By Lucas Pavlidis (@LucasPavlidis)

Avondale Heights has survived a late flurry of chances from Richmond Soccer Club to further extend its lead at the top of the NPL1 standings. 

Striker Oleksiy Khrapko was on hand for the away side, which travelled to Kevin Bartlett Reserve with the knowledge that a win would further propel them to an NPL birth through promotion.

The opening half was dominated by Richmond, who created chances albeit missing the services of Hamlet Armenian who was suspended after receiving two yellow cards last week.

Armenian’s potency was clearly missed as the home side failed to convert early chances. 

Winger Ryan Oppermann failed to finish Richmond’s best chance, after some hard work from Tim Purcell found the Melbourne Victory trialist’s feet 6 yards from goal, the effort flashing agonisingly wide. 

Avondale’s high pressure game paid dividends as Richmond would rue its miss, as Arturo Ymeri’s measured through ball found Andrew Le Page in space.

The winger did well to centre the ball in an awkward position for Richmond’s goal keeper, and Khrapko capitalised from a poor goal keeping error to finished easily, tucking the ball into the net from close range. 

Avondale took its lead into half time with the goal coming against the run of play, and was sitting firmly in the ascendancy.

Richmond continued to look for an equaliser, however nearly conceded through Dean Campelj’s header. 

The effort crashed against the upright from a corner.

The away side began to reinforce its dominance after hitting the post, with Khrapko’s volley saved well by Chadwick.  

Both Richmond and Avondale traded blows in a ten-minute period of end-to-end counter attacking football, which bared chances for both sides.

The home side’s desperate attacking nature was not enough as Avondale survived a final flurry of corners from Richmond to secure a valuable win.

Richmond coach Rick Mensick was disappointed that his side were unable to come away with the clash with at least a point.

“I don’t think we deserved to lose tonight. I think a 1-1 draw would have been a fair result,” Mensink said.

It was a case of ground-hog day for a side which has created numerous chances all year, but again failed to make them count when it mattered.

“We had our chances and didn’t convert. A sloppy error at the back and it cost us,” he said.

Armenian’s influence on the game was also a deciding factor in the outcome of such a close game.

“He could have been the difference for us, he’s been exceptional all year. He copped two yellows last week but with our squad we have to deal with it,” he said.

Avondale’s Anthony Barbieri was delighted with his team’s ability to grind out the performance.

“We knew tonight was a big game and that we could come here on a good surface and express ourselves and play a good brand of soccer,” Barbieri said.

“The boys put in a massive effort and were solid. I think we were worthy of the three points.”

Barbieri believed his close- knit side had proven they have the immense ability, but look to improve every week despite their massive lead at the top of the NPL1 standings.

“If you’d said that Avondale Heights would be sitting top of the table at this stage of the year when the NPL had started, most people would say we’ve exceeded our expectations.”

“We’ve got a good core group that really rally for these results. We have a close change room, and there’s a good will and desire to want to improve. 

“Collectively as a group, the boys are focused and determined to do that on a week to week basis.” 

Match Details 

Richmond Soccer Club 0 def. by Avondale Heights Soccer Club 1 (Khrapko 35’) at Kevin Bartlett Reserve. [HT 0-0] 

Richmond SC: 1. Edward CHADWICK, 5. Rylan SADLER, 4. Mitchell BISSENGER, 6. Vincent BONTEMPS, 11. Liam FLYNN, 3. Peter SAWAN, 8. Joshua KNIGHT, 10. Tim PURCELL (17. Alex TABOR 59’), 16. Gideon SWEET (15. Sam SHEPHERD 85’), 12. Ryan OPPERMANN, 9. Tom CAHILL

Unused Subs: 20. Christian ROSSI, 2. Andrew SKOULLOS, 18. Daniel MILBORROW 

Avondale Heights: 20. John SCOLLO, 6. Anthony STRANO, 31. Michele CRAZIA, 15. Zoran PAJIC, 33. Dean CAMPELJ, 11. Arturo YMERI, 24. Resit CULCULOGLU, 8. Bosin GEORGEVSKI (9. Anthony FALLONE 89’), 10. Jason PRINCIPATO (14. Daniel SLOVACEK 83’), 34. Oleksiy KHRAPKO, 7. Andrew LE PAGE (27. Julien CANNIZZARO 88’)  

Unused Subs: 1. Anthony SARIC, 3. Christopher GALEA

Image credit: Mark Avelino