By Tonci Prusac

The highly anticipated Round 12 NPL1 clash between North Geelong Warriors and Richmond was called off after just 20 minutes as a result of a waterlogged Elcho Park pitch.

The match will now be postponed to a later date to be set by Football Federation Victoria in coming days.

Eight-placed North Geelong went into Saturday’s encounter looking to turn around a woeful home record, having netted just three points from a possible 15 to date.

It was also newly appointed coach Mick Colina's first home match at the helm of the Warriors.

He was coming up against Richmond - another one of his former clubs for the second week in a row - which was hot on the heels after its 3-1 demolition of St Albans Saints last week.

Right from kick-off, both sides threw themselves into an attacking game plan, with Richmond earning the first corner of the game within the opening minute.

Richmond striker Tom Cahill was looking dangerous early in the piece. In the sixth minute, he found himself on the end of a long ball from Vincent Bontemps.

There was no cause for concern for the North defenders, however, as the Richmond attacker was quickly dispossessed.

A minute later, the heavens opened up and the already saturated Elcho Park pitch copped a further drenching.

As the floodlights were switched on, it was North’s turn to turn on the attacking flair.

In the 10th minute, North striker Mark Paleka headed the ball straight into the arms of Richmond ‘keeper Edward Chadwick, following a delightful build-up from Michael Anderson.

Just three minutes later, Anderson was again involved in the action, as his long through ball found attacking midfielder Reardo Luka, forcing Chadwick to come off his line and clear the ball to safety.

On the quarter-hour mark, Richmond had a series of corners in quick succession, but the scoreline remained locked at 0-0.

It was in the 19th minute that the referee summoned both captains as large puddles started encroaching from the sidelines onto the actual pitch.

As the decision was made to continue and the game restarted, another torrential downpour gave the referees no choice but to call the game off.

Team officials from both sides were adamant common sense had prevailed and the referee had made the right decision.

“At the end of the day, there was plenty of rain on the ground which made the contest turn into a wrestling match and nothing else. We have to think of the players’ safety and there was not much you could do about it,” North Geelong coach Micky Colina said after the match.

A relieved Richmond team manager, Fouad Esslaoui, was of a similar opinion.

“It was a good call by the referee. It was very difficult conditions out there. The heavy rain made it very dangerous out there for the players,” Esslaoui said.

In Round 13 action next weekend, Richmond will host 10th-placed Dandenong City on Friday night at Kevin Bartlett Reserve, while North Geelong is away to bottom side Brunswick City on Saturday afternoon.

MATCH DETAILS

North Geelong Warriors v Richmond at Elcho Park (Game postponed in the 21st minute)

North Geelong Warriors: 1 Daniel ZILIC, 99 Nathan LONG, 3 Matthew TOWNLEY, 19 Nicholas ANDERSON, 52 Reha KURUL, 8 Vito CICHELLO, 23 Michael BOYAR, 7 Reardo LUKA, 9 Michael ANDERSON, 10 Robert ZADWORNY, 14 Michael PALEKA.

Unused subs: 36 Nikola JURKOVIC, 17 Nicholas JURCIC, 31 Hamish FLAVELL, 30 Jackson DAVIS, 2 Michael RADOJEVIC.

Yellow cards: Nil

Red cards: Nil

Richmond: 1 Edward CHADWICK, 2 Andrew GOFF, 14 Sebastian PETROVIC, 6 Vincent BONTEMPS, 11 Liam FLYNN, 16 Mitchell BEAMISH, 10 Tim PURCELL, 13 Jason RICCIUTI, 12 Ryan OPPERMANN, 7 Hamlet ARMENIAN, 9 Tom CAHILL.

Unused subs: 20 Tom BANFIELD, 18 George TSIAKALAKIS, 3 Daniel MILBORROW, 5 Rylan SADLER, 17 Fabian STRANGES.

Yellow cards: Nil

Red cards: Nil