By David Manuca (@davidmanuca)

An early first-half goal from Richie Cardozo was enough for Hume City to secure a 1-0 win over Green Gully at Green Gully Reserve on Saturday afternoon.

Cardozo converted from the penalty spot after 16 minutes following a clumsy challenge by Gully goalkeeper Kieran Gonzalez on Kliment Taseski.

Green Gully started the game brightly and captain Jeffrey Fleming almost snatched a rare goal but his connection from a Jason Hayne corner went straight in to the arms of Hume goalkeeper Chris Oldfield.

It probably should have been 1-0 to Green Gully ten minutes later but Oldfield pulled off an extraordinary save to deny Hayne after he was played in one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

Adam Petko came close from the resulting corner, heading his effort over the bar after Fleming floated in a header from the edge of the area.

Hume soaked up all the early pressure and took the lead against the run of play when Gonzalez’ challenge on Taseski in the box resulted in a spot-kick.

Cardozo elected to take the penalty and he tucked the ball in to the bottom right-hand corner of the goal to give Hume the lead.

Green Gully lost their control on the game and John Sapazovski had a golden opportunity a minute later to double Hume’s lead but he scuffed his shot just wide of the post.

The last best chance of the half fell the home side’s way when Hayne’s cut-back found an unmarked Ratip Cileli inside the box but his effort was weak and easily saved by Oldfield.

Hume came out of the break searching for a second goal to alleviate the pressure but Sapazovski had an early effort saved by Gonzalez.

The second-half was more of a midfield scrap than the first half which was very end-to-end.

The next chance of the game came a whole 20 minutes later, and that was an audacious 40-yard attempted lob from the wing by Sapazovski.

A bizarre incident occurred with twelve minutes to go when a free-kick whipped in by Hume saw Gonzalez and Gully defender Rodrigo Vargas collide in the box, with the ball rolling in to the back of the net.

But the referee ruled that the goal would not stand as he blew his whistle for medical attention just seconds before the ball crossed the line, sparking confusion among the players, officials and crowd.

The restart occurred via a drop ball but unlike most instances in the box the Hume coaches urged the players not to give the ball back to Green Gully, instead directing them to put the ball in the back of the net. 

Unfortunately for them the Gully players reacted to their calls and ensured the ball was cleared out of danger as soon as the ball touched the ground.

Despite their best efforts Green Gully failed to find an equaliser with Hume City walking away with the three points.

Hume City coach Lou Acevski admitted it was not the best of performances from his side. 

“It wasn’t the prettiest game but I think we had four good opportunities to score a goal,” Acevski said.

“In patches we played some decent football but three points are three points – I’ll take them any day of the week.”

Green Gully coach Bob Stojcevski was blunt in his assessment of his sides performance.

“They grew in confidence from our missed opportunities, got themselves in to the game and that one lapse of concentration at the back for the penalty changed the whole context of the game,” Stojcevski said.

“We didn’t really recover from that even though we had a lot more of the ball. Our quality and execution was a poor standard for this level of football that we’re meant to be playing.” 

MATCH DETAILS

Green Gully 0 lost to Hume City 1 (Cardozo PEN 16’) at Green Gully Reserve. [HT: 0-1]

Green Gully XI: 1. Kieran GONZALEZ, 5. Rodrigo VARGAS, 6. Stephen DOWNES, 7. Jeffrey FLEMING, 8. Jason HAYNE, 9. Brent FISHER (12. Mathew SANDERS 66’), 10. Ratip CILELI, 16. Thomas DENG, 19. Peter DENG (11. Jem BERKANT 84’), 20. Osagie EDERARO, 21. Adam PETKO.

Un-used substitutes: 23. Christopher AILAKIS, 4. Matthew REID, 22. Habib FLEIFEL.

Yellow cards: Nil

Red cards: Nil

Hume City: 1. Chris OLDFIELD, 4. Isyan ERDOGAN, 22. Niko JACKSON, 16. Ilhan ALTUNTAS (18. Perry LAMBROPOULOS 70’), 8. Abel FESSAHA (9. Anthony PROIA 72’), 10. Richie CARDOZO, 24. John SAPAZOVSKI, 17. Aaron TURNER, 28. Matthew HENNESSEY, 23. Christopher CRISTALDO, 11. Kliment TASESKI.

Un-used substitutes: 7. Adrian BOGLIS, 20. Martin DENNYS, 39. Nick HEGARTY.

Yellow cards: Altuntas 34’

Red cards: Nil