By Jordan Lim 

An enthralling six-goal thriller played out in the twilight of Morshead Park as Moreland City came back from a two-goal deficit to secure a 3-3 draw against Ballarat Red Devils on Saturday.

Both sides had it all to play for after a slip from third-placed St Albans Saints – who fell 2-1 to Melbourne City earlier in the afternoon - saw the two promotion chasing sides gifted a glorious chance to gain ground on the PS4 NPL 1 West competition and it was Ballarat who laid the first blow.

The tone for an action-packed clash was set by the Red Devils, who may just lay claim for the fastest recorded goal in the NPL era. 

A ball launched forward from kick-off found Simon Murphy, who forced Moreland keeper Brandon Galgano into a strong save at his near post.  

The rebound then fell to defender David King, who swooped to turn in the loose ball within an astounding 12 seconds on the clock.

Moreland City remained resolute in its search for three points, failing to cave in to the early scoreboard pressure Ballarat had applied. 

The side looked threatening, especially from wide positions with a number of quality deliveries testing a stringent home defence.

City fullback Yang Tou-Yeng once again undid the hosts down the flank, marauding down the right side before flashing a shot across the face of goals.

The visitors came even closer to an equaliser with their next chance; a deep ball from Tou-Yeng was chested down by Liam Francis for namesake Liam Brian, who riled off a close-range shot, only to be denied by a brilliant block from Shaun Romein.

At the other end, attacking midfielder Michael Trigger unleashed a stinging drive towards the right corner, which was brilliantly clawed away by Galgano. 

But the endeavour of Moreland eventually paid off as it found a deserved equaliser in the 32nd minute. 

A looping ball from Francis found Casey Thomas free on the right flank, who applied pace and accuracy to his low cross in equal measure to find Ossie Kose, who finished with aplomb at the ‘keeper’s near post.

Much like the game’s opener, it took Ballarat almost no time at all from kick-off to regain the lead once more, with a touch under 30 seconds all that was required for its second.

In similar fashion to the first, the hosts took two bites of the cherry to convert; David King’s initial shot received the deftest of touches from Galgano to tip the ball onto the post, only for the ball to fall back to the feet of Swinton who blasted the ball into the back of the net.

A blockbuster first half concluded with Ballarat scoring its third through Josh Romein with the final kick of the term.

A late set-piece wreaked havoc in the Moreland 18-yard-box, with a number of blocks, saves and scrambles seemingly denying Ballarat.

When the ball popped loose in the area, Romein pounced to smash the ball into the roof of the net, with three battle-weary Moreland bodies left on the floor in his wake. 

City came out in the second half with a vengeance, controlling possession and dictating the contest with a series of concise, measured passing plays, which created plenty of openings.

Ballarat bodies flew across the pitch in a desperate attempt to retain the side’s two-goal buffer; Shaun Romein flinging his head in the way of a goal-bound Kose free-kick followed by a goal-line clearance from Patrick Karras.

Moreland maintained its unyielding pressure, and it eventually paid dividends, but in unconventional circumstances.

While the visitors threw everything bar the kitchen sink in their search for a goal, the breakthrough eventually came through left-back Nej Sahin, who swung a curling cross over the head of Ballarat custodian Aaron Romein and into the back of the net.

A series of fouls and an all in player fracas periodically took the sting out of a high-tempo contest, but the game was sparked back into life by Moreland’s late equaliser. 

Second-half substitute Kam Simsek was released on the right flank, and despite calls for a hand ball in the build-up, he had the calmness of mind to take a touch and place the ball between the legs of Romein with a low, sliding shot.

City continued to push, in a frantic attempt to complete its comeback, and created one glorious chance to secure the full complement of points on offer.

Forward Casey Thomas steamed into the Ballarat area unopposed, cut onto his right foot and somehow pulled his shot wide of the left post when he looked odds on to score.

In the end, it was a point apiece for two sides that both didn’t deserve to lose, and could ill-afford to drop points should they harbour serious ambitions of earning promotion to the top-flight.

MATCH DETAILS:

Ballarat Red Devils 3 (David King 1’, Swinton 33’, Joshua Romein 45+3’) drew with Moreland City (Kose 32’, Sahin 62’, Simsek 85’) at Morshead Park [HT: 3-1]

Ballarat Red Devils: 1. Aaron Romein (GK), 22. Patrick Karras, 23. Daniel Tinker, 8. Josh Romein, 25. David King, 21. Charles King, 19. Miles Baker (13. Dechlan Picken 84’), 17. Shaun Romein, 10. Michael Trigger (28. Dejan Mitrovic 89’), 15. Dom Swinton, 31. Simon Murphy (33. Joshua De Voogel 79’)

Unused Substitute(s): 12. Michael Mullins, 42. Ibrahim Ghulami

Yellow Card(s): Swinton 42’, Aaron Romein 78’

Red Card(s): Nil

Moreland City: 1. Brandon Galgano (GK), 21. Nej Sahin, 5. Yanni Avramidis, 12. Shane Carr, 2.  Yang Tou-Yeng, 17. Liam Brian (23. Muhammed Kuruku 79’), 8. Corey Thomas, 4. Quinn McDonald, 7. Osman Kose (9. Lisandro Paz 58’), 10. Liam Francis (11. Kam Simsek 58’), 14. Casey Thomas

Unused Substitute(s): 18. Orrie Kara, 16. Nathan Gouzelas 

Yellow Card(s): Kose 48’, Corey Thomas 60’, Casey Thomas 78’, Carr 86’

Red Card(s): Nil