By Daniel Campos 

Moreland City claimed bragging rights in the local derby against Morelan Zebras at Campbell Reserve on Saturday afternoon with a 1-0 win.

Casey Thomas struck the only goal of the game in the first half, in a game that was rather rugged and disorganised due to the pitch and weather conditions.

Moreland City began the match on a high following last week's away win in Shepparton, and barely four minutes in, Corey Thomas produced a long-range drive, testing goalkeeper Alex Stojanovski from the start.

A yellow card to Moreland City's Casey Thomas for a late challenge also showed the afternoon's more physical nature with the pitch also not helping a technical style of play.

Thomas opened the scoring on 27 minutes after opening up on the left hand side, with the forward having enough time to lift his head up and pin-point his shot to the bottom corner to beat Stojanovski.

The Zebras did not give up, and just after the half hour they managed to get onto a mistake from City's backline, leaving custodian Brandon Galgano to come off his line with enough security to extinguish any conceding danger. 

After the break, the Moreland rivalry lived up to its name with both the physicality and the hunger for three points.

With Moreland City hanging onto its early lead, the introduction of Mo Kurucu for Liam Brian brought variation into the side's attack while the Zebras piled on pressure testing out Galgano with shot after shot.

Berríos got a yellow card for a late challenge that fuelled the derby spirit on the pitch with everything to play for.

With the caution, a substitution was on the cards as he also looked to combine with Danny Charalambous and at times caused problems. 

Up front, the visitors' Baggio Youssif and James Papadimitriou looked hesitant to break Moreland City's tight defensive line.

The pair nearly got their reward in a fluctuating second half with three shots going wide, and keeper Galgano also claiming with authority.

Galgano's presence with his defence has been looking steady week by week and with twenty minutes to go on the clock, Charalambous shot a pinpoint effort for the Zebras that hit the crossbar.

The equaliser looked imminent as City's keeper looked beaten with the force of the shot, though his fingertip touch also played a part.

Throughout the remainder of the hotly contested derby, the course of the match was very tight. 

Youssif attempted from long range, which had Moreland City's tight lead hanging by a thread. 

With the tussle in midfield the deciding factor, the nature and flow of the game saw the balance see-saw of the result relying on the solitary goal, the difference between the sides.  

The final ten minutes saw goal-to-goal action. Stojanovski got a rare start also showed action.

Two saves avoided both incoming substitutes Kam Simsek and Paz, with the latter's effort the end result of a pin-point split pass by Corey Thomas who looked tireless all afternoon. 

Once the full-time whistle blew, home side City was jubilant for its gallant effort with a solitary winning goal that further cements the side's current season performance that grows from strength to strength. 

The result meanwhile leaves Moreland Zebras to reflect not only the result but their performance may prove decisive into the remainder of the PS4 NPL 1 season heading into next round against Melbourne Victory in two week's time.

Match Details:

Moreland City 1 (28' Casey Thomas) defeated Moreland Zebras 0 at Campbell Reserve, Coburg.

Moreland City: 1. Brandon GALGANO,2. Yang TOU-YENG, 5. Yianni AVRAMIDIS, 12. Shane CARR, 21. Nejdet SAHIN, 8. Corey THOMAS, 4. Quinn MCDONALD, 19. Liam BRIAN (23. Mo KURUCU), 17. Liam FRANCIS, 14. Casey THOMAS (11. Kam SIMSEK 77'), 7. Osman KOSE (9. Lisandro PAZ 68').

Unused Subs: 18. Orrie KARA, 16. Nathan GOURZELAS

Yellow Cards: 14. Casey THOMAS 9'

Red Cards: Nil.

Moreland Zebras: 21. Alex STOJANOVSKI, 2. Simon SYMEOY, 15. William NUTALL, 16. Mile MEDJEDOVIC, 13. Lucas RUFFINO, 24. Joshua SABIDUSSI, 8. Joshua McMONAGLE-IHASZ, 23. Joshua BERRIOS (19. James KELLY 71'), 10. Danny CHARALAMBOUS, 11. Baggio YOUSIF, 14. James PAPADIMITRIOU.

Unused Subs: 3. Johnny CRIVELLI, 22. Ryan MURRAY, 17. Chris TRIANTASILOPOULOS, 1. Francesco GRECO.

Yellow Cards: 23. Joshua BERRIOS 48'.

Red Cards: Nil