By Skip Fulton

Bendigo City fired an opening salvo at the Melbourne City goal, scoring twice in the first eleven minutes to setup a 3-1 victory and avenge its injury-time loss to City just six weeks ago.

Player-coach Greg Thomas opened the scoring in the second minute with a volley inside the area triggering a vocal celebtration from the home team and its supporters on the sideline. 

This was backed up in the eleventh minute with a corner kick being whipped in from the right wing.

George Slefendorfas rose high unmarked at the back post and his header found the net.

Bendigo continued to penetrate the final third throughout the first half but was unable to add to the score.

As the clock wound down, City lifted and a series of five consecutive corners didn't yield results until a free kick was awarded outside the area right in front.

Phil Petreski's strike went high over the crossbar and signalled the end of the half.

Minutes into the second half action Petreski would be in the thick of it again.

Initially he received a yellow card for sharing his thoughts with the referee but then he launched a rocket strike from thirty yards out, only for it to be tipped over the bar. 

Melbourne City consolidated its effeorts, putting together a number of aggressive moves forward.

Haris Stamboulidis, Anthony Taranto and Stefan Zinni all came off the bench to provide additional pace and strength however it was Bendigo City who would score next.

Tristan Romein found the net in another set play from a corner to give the home team a three-nil advantage.

The remainder of the game was played out as a balanced affair.

Bendigo had the majority of possession and City was unable to serious threaten the goal line.

Into injury time however, a communication breakdown at the back saw Wade Dekker walk into an open net and secure a late consolation goal for the visitors.

It was the final play of the match with the whistle blown signalling a 3-1 home victory for Bendigo City over Melbourne City. 

After the match, Bendigo City player/coach Thomas shared his thoughts on the game.

"It was very pleasing and close to our best ninety minute performance for the season," Thomas said.

"We had a game plan, we stuck to it and gave them nothing all night.

"With the conditions today, being a young side, we wanted to be a bit more direct today and get it into big George Slefandorfas, who I thought was emense for us today.

"I've been confident in our back four all year, but whats happening in front of them or whatever we've been leaking silly goals but tonight I thought they were great, they were superb.

"We knew Melbourne City were going to come out, particularly in the second half being two nil down, and throw evertying at us. We gave them nothing and I dont think they really had a chance, even the goal they scored was a silly mistake from us at the back in the last minute".  

Match Details: 

Bendigo City FC 3 (Thomas 2', Slefandorfas 11', Romein 68'), defeated Melbourne City 1 (Dekker 90+2') 

Bendigo City FC: 1. Gianmarco D'oria, 6. Jason Shade, 3. Tristan Romein, 4. Daniel Rees, 2. Riley Dillon, 5. Rylan Sadley, 8. Karl Slevin (Marcus Ryan 87'), 20. Greg Thomas (Prince Quansah 82'), 7. George McHeileh (13. Joe Williams 87'), 16. Sam Scoble, 9. George Slefandorfas

Unused Sub: st Ares Gilardi

Yellow Cards: Nil

Red Cards: Nil 

Melbourne City FC: 1. Yaren Sozer, 3. Nicholas Symeoy (11. Stefan Zinni 68'), 4. Jordan hall, 5. Leo Athanasiou (19. Anthony Taranto 62'), 6. Phil Petreski, 7. Hernan Espindola, 8. Ratip cileli, 9. Wade Dekker, 12. Anthony Rizk, 14. Baki Efe (13. Haralambos Stamboulidis 62'), 15. Luke Gallo

Unused Sub: Jack West-Astuti, Mehdi Sarwari

Yellow Cards: Phil Petreski 59'

Red Cards: Nil