By Jason Turner

Kingston City kept its PS4 NPL 1 East playoff hopes alive after securing a crucial 1-0 victory against a spirited Springvale White Eagles on Monday night.

Fortunately for the fourth-placed Kingston, its inability to kill off the second-last Springvale didn’t come back to haunt the side, with Jamie De Smit’s early strike proving the matchwinner.

It was an entertaining spectacle, as both sides played attacking forms of football, however, it was Kingston’s early opener that forced Springvale to chase the game.

Some excellent pressing from midfielder Steven Fergadiotis forced possession from a dithering Eagles defender, and into the path of De Smit, who curled his shot past Jeremy Sandoval.

It was a well-taken chance by De Smit, who provided Kingston a great lynchpin, linking well with Deniz Sabanovski and Benjamin Osei-Safo.

Springvale’s goalkeeper did well to keep his side in the contest, with a great save off a James Carvelis strike, while his opposing number was also tested.

Eagles winger Ricardo Texiera’s thunderbolt nearly brought a fantastic save from Douglas Lindberg on 41 minutes.

The contest evened up more throughout the second half as both sides clogged up the midfield, restricting some of the attractive flow from the first period.

However, there was still the odd nervous moment for both sets of fans.

On 67 minutes, Springvale’s Dejan Erakovic tested Douglas Lindberg on his near post, while minutes later at the other end, Kingston’s defender Clarke wasted a chance to clinch the points, smashing way over the target.

Later City substitute Sean McIlroy nearly provided the final blow, but failed to keep a header down about ten minutes from the finish.

However, Kingston was fortunate to play the last five regular minutes with against ten men after Simo Jovanovic came off injured after his side had used all its substitutes.

Sabanovski should have capped off an excellent personal performance late in stoppage time with a goal, but a supreme reflex save from Sandoval kept the score to the single goal.

Match Details

Kingston City 1 (De Smit 13’) defeated Springvale White Eagles at Grange Reserve

Kingston City: 24. Douglas LINDBERG, 4. James KARVELIS (5. Nicholas TEICHMANN 43’), 12. Lucas MORREY, 3. Jamal CLARKE, 15. Hamish MILLAR, 16. Nicholas STAMATIOU,  20. Steven FERGADIOTIS (12. Lucas MORREY 69’), 8. Deniz SABANOVSKI, 7. Benjamin OSEI-SAFO, 18. Gino DEFEO (9. Sean MCILROY 62’), 10. Jamie DE SMIT (23. James CONVERSANO 73’)

Unused Sub(s): 21. Gianluca PIZZINTANI, 13. Peter KOUNDANIS

Yellow Card(s): Teichmann 80’

Red Card(s): -

Springvale White Eagles: 30. Jeremy SANDOVAL, 4. Simo JOVANOVIC 23. Nenad Nikolic (3. Vedran Tomic 46’), 10. Stojan MILOJEVIC (25. Nenad NIKOLIC 46’), 6. Slavisa SARIC, 15. Milan JOVANOVIC, 44. Ryan BABARE, 11. Ricardo TEIXEIRA, 7. Keletso MTHEMBU (28. Edmon BENJAMIN 83’), 18. Trent HANSEN, 21. Dejan ERAKOVIC (22. Anthony SELEMIDIS 85’), 2. Jordan BALLERINI.

Unused Sub(s): 1. Nikola POPETROV, 32. Scott MILLAR

Yellow Card(s): Jovanovic 65’

Red Card(s): -