By Eva Worden

Bendigo City has drawn in a goalless match with Sunshine George Cross at Epsom Huntly Reserve on Saturday afternoon.

The match kicked off with mixed possession between the teams and this play remained until the full time whistle.

Corey Slevin attempted an early opener for Bendigo within the first 10 minutes yet the ball sailed wide.

Sunshine’s Ayodeji Omoboye then quickly gained possession and crossed to Daniel Hutchinson who volleyed the ball only for it to pass over the cross bar.

The visitors’ Hutchinson then tried to break the deadlock at the 18 minute mark with a remarkable solo run up the wing only to be confronted by fierce Bendigo defence preventing any chance of a goal.

Bendigo soon found the ball as George Mcheileh passed to Slevin who aimed towards goal only for
Sunshine’s goal keeper Robert Santilli to catch and dash Bendigo’s hopes of a goal in the first half.

Both team retreated to their locker rooms with no score on the board and the teams seemed to return with the same attitude as the first 45 minutes.

At 51 minutes Christopher Dib attempted to place a score on the board yet the volley just passed over the cross bar.

Omoboye broke from the pack at 75 minutes, dribbled the ball and then shot only to pass wide by inches.

A red card was then awarded to Tristan Romein at 76 minutes for unfairly connecting with another player.
Sunshine was sure they had it in the bag when the time hit 79 minutes as Omoboye again volleyed towards the goal only for Bendigo’s goal keeper Gianmarco D’oria to dive and prevent any chance of goal.

The visitors’ intensity grew as the time passed and corner after corner lead to no goals despite a spectacular shot by Ryan Dragovic that was again deflected by D’oria.

When the final whistle blew both teams seemed deflated by the fact neither had scored a single goal despite multiple opportunities.

MATCH DETAILS

Bendigo City FC: 1. Gianmarco D’ORIA (GK), 2. Riley DILLON, 3. Tristan ROMEIN, 6. Jason SHADE, 7. George SLEFENDORFAS (4. Daniel REES 46’), 8. Karl SLEVIN, 9. George SLEFENDORFAS, 10. Corey SLEVIN (11. Hugh GIBSON 85’), 16. Sam SCOBLE (19. Wahid HASHINI 89’), 17. Charlie MCCORMICK, 20. Greg THOMAS
Unused Subs: 12. Isaac COMMADEUR, 30. Rob Munday
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Tristan ROMEIN

Sunshine George Cross: 1. Robert SANTILLI, 2. Eddie CETKIN, 3. Martin MASON, 5. Christopher DIB, 8. Daniel HUTCHISON(7. Ryan DRAGOVIC 81’),11. Anthony CASSAR (15. Amara KROMAH 61’), 13. Liam O’CONNELL, 14. Muhamad CHAWK (16. Nathan LIBERTO 81’), 17. Jacob ATTARD, 18. Denis DASOUL, 19. Ayodeji OMOBOYE
Unused Sub(s): 21. James KAPURANOVSKI, 12. Christopher PAVLIDIS
Yellow Card(s): Mason 88’, Hitchinson 55’
Red Card(s): Nil