Port proves too good, putting four past North Geelong
By Rusty Woodger (@rustywoodger)
A brace from Trent Rixon in the first half has helped Port Melbourne to a 4-0 thumping of North Geelong at Elcho Park today.
Two first-half strikes from the former Northcote City forward gave the Sharks a 2-0 buffer at the break, before goals from Ryan Oppermann and Alan Kearney rubbed salt into the Warriors’ wounds.
Despite the scoreline, it was North Geelong who started the game on the front foot, with Reardo Luka’s left-footed strike forcing Stjepan Gal into a diving save.
Moments later, the Warriors thought they had the lead when Gal struggled to control a Matthew Townley shot, resulting in Port Melbourne’s defence clearing the ball off the line amid howls of protest from the home side.
But it was Rixon’s cool finish against the run of play that silenced Elcho Park, gifting the visitors with the advantage in the 12th minute.
On 38 minutes, the big striker doubled his side’s lead with another deadly finish from inside the area.
With just one win next to its name this season, one could understand North Geelong’s players returning to the sheds at half time with their heads down.
But it only got worse five minutes into the second stanza, when Oppermann latched onto a Kearney ball to poke his finish past Daniel Zilic.
The crushing defeat was rounded out when Kearney buried from the penalty spot after Nathan Long brought down Nicholas Krousoratis inside the area.
The goal was the twelfth conceded by North Geelong in their last three games.
After the final whistle, Warriors coach Micky Colina paid tribute to the quality of his opponents, but also lamented his side’s struggle to adapt to the top flight.
“All credit to Port Melbourne, they’re flying and they’re a good side,” Colina said.
“They didn’t let us do a lot. And in the end we probably showed how inexperienced we are in this competition.”
The win for Port Melbourne sees them keep up the pressure at the top of the table with four wins out of six, while North Geelong will hope next week’s match with fellow battlers Avondale is the chance to redeem their season.
MATCH DETAILS
North Geelong Warriors 0 defeated by Port Melbourne Sharks 4 (Rixon 12’, 39’, Oppermann 50’, Kearney 80’) at Elcho Park [HT: 0-2].
North Geelong Warriors: 1. Daniel ZILIC, 2. Darren LEWIS, 16. Michael GRGIC, 3. Matthew TOWNLEY, 99. Nathan LONG, 8. Vito CICHELLO, 4. Nikola JURKOVIC (6. Joshua PUGH 59’), 10. Robbie ZADWORNY, 7. Reardo LUKA (17. Nicholas JURCIC 51’), 14. Mark PALEKA (9. Tomislav TRBUHOVIC 70’), 11. Juso JULARDZIJA
Unused subs: 23. Michael ANDERSON, 31. Antonio BARESIC.
Yellow Card: Cichello (50’)
Red Card (s): Nil
Port Melbourne Sharks: 1. Stjepan GAL, 19. Shaun KELLY, 16. Alan KEARNEY, 5. Nick TZOULIS, 14. Kamal IBRAHIM (11. Nicholas KROUSORATIS 73’), 22. Ryan OPPERMANN, 6. Chris GROSSMAN, 10. Andrew MILICEVIC, 9. Trent RIXON (8. Brent FISHER 70’, 20. Julius DAVIES (15. Erhan YALAZ 63’), 23. Conor REDDAN
Unused subs: 25. Michael STARK.
Yellow Card: Tzoulis (47’).
Red Card (s): Nil
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