By Shaun Moran (@moranshaun)

Heidelberg United has returned to winning ways following its 2-0 win over Hume City in the two sides’ Round 19 NPL clash at the Olympic Village on Sunday evening. 

The first goal of the match came in controversial circumstances minutes after the restart. 

Dan Heffernan managed to keep onside and keep his feet until he was upended by Chris Oldfield as he tried to pull the trigger in the area. 

Hume’s custodian did palm the ball away but the referee adjudged that he also took out Heffernan’s legs in the process, and Heidelberg’s talisman stepped up to make no mistake from the spot.

Jack Petrie doubled his team’s advantage with 15 minutes to play and effectively put the game to bed from a corner. 

His in swinging right-footed cross wasn’t judged correctly by Oldfield and it sailed into the net.

Both teams took a positive approach to the first half in what was an even encounter overall. 

The game’s first opportunity fell to the Bergers on the quarter of an hour mark. 

It was Daniel Vasilevski’s curling right foot free kick which passed shy of the right upright on that occasion that threatened to open up the Hume backline.  

The visitors themselves went close to breaking the deadlock at the other end only a minute later thanks to a Richie Cardozo effort. 

Griffin McMaster had to be alert enough to tap the ball over the bar.

Lou Acevski’s charges had the final chance of the half when Cardozo’s enticing corner that was initially punched away by McMaster, fell at the feet of Abel Fesseha but the former Springvale White Eagles’ forward could not keep his attempt down.

George Katsakis’ team was left in dismay at the culmination of a golden opening an hour in when it only lead by one.

Heffernan was trailed by Franjic but Hume had Oldfield to thank for keeping his side in the game with an extended right foot to foil Heffernan’s effort.

City’s ‘keeper was at it again to this time keep out Jakob Williams, before the Bergers netted from the resultant corner taken by Petrie.

Late drama ensued when Abel Fesseha was taken down as he galloped in towards goal. 

Anthony Proia was ordered to retake the spot kick after the latter had initially put the ball home, and his second attempt was kept out by McMaster to set off raucous cheers from the home faithful and round out a successful match.

Heidelberg’s coach Katsakis lauded his players’ second half performance.

“I’m ecstatic to be honest,” Katsakis said.

“We’ve come off a 5-5 and a 0-0 and we’ve won here against an in form Hume convincingly. 

“Our second half was phenomenal. We pushed them around very well. We played out of tight areas and we really lifted.”

Hume boss Lou Acevski was critical of the referee who he claimed had a huge impact on the result.

“If I have to be honest, I thought it was a poor game from us,” he said.

“I thought the referee killed the game. The first penalty was nowhere near a penalty and he’s made a disgraceful decision. 

“At 0-0, both teams are playing ordinary football and then he goes and kills us by giving the other side a penalty.”

His team will be seeking a better outcome against Port Melbourne, while Heidelberg takes on Green Gully on Wednesday night.

MATCH DETAILS

Heidelberg United 2 (Heffernan 54’, Petrie 77’) defeated Hume City 0 at Olympic Village. [HT: 0-0]

Heidelberg United: 1. Grif McMASTER, 2. John LAZARIDIS, 17. Steve PACE, 13. Luke BYLES, 3. Les DOUMBALIS, 19. Jakob WILLIAMS (4. Jordan WILKES 78’), 10. Jack PETRIE, 5. Dan VASILEVSKI (23. Andrew CARTANOS 46’), 11. Mark McGOUGH, 14. Dan HEFFERNAN (22. Dean TANCEVSKI 90’+1), 9. Kosta KANAKARIS.

Unused subs: 33. Evan MARKAGEOMAKIS, 8. Zane SOLE.

Yellow Cards: Williams (21’)

Red Cards: Nil

Hume City: 1. Chris OLDFIELD, 5. Petar FRANJIC, 18. Johnny STOJCEVSKI, 4. Isyan ERDOGAN, 16. Ilhan ALTUTAS (24. John SAPAZOVSKI 62’), 8. Abel FESSEHA, 10. Richie CARDOZO (22. Niko JACKSON 80’), 23. Christopher CRISTALDO (28. Adrian BOGLIS 80’), 9. Anthony PROIA, 6. Joe FRANJIC, 17. Aaron TURNER.

Unused subs: 11. Nick HEGARTY, 20. Pennys MARTIN.

Yellow Cards: Franjic (39’), Cristaldo (45’+2), Oldfield (54’)

Red cards:  Nil 

Image credit: Mark Avelino