Suns promotion chances alive with win
BY MATT McNAMARA
Goulburn Valley Suns have all but ended Kingston City’s hopes of promotion after a 2-1 victory in Shepparton on Saturday evening.
Suns star striker Craig Carley had given the hosts the lead after a delightful lob over Douglas Lindberg before Kingston City struck back moments after the break when Benjamin Osei-Safo slotted home.
But Carley was to be the star of the show once again for the hosts, his second of the match coming in the 77th minute to give the Suns all three points.
Kingston were determined from the outset to stamp their authority on the match, which whilst only minutes young, was a free following contest.
Sean McIlroy, so often the go to man for the visitors, almost broke the deadlock early when his thunderous left foot volley just went wide.
Abel Fesseha was handed a rare start since his transfer from Springvale White Eagles, and he almost had the home side ahead when his cheeky lob caught out Lindberg but hit the crossbar and sailed over the top of the goal.
The Suns would take the lead just after the half hour mark when Carley broke free before lobbing the ball over the advancing Lindberg.
The end to end action continued from the onset of the second period, with Osei-Safo converting to level the scores up at one-all.
Kingston were continuing to press forward, often dominating in periods with their physical presence.
Jamal Clarke and McIlroy were proving dangerous from set pieces, the home side struggling to deal with the aerial power of the two British imports.
McIlroy was should have had the visitors ahead just after the hour mark when he broke free but Petrovski stood tall and denied the Scotsman.
But with 13 minutes remaining the Suns would find the decisive goal. Carley getting on the end of a great ball from out wide to restore the Suns lead.
Kingston threw the preverbial kitchen sink at the Suns in the final moments but it wasn’t to be enough as the hosts held on to secure a 2-1 victory.
MATCH DETAILS
Goulburn Valley Suns 2 (Carley 45+2" 77") defeated Kingston City 1 (Osei-Safo 47’) at McEwan Reserve, Shepparton
Goulburn Valley Suns: 1. Philip Petrovski, 10. Fahed Algazaly, 17. Adrian Corbo, 18. Stuart Vance, 3. Greg Nash, 16. Matthew Lelliot, 4. Naum Sekulovski (14. Aykut Kucuktepe 80’), 20. Vani Shamoon (12. Justin Cirillo 83’), 11. Shaun Kane, 7. Abel Fesseha (21. Daniel Bish 90’), 9. Craig Carley
Unused Subs: 22. Monty Algazaly, 13. James Kalafatis
Yellow Cards: Carley 34’, Lelliot 63’, Nash 87’
Kingston City: 24. Douglas Lindberg, 2. George Stavridis, 5. Lucas Morrey, 3. Jamal Clarke, 18. Hamish Millar, 15. Gino Defoe (10. Jamie De Smit 82’), 16. Nicholas Stamatiou, 7. Andrew Doig, 8. Deniz Sabanovsk (4. James Karvelis 84’), 22. Sean McIlroy, 11. Benjamin Osei-Safo (14. Damien Iaconis 72’)
Unused Subs: 20. Steven Fergadiotis, 13. Peter Koundalis
Yellow Cards: Stavridis 67’
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