipped over by Jake Crea.

Crea was integral to keeping Brunsiwck in the match, as he made another excellent one-handed save just a couple of minutes later, once again from the foot of the Richmond captain Cahill.

Brunswick finally managed a clear foray forward as Nick Tzoulis tore down the right wing before playing a lovely cross into the box, however Matthew Murphy's diving heading skied the ball well over the goals.

Richmond finally broke through for its well-deserved second goal, as Peter Sawan's cross was missed by Frank Serratore, allowing Hamlet Armenian to place the ball past the keeper and double the home side's lead.

Richmond continued to pepper the Brunswick goal in the search of a sealing third goal, as Flynn and Cahill missed multiple guilt-edged chances.

The side’s missed opportunities came back to bite them in the behind though as Murphy found himself clear at the other end of the pitch, coolly finishing past the onrushing Christian Ross and giving the visitors a flicker of hope.

However despite a late barrage from Brunswick, the City players were unable to fashion any clear opportunities to steal a late point.

The result was unfortunately overshadowed by the late injury to Kockaya, who fell to the ground after contesting a header, grasping his knee and needing to be stretchered off suffering a suspected ACL tear.

Richmond Soccer Club 2 (Cahill 17', Armenian 58') defeated Brunswick City 1 (Murphy 66')

RICHMOND: 1. Christian ROSS, 2. Andrew GOFF, 21. Daniel PIOVESAN (10. George VOLIOTIS 71'), 23. Josh VALADON, 12. Matthew WATERS, 17. Samuel CATHERINE, 6. Peter SAWAN (16. Ryan LAMBERT 89'), 15. Jay KELLY, 7. Hamlet ARMENIAN, 11. Liam FLYNN, 9. Tom CAHILL

Unused substitutes: 20. Chris DAVIS, 19. Mate ETEROVIC, 4. George TSIAKALAKIS

Yellow card(s): Nil

Red card(s): Nil

BRUNSWICK: 15. Jake CREA, 45. Frank SERRATORE, 61. Duglas MENDEZ (4. Yasin ABDULAHI 85'), 20. John TAWDROSS, 50. Resit CULCULOGLU, 35. Anthony IANCHELLO, 17. Evan KARAVITIS (23. Baran KOCKAYA 62'), 48. Nick TZOULIS, 10. Juan PORTILLO, 18. Matthew MURPHY, 49. Peter CONSTANTINOU (29. Lucas AOUN 56')

Unused substitutes: 52. Reha KURUL, 1. Christy BENNETT-SPARK

Yellow card(s): Mendez 50', Serratore 81'

Red card(s): Nil