By Shaun Moran (@moranshaun)

Northcote City has returned to winning ways following a comprehensive 3-0 win against a desperate Goulburn Valley Suns at John Cain Memorial Reserve on Sunday afternoon.

Things were looking good for Goran Lozanovski’s Northcote charges when they managed to strike first via skipper Adrian Chiappetta.

He rose the highest from a corner to power his header into the back of the net just after the half-hour mark.

The hosts struck what proved to be a pivotal goal just before halftime, and it was James Kalifatidis whose free kick deflected off the wall and looped over the head of a flailing Phillip Petrovski, who had no chance of keeping the ball out.

Evan Kounavelis’ magnificent ball across goal in the dying minutes picked out Trent Rixon, who made no mistake to slam the ball home and secure all three points.

It wasn’t all smooth sailing for Northcote, which had to battle hard in the opening 30 minutes against a valiantand at times slick Suns side.

Benjamin Clarke had his team’s best opportunity when he snuck in behind the Northcote defence to only have his shot bravely smothered by Chris Theodoridis in the Northcote goal.

Hernan Espindola then went agonisingly close for Peter Zois’ side with a right-foot shot that whistled past the left upright.

It seemed as if it wasn’t to be Goulburn Valley’s day when Naum Sekulovski’s well-struck header merely missed shaving the cross bar.

The Suns were then put to the sword and punished twice in the space of 10 minutes at the other end before the interval.

Northcote came out and dictated play largely throughout the second half and looked more than comfortable maintaining its advantage.

Rixon and Kristian Konstantinidis went close to adding Northcote’s third before the former finally did.
Lozanovski was relieved to have taken all three points against a very gallant opponent.

“We knew it was going to be a tough game and they were desperate to get their second win for the year and although we started off shaky, we worked out way into the game,” Lozanovski said.

“It’s one of those seasons where you’re hoping to turn the corner but we need to make sure that whoever we come up against that we’re switched on for 90 minutes.

“The ladder now is quite tight but I’ll tell you that we have turned the corner in a month’s time if we’re unbeaten.”

Suns striker Craig Carley lamented his side’s concession late in the first period.

“We came here hopeful to get a result and obviously it’s disappointing to come away with nothing,” Carley said.

“When the chips are down, you’ve got to take your chances and we had a few especially in the first half-hour or so.

“At one-nil, you’re always in the game, but when you cop two goals, especially just before halftime, it’s a bit of a killer. The boys just need to keep their heads up and it’s on to the next week.”

His side will return home to host an in-form Pascoe Vale, while Northcote will travel to take on a Heidelberg side looking to secure its seventh win in a row.

MATCH DETAILS

Northcote City 3 (Chiappetta 35’, Kalifatidis 45’, Rixon 84’) defeated Goulburn Valley Suns 0 at John Cain Memorial Reserve [HT: 2-0]

Northcote City: 22. Chris THEODORIDIS (GK), 21. Ersin KAYA, 23. Jonathon BOUNAS, 11. Liam WOODING, 4. Kristian KONSTANTINIDIS, 2. Adrian CHIAPPETTA, 7. Jonathon MUNOZ, 3. Tremayne SADLER, 9. Trent RIXON, 8. James KALIFATIDIS, 16. Greg LOMBARDO.

Substitutes: 1. Luke GAVALAS (GK), 14. Michael CATALANO, 10. Marino GASPARIS, 20. Evan KOUNAVELIS, 19. Jacob ELIOPOULOS

Yellow Cards: Munoz (10’)

Red Cards: Nil

Goulburn Valley Suns: 1. Phillip PETROVSKI (GK), 2. Cody SELLWOOD, 14. Rossi LAGANA, 5. Nick KALAFATIS, 3. Naum SEKULOVSKI, 16. Frankie LAGANA, 7. Benjamin CLARKE, 8. Daniel CHAABANI, 9. Craig CARLEY, 19. Hernan ESPINDOLA, 21. Stipo ANDRIJASEVIC.

Substitutes: 13. Zackery PARASKEVAS, 10. Kristian SARKIES, 4. Thomas LANGMAN, 11. Ridvan SAGLAM, 22. Jake KEATING (GK)

Yellow Cards: Kalafatis (42’)

Red cards: Nil

Image credit: John Punshon/Goal! Weekly