By Bill Molloy (@Bill_Molloy94)

Two goals each from Goran Zoric and Dean Piemonte saw Oakleigh Cannons run home a comfortable 4-0 winner over Port Melbourne Sharks at Jack Edwards Reserve on Friday night.

Oakleigh broke away in the second half to keep the pressure on South Melbourne at the top of the table, while Port Melbourne – which has won just one of its past five games – remains just above the relegation zone.

Oakleigh found the lead early when Zoric brought down a long ball from defence an exquisite first touch, before tucking the ball away past Port ‘keeper Stjepan Gal.

Port Melbourne pushed hard for an equaliser for the remainder of the first half, applying pressure on Oakleigh’s defence but struggled to capitalise when the ball was won in its attacking third.

Oakleigh doubled its lead immediately after the halftime break as a defensive mix-up saw Chris Grossman’s pass to Gal intercepted by Zoric, who pounced on the opportunity to double his own tally.

The Port Melbourne bench was up in arms over Oakleigh’s third goal as Piemonte was seemingly offside, but the assistant referee kept her flag down as the Cannons striker buried the ball in the back of the net.

Piemonte put the game beyond doubt just four minutes later as he grabbed his second goal, turning in the box and curling the ball in the bottom-left corner.

Oakleigh coach Miron Bleiberg was pleased to see his side return to form after a disappointing outing at Heidelberg last week, which saw Oakleigh drop valuable points and fall six points behind top-of-the-table South Melbourne.

“When we make it hard on ourselves like we did last week against Heidelberg it’s hard. When we play good we’re doing well, when we’re not we suffer,” Bleiberg said.

Oakleigh’s strikeforce was once again firing and Bleiberg is happy with his forwards, and didn’t feel the need to bring in any new strikers in the transfer window.

“We’ve got a good forward line and that’s why we never recruited anyone in the forward line. I could’ve gone for (Besart) Berisha if I wanted, he’s a good friend.”

Port Melbourne coach Eric Vassiliadis was unimpressed with the output of his new recruits, with the Sharks handing starting berths to new signings Zois Galanopoulos (Werribee City), Nicky McNamara (FC Clifton Hill) and Gal (St Albans Saints).

“You bring players on to make a difference and to contribute. I think in our first week they did but over the last couple they obviously haven’t but that’s probably not a huge surprise,” Vassiliadis said.

Speaking on the third goal, Vassilliadis had calmed down since his outburst on the sideline.

“From my angle it looked offside. Ultimately the game was done and dusted so if she lifted the flag, it was offside.”

MATCH DETAILS

Oakleigh Cannons 4 (Zoric 6’ 46’, Piemonte 65’ 69’) defeated Port Melbourne Sharks 0 at Jack Edwards Reserve [HT: 1-0]

Oakleigh Cannons: 1. John Honos 7. Bonel Obradovic 5. Aron Wilford 18. Adam Le Cornu 12. Tremayne Sadler 3. John Black 23. Dominic D’Angelo 21. Andreas Govas (16. Ariel Ritz 61’) 8. Dusan Bosnjak 19. Goran Zoric (14. Nate Foster 70’) 17. Dean Piemonte (10. Veton Korcari 76’)

Unused subs: 35. Harry Raworth 22. George Krommidas    

Yellow cards: None

Red Cards: None

Port Melbourne Sharks: 1. Stjepan Gal 17. Phillip Riccobene 20. Milos Ridesic 6. Chris Grossman 3. James Riccobene 16. Nicky McNamara (4. Timothy Paton 67’) 27. Andrew Milicevic 26. Lambros Honos 10. Luka Prelevic (9. Alexandru Antonescu 63’) 11. Nicholas Krousoratis 8. Zois Galanopoulos (23. Conor Redden 70’)

Unused subs: 22. Adam Hrehoresin 15. Stefan Nigro   

Yellow cards: 6. Chris Grossman (20’) 16. Nicky McNamara (54’)

Red Cards: None

Image credit: The Sporting Wall