By Andrew Bishara (@_andrewbishara)

Box Hill United’s NPL 1 title challenge took a massive hit after it suffered a 2-0 loss to an impressive North Geelong Warriors outfit at Wembley Park on Saturday.

The visitors completely outplayed the home side, with goals from Juso Julardzija and Mark Paleka settling the scores.

The loss leaves Box Hill 14 points behind league leader Avondale Heights, which had earlier won 4-2 over Sunshine George Cross.

North Geelong got the ball rolling in the first half when a Matthew Townley free-kick whizzed over the bar.

It then had a golden chance to open the scoring, when a blistering counter-attack led by Michael Grgic saw it outnumber Box Hill’s defence three to two.

But the defender selected the wrong option by shooting straight at Box Hill ‘keeper Alexander Pavlidis.  

Box Hill’s first chance came via a free-kick through Josh Valadon, but his curving ball swung just past the post.

The Warriors finally opened the scoring minutes before half time, when a lovely chipped ball by Vito Cichello saw Julardzija break behind the United defence.

The striker calmly dinked around Pavlidis to roll the ball into the open net.

As the second half kicked off, the visitors took a stranglehold of the game, plummeting the United goals with a host of chances.

Paleka first saw his 20-yard curling shot just bend around the goals, before Robert Zadworny went on a mazy run and saw his shot fly over the net.

Julardzija then saw his powerful dipping free-kick kept out by a diving save from Pavlidis.

United slowly managed to regain some momentum as the half wore on, but in a counter-punch North Geelong made it two-nil.

A Townley free-kick from the halfway line went over a static United defensive line to an unmarked Paleka, whose bullet header rippled the back of the net.

The hosts then had a golden chance to claw their way back, when an amazing run by George Howard saw him cross the ball in for the sliding Alex Schroen, but somehow the winger missed the ball completely.

Julardzija had a final chance to add a third, when his header smashed off the post and bounced right back to him, but from three yards out he ballooned the rebound over the goals.

North Geelong coach Mickey Colina praised his team for effectively sticking to its tactics.

“We were patient,” Colina said.  

“One of the key things for us was our patience, and us maintaining our shape with and without the ball. When we were in possession, our quick movement punished them for it.

“We stuck to the game plan with our shape and that was important against a good football team.”

A clearly disappointed Box Hill coach Arthur Georgiou labeled his team’s loss as the “worst performance of the season”.

“Coupled with a good display from North Geelong, that was the worst performance of the season,” Georgiou said.

“Zero energy. Attitude [was poor]. Complacency. There was no fight back.

“The Box Hill fundamentals weren’t even remotely achieved today.”

MATCH DETAILS

Box Hill United 0 lost to North Geelong Warriors 2 (Julardzija 43’ Paleka 66’) at Wembley Park [HT: 0-1]

Box Hill United: 35. Alexander PAVLIDIS (GK), 23. Josh VALADON, 26. Aaron PORCARO, 22. Nick KOKOLAKIS, 14. Kenjok ATHIU, 12. Adrian DEL MONACO, 10. Rinor MURIQI (2. Nikola SURDOSKI 70’) 8. Amgad MARIEH (42. Michael GERACE 59’) 7. Damien PETERS, 5. Alex SCHROEN, 4. Chris IRWIN (29. George HOWARD 56’)

Unused subs: 1. Alexander CONNELL, 16. Christian LAR

Yellow cards: Howard 89’

Red cards: Nil.

North Geelong Warriors: 1 Daniel ZILIC (GK), 16 Michael GRGIC, 3 Matthew TOWNLEY, 99 Nathan LONG, 17 Nicholas JURCIC (19. Nicholas ANDERSON 84’), 23 Michael BOYAR, 8 Vito CICHELLO, 4 Stipe TRBUHOVICH, 10. Robert ZADWORNY, 14 Mark PALEKA, 30 Juso JULARDZIJA (2 Darren LEWIS 90’)

Unused subs: 35. Michael RADOJEVIC, 31 Hamish FLAVELL, 21. Jackson DAVIS.

Yellow cards: Julardzija 23’, Jurcic 50’

Red cards: Nil