By Matthew Conversano

Murray United were on the receiving end of a 7-1 drubbing at the hands of Moreland Zebras on a wet Saturday afternoon at CB Smith Reserve as the hosts scored their 12th goal in 2 games.

A James Papadimitriou hat trick, a Baggio Yousif brace and goals from Danny Charalambous and Josh McMonagle-Ihasz meant that Zac Walker's converted penalty for Murray United was little more than a consolation prize for the visitors.

It took Moreland all of 30 seconds to state their intent as a cross from Yousif picked out Charalambous who headed home from point blank range to put the hosts 1-0 up.

It took Murray United 10 minutes to muster up a reply as Darcy Pawlik set the ball to James Coutts who fired the ball just over the bar.

Following a 10 minute lull in an otherwise entertaining match, Moreland doubled their lead as a defence splitting pass from Charalambous left Papadimitriou with a 1 v 1 duel against Murray custodian Ben Russell.

The striker slotted the ball through the 'keeper's legs and into the net with aplomb.

Moreland added their third of the match in the 31st minute of play as a long through ball from McMonagle-Ihasz found Yousif who slotted the ball emphatically into the bottom corner.

Zebras capped off a dominant first half with a fourth goal just before the half time whistle as McMonagle-Ihasz pounced on a loose ball in the box and slammed his volley home via the crossbar.

The second half saw a visibly depleted Murray United concede again just 4 minutes after the restart as in-form Yousif sent a dipping strike into the top corner from 20 yards.

Zebras seemed to make it a sixth just on 62 minutes as James Kelly let fly from distance and saw his strike hit the inside of the upright and bounce agonizingly across the face of goal.

5 minutes later Moreland did indeed convert their sixth unanswered goal of the afternoon as a delightful piece of interplay between Josh Sabidussi and Papadimitriou left the latter with a simple toe poke into the net from close range.

Murray's sole consolation of the afternoon came in the form of a mistimed McMonagle-Ihasz tackle in the box on Coutts.

Zac Walker stepped up and coolly slotted the penalty to the right of Moreland 'keeper Nikola Kostadinovski.

Moreland's seventh and last goal of the afternoon was arguably its best as Papadimitriou completed his hat trick after taking two defenders out of play and placing a picture perfect lob over a hapless Russell and into the top right corner of the net.

The win leaves Zebras in good stead for the coveted promotion playoff spot in NPL1 West.


MATCH DETAILS

Moreland Zebras 7 (Charalambous 1', Papadimitriou 20', 68', 86', Yousif 31', 49', McMonagle-Ihasz 45+1') defeated Murray United 1 (Walker 82’) at CB Smith Reserve, Fawkner

Moreland Zebras:  1. Nikola KOSTADINOVSKI (GK), 2. Simon SYMEOY, 5. Daniel PETROV (15. William NUTTALL 76’), 8. Joshua McMONAGLE-IHASZ, 10. Danny CHARALAMBOUS, 11. Baggio YOUSIF (24. Josh SABIDUSSI 64’), 12. Bradley MURRAY (23. Josh BERRIOS, 68’), 3. Johnny CRIVELLI, 14. James PAPADIMITRIOU, 16. Mile MEDJEDOVIC (C), 19. James KELLY.

Unused Subs: 21. Aleksander STOJANOVSKI, 13. Lucas RUFFINO.

Yellow Cards: Nil

Red Cards: Nil

Murray United: 21. Ben RUSSELL (GK), 36. Shane ELLWOOD, 16. Sean PYE, 17. Melkie WOLDEMICHAEL, 23. Ben CHAFFEY, 5. Ashley DUNN, 8. James COUTTS, 15. Ryan GILES (C), 7. Zac WALKER, 29. Darcy PAWLIK, 9. Mathew HASLER (18. Lionel MASUDI 70’)

Unused Subs: 1. Nathan Brown, 33. Alex WEST, 37. Alex EGGLESTON, 38. Harry Drummond

Yellow Cards: Hasler 57’

Red Cards: Nil