By Jason Turner

Photo: Mark Avellino

Richmond strengthened its hold on second spot in PS4 NPL1 East with a crucial 1-0 win against 10-man Kingston City on Monday night at The Grange Reserve.

In a feisty encounter between two promotion hopefuls, Richmond’s Alex Caniglia slotted the winner after Kingston’s George Stavridis was sent off early.

The hosts went a man down in the fifth minute after Stavridis took down a rampaging Caniglia in the penalty box.

There was little doubt about the decision, as Caniglia got in behind and was charging towards Douglas Lindberg’s goal before Stavridis chopped him down from behind.

However Richmond’s leading goalscorer Tom Cahill placed his penalty too close, allowing Lindberg to expertly save.

The visitors’ took a while to exploit the advantage with Kingston City initially re-adjusting bravely after the early blow.

However, it was Richmond who gained more possession and started to pin down the retreating City defence.

Richmond’s Hamlet Armenian smashed a shot into the post and the following rebound was kept out by last ditch lunge by Jamal Clarke.

Minutes later, they deservedly took the lead when Caniglia calmly slotted home, after latching on to a superb through ball from Peter Sawan.

Richmond’s midfield ability to pierce passes into the likes of Cahill and Caniglia proved increasingly dangerous for the hosts, who kept it to 1-nil at the break.

The game followed the same pattern after the break, the second-placed Richmond controlling the bulk of possession.

Although the hosts’ lone forward Benjamin Osei-Safo struggled to hold up possession and relieve the pressure on his defence, the odd chance was created.

Oseo-Safio had a chance on 67 minutes, but didn’t really challenge Richmond’s goalkeeper Christian Rossi, who was rarely tested for the rest of the contest.

It was similar at the other end, while Richmond dominated possession, the side's inability to put away Kingston always provided hope for the ten men.

In the end, Richmond was content to throw men behind the ball to snuff out any chance of Kingston equaliser.

Match Details

Kingston City 0 lost to Richmond SC 1 (Canaglia) at The Grange Reserve

Kingston City: 24. Douglas LINDBERG, 2. George STAVRIDIS, 3. Jamal CLARKE, 4. James KARVELIS, 5. Nicholas TEICHMANN (18. Gino DEFEO 69’), 20. Steven FERGADIOTIS (12. Lucas MORREY 69’), 7. Benjamin OSEI-SAFO, 19. Andrew DOIG, 10. Jamie DE SMIT (16. Nicholas STAMATIOU 38’), 8. Deniz SABANOVSKI, 15. Hamish MILLAR

Unused Sub(s): 23. James CONVERSANO, 13. Peter KOUNDANIS

Yellow Card(s): Doig 35’, Clarke 61’

Red Card(s): Stavridis 5’

Richmond SC: 1. Christian ROSS, 2. Andrew GOFF, 4. George TSIAKALAKIS, 18. Jordan SEETO, 11. Liam FLYNN (12. Matthew WATERS 92’), 16. Ryan LAMBERT, 17. Samuel CATHERINE, 6. Peter SAWAN (19. Michael CATALANO 79'), 10. Alexander CANIGLIA, 7. Hamlet ARMENIAN (15. Jay KELLY 82’), 9. Tom CAHILL

Unused substitutes: 22. George VOLIOTIS, 23. Josh VALADON.

Yellow card(s): Tsiakalakis 27’, Catherine 40’, Cahill 94’

Red card(s): Nil