By Eva Worden @evajworden

Bendigo City has drawn 1-1 with St Albans Saints at Epsom Huntly Reserve on Saturday afternoon.

Tedros Yabio’s early opener on the sunny afternoon placed St Albans Saints in the lead until Bendigo’s George Slefendorfas equalised the score at 73 minutes.

Bendigo gained possession early in the match and Slefendorfas quickly grabbed the opportunity to volley towards goal only for the ball to pass inches over the cross bar.

The first goal came at the 13 minute mark as the skilfully positioned Yabio passed the ball directly to the back of the net.

Then the home team once again gained possession and at 24 minutes Bendigo appeared to have it in the bag with a pass from George McLeileh to Slefendorfas who headed the ball just wide of the goal.

Soon after Bendigo’s Daniel Purdy then crossed to Slefendorfas who once again missed the goal.

The Saints soon fought back and Barry Devlin headed the ball sure to add a goal to the score board, however this opportunity was dismissed by Bendigo goal keeper Gianmarco D’Oria.

The teams retreated at halftime and Bendigo returned ready to win on their own turf while St Albans were ready to increase their lead.

After the 45 minute mark the teams shared possession until 50 minutes when the visitors’ Daniel Sweeney shot towards goal only for the ball to roll wide.

Saint Albans held possession with Devlin trying his luck again only to meet a strong Bendigo defensive line-up.

The visitors’ were then awarded a corner taken by Ross Harvey at 69 minutes and the excellent volley was quickly passed out of the box much to the Saints’ dismay.

Then at 73 minutes Slefendorfas spotted an opportunity and in text book fashion volleyed the ball directly into the goal to equalise the score.

Bendigo almost had another goal in the bag when Riley Dillon dashed up the wing, until he met the Saints’ capable defence.

An altercation then broke out between both teams and the squabble lasted minutes with the referee physically breaking up the clash.

The teams then mixed the possession between each other in a stalematestate until the final whistle sounded.

Match Details:

Bendigo City 1 (Slefendorfas 73’) has drawn with St Albans Saints 1 (Yabio 13’) at Epsom Huntly Reserve.

Bendigo City: 1. Gianmarco D'ORIA ©, 2. Riley DILLON, 3. Tristan ROMEIN, 5. Rylan SADLER, 7. George McLEILEH, 9. George SLEFENDORFAS,14. Joe WILLIAMS, 15. Godwill BASHA (17. Wahid HASHIMI 90’), 18. Daniel PURDY (8. Karl SLEVIN 45’), 19. Hugh GIBSON,20. Greg THOMAS.

Unused Sub(s): 12. Eh Soo SEVEN, 11. Jack KELLY, 30. Rob MUNDAY

Yellow Card(s): 2. Riley DILLON 82’, 20. Greg THOMAS 86’

Red Card(s): Nil

St Albans Saints21. John SCOLLO, 2. Ryan McGUFFIE, 4. Nicholas SARBIN, 5. Tedros YABIO, 8. Ross HARVEY, 9. Barry DEVLIN, 13. Anthony BORAS, 15. Konrad DUBRASZKEIWICZ, 18. Ben SHAPER, 20. Ante KOZUL, 23. Daniel SWEENEY

Unused substitute(s):16. Chris SIKETA, 19. George NICESKI, 33. Chris BULIC, 31. Daniel DUZEL, 22. Dilan IBRAHIM

Yellow card(s): 5. Tedros YABIO 79’, 4. Nicholas SARBIN 82’, 18. Ben SHAPER 82’

Red card(s): Nil