By Jordan Lim

Springvale White Eagles has picked up its second victory of 2015 after grabbing a narrow 1-0 win over Bendigo City in its PS4 NPL 1 Crossover Round 19 meeting.

Youngster Ryan Babare – in only his third senior appearance in the PS4 NPL – grabbed a first half match winner in a seesawing affair. 

Despite sitting in a lowly ninth spot in the East Conference, the White Eagles started much brighter than their regional opponents.

A short corner played to Hernan de Rito in the fourth minute nearly caught the Bendigo defence napping as he took a couple of loping strides into the box before firing a near post shot into the arms of the Gianmarco D’Oria.

de Rito was freed up once again soon after as a sharp ball from the deep allowed him to run through one-on-one with the keeper, who came to Bendigo’s rescue with a diving save.

Sam Scoble nearly hurt Springvale on the counter, poking a shot narrowly wide of the post after receiving a good ball down the line on the left.

But the hosts pressure proved telling as former South Melbourne starlet Babare struck his first senior goal in the 26th minute.

He profited from the good work of de Rito down the left flank; the forward weaving through a sea of bodies before flashing a ball across goals, into the path of the onrushing midfielder to place home.

Babare nearly turned provider soon after as Keletso Mthembu's blistering pace made good use of his wayward pass.

While the winger couldn’t get a shot off himself, he squared up a patiently waiting Babare inside the box, but an important Bendigo interception ended that passage of play.

At the other end, George McHeileh was afforded space to shoot on his left foot, but his curling shot on the stroke of half-time drifted narrowly wide of the post.

City came out in the second half a much improved outfit and a low Greg Thomas drive had White Eagles ‘keeper Nebojsa Vujic clawing away the attempt.

Scoble had another good chance go astray, as he fired an angled shot into the back of Springvale captain Simo Jovanovic.

Bendigo continued to apply pressure, pushing numbers forward in its search for an equaliser.

This allowed Springvale a number of opportunities on the counter to put the game to bed. 

Babare was in the thick of things for the hosts once again, forcing a smart save from D’Orio after his left footed cross nearly caught the keeper off guard.

Next to try his luck was Ricardo Teixeira, who forced a near-post save from Bendigo’s stopper with just four minutes left in the contest.

One final chance fell the way of Bendigo, but a header from substitute George Slefendorfas angled over the crossbar.

Match Details:

Springvale White Eagles 1 (Babare 26’) defeated Bendigo City 0 at White Eagles Stadium [HT: 1-0]

Springvale White Eagles: 1. Nebojsa VUJIC (GK), 4. Simo JOVANOVIC, 3. Vedran TOMIC, 6. Slavisa SARIC, 17. Sebastian LECAROS, 15. Milan JOVANOVIC, 16. Ryan BABARE (21. Dejan ERAKOVIC 74’), 7. Keletso MTHEMBU (9. Brandon JANSZ 88’), 8. Hernan DE RITO, 11. Ricardo TEXEIRA (18. Trent HANSEN 88’), 23. Nenad NITKOLIC

Unused Substitute(s): 30. Jeremy SANDOVAL

Yellow Card(s): Nil

Red Card(s): Nil

Bendigo City: 1. Gianmarco D’ORIA (GK), 6. Jason SHADE, 3. Tristan ROMAIN, 4. Daniel REES, 21. Prince QUANSAH (5. Rylan SADLER 52’), 7. George McHEILEH, 20. Greg THOMAS, 13. Joe WILLIAMS (9. George SLEFENDORFAS 65’), 10. Corey SLEVIN, 8. Karl SLEVIN, 16.  Sam SCOBLE (2. Riley DILLON 74’)

Unused Substitute(s): 30. Isaac WEST

Yellow Card(s): McHeileh 59’, Shade 78’, C. Slevin 80’

Red Card(s): Nil