BY MATTHEW CONVERSANO

CB Smith reserve was the stage for a goalless draw between Moreland Zebras and Bendigo City in NPL1 West on Saturday afternoon.

Despite the scoreline, both sides had opportunities to score, however neither side could clinch the three points

The opening quarter of the match started brightly as it took Moreland all of four minutes to get their first sight at goal.

A corner from Danny Charalambous found the head of Daniel Petrov running back with the flight of the ball.

However his strike was caught well by Bendigo custodian Gianmarco D'oria.

On 12 minutes, Zebras were on the attack again as a long range effort from Josh McMonagle-Ihasz would have found the bottom corner if not for a fingertip save from D'oria.

If Bendigo needed any more proof that their custodian was in top form, they got it just after the quarter hour mark as a sweetly struck free kick from Moreland's Baggio Yousif was denied by D'oria.

Bendigo's only response to the barrage of Zebras attacks was a looping header from striker George Slefendorfas that had the keeper beaten, but just flew wide of the right upright.

Despite Moreland's first half dominance, they failed to convert this into a lead coming into half time.

The second half in comparison to the first was a much more dull affair, with both sides lacking creativity in attack.

The 55th and 56th minutes provided guilt-itched opportunities for either sides which, on another day, would surely have been converted into goals.

The first of the two fell to Bendigo frontman Slefendorfas as a brilliant turn gave him time and space in the box.

However his powerful strike was tipped over the bar well by Kostadinovski keeping the scores deadlocked.

The latter chance very much epitomised the indecisiveness in front of goal on display throughout the match.

After beating a disorganised offside trap attempt from Bendigo, Yousif was alone in the opposition half with strike partner James Papadimitriou providing support down his left side.

After creating a 2 vs 1 opportunity against the hapless D’oria, Yousif’s pass to gifted Papadimitriou with an empty net to aim for.

However the usually clinical Zebra’s forward remarkably fluffed his lines.

This missed opportunity proved to be a lifeline for Bendigo as they were content with defending the 0-0 scoreline against a wave of Moreland half chances.

The draw leaves Zebras still battling for the coveted promotion playoff spot in NPL1 West.

MATCH DETAILS

Moreland Zebras 0 drew with Bendigo City 0 at CB Smith Reserve, Fawkner

Moreland Zebras: 1. Nikola KOSTADINOVSKI, 2. Simon SYMEOY, 5. Daniel PETROV, 8. Joshua McMONAGLE-IHASZ, 10. Danny CHARALAMBOUS, 11. Baggio YOUSIF, 12. Bradley MURRAY, 13. Lucas RUFFINO, 14. James PAPADIMITRIOU,15. William NUTTALL (23. Joshua BERRIOS 86’), 19. James KELLY.

Unused Subs: 21.Aleksander STOJANOVSKI, 3. Johnny CRIVELLI, 17. Christopher TRIANTAFILOPOULOS 22. Ryan MURRAY

Yellow Cards: Murray 20’, Charalambous 79’

Red Cards: Nil

Bendigo City FC: 1. Gianmarco D’ORIA (GK), 3. Tristan ROMEIN, 5. Rylan SADLER, 6. Jason SHADE, 8. Karl SLEVIN, 9. George SLEFENDORFAS, 10. Corey SLEVIN, 17. Charlie MCCORMICK (7. Daniel REES 84’), 16. Sam SCOBLE (22. Hugh GIBSON), 20. Greg THOMAS ( 67’), 21. Prince QUANSAH

Unused Subs: 19. Isaac COMMADEUR, 30. Rob Munday, 15. Godwill BASHA.

Yellow Cards: Slefendorfas 47’, Quansah 51’, Sadler 91’

Red Cards: Nil