By: EVA WORDEN (@evajworden)

Photo: PETER McROSTIE

Goulburn Valley Suns has defeated Bendigo City after a dominating second half performance, coming from two goals down at halftime to win 4-3 at Epsom Huntly Reserve on Saturday afternoon.

Bendigo raced to an early three-goal lead courtesy of Riley Dillon, Jason Shade and a GVS own goal, while the visitors got one back early on via Sean Ellis.

The second half saw Goulburn fight back to take the win as Ellis scored two more to bring the visitors level, while Frank Mariner sealed the points.

Bendigo asserted its dominance after just seven minutes, taking the lead with an early opener as Dillon scored from midfield.

It took the Suns 20 minutes to get their equaliser, as Vani Shamoon found Ellis who headed the ball into the goal to make it 1-1.

Bendigo was determined not to let the scoreline stand and only two minutes later, Shade retook the lead for Bendigo with a spectacular header that left Suns keeper Phillip Petrovski stranded.

At 33 minutes GVS did Bendigo a favour with an own goal from a misguided header to make it 3-1 just before the half.

The Suns came out shining in the second half, pegging one back just two minutes in with a solid Ellis volley to make it 3-2.

The game heated up with both teams picking up their share of yellow cards.

Ellis grabbed his hattrick at 68 minutes with another volley to level things up at 3-3.

Almost immediately after, the Suns got their winner as a shot rebounded off of Bendigo goalkeeper Gianmarco D’Oria and fell to Samoan U17 international Frank Mariner, who slotted it to give the Suns an unlikely lead.

Goulburn almost stole another at the death but D’Oria was up to the task this time, holding Ellis’ attempt at a fourth.

Bendigo fought to get their equaliser but it was to no avail as the ref blew for full time shortly after.

Match Details

Bendigo City FC 3 (Dillon 7’, Shade 28’, OG 40’) defeated by Goulburn Valley Suns (Ellis 25’, 47’, 68’, Mariner 69’) at Epsom Huntly Reserve.

Bendigo City FC: 1. Gianmarco D’ORIA, 2. Riley DILLON, 3. Jordan SEETO, 4. Daniel REES, 6. Jason SHADE, 7. George McHEILEH (8. Karl SLEVIN 88’) 9. George SLEFENDORFAS, 10. Greg THOMAS, 11. Corey SLEVIN, 14. Keegan SMYTH, (18. Daniel PURDY 59’), (19. Josh DWYER 83’), 21. Prince QUANSAH

Unused Subs: 20. Finn HUZZEY, 30. Stares GILARDI

Yellow Cards: Seeto 24’, Slevin 48’, D’Oria 50’

Goulburn Valley Suns: 1. Philip PETROVSKI, 2. Cody SELLWOOD, 3. Greg NASH, 4. Naum SEKULOVSKI, 5. Jordan MONTAGNER, 7. Adam SCOTT, 8. Jamie ENGLAND, 9. Craig CARLEY, 10. Fahed ALGHAZALY, 14. Frank MARINER, (18. Connor CAMPBELL 88’), 19. Sean ELLIS, (20. Vani SHAMOON 19’)

Unused Subs: 17. Justin CIRILLO, 22. Jake KEATING

Yellow Cards: Montagner 60’, Mariner 66’, England 85’