By Tonci Prusac

A rampant North Geelong completely dominated from the opening whistle to run out a convincing 4-0 winner over bottom side Brunswick City in the final round of the NPL 1 at Elcho Park on Sunday.

The league runner-up capped off a triumphant season with an emphatic display, earning the three points courtesy of a first-half strike from Nicholas Jurcic and three second-half goals from strikers Juso Julardzija and Michael Anderson (two).

The game was essentially a dead rubber, with the home side having already clinched outright second spot on the ladder and subsequent promotion to next season's NPL competition, while the visitors were assured of the wooden spoon, regardless of today's outcome.

Gloriously sunny conditions greeted both teams as they entered the playing arena, as did a strong, blustery wind, which was sure to wreck havoc with the game as a spectacle.

North went into the match with one forced change prior to kick-off, after leading marksman Mark Paleka failed a late fitness test. His spot in the starting line-up was taken by Anderson.

The Warriors completely dominated proceedings in the opening half, accompanied by the gale force wind at their backs.

The windy conditions, which had forced the abandonment of the curtain raiser, was indeed playing havoc with the match as both teams struggled to keep possession.

Turnovers were high and mistakes aplenty as the opening half approached its closure with the scoreline rlocked at 0-0.

It appeared that the large crowd would not witness any goals in the opening half, until Jurcic decided to have his say.

The young Warriors defender slammed a long-range, speculative effort from close to 40m out, which managed to evade everyone, including Brunswick City 'keeper Mason Interlandi.

Interlandi, who was easily the best performed player in the first half, could do nothing but watch the ball slam into the back of his net for the only goal of the opening 45 minutes.

In the second half, the Warriors didn't need to wait long to double their lead.

The second goal came in the 50th minute after winger Rob Zadworny provided Julardzija with an inch-perfect cross. Julardzija's initial effort was blocked by Interlandi, but he managed to poke his rebound past the hapless 'keeper.

In the 78th minute, Anderson got his name on the scoresheet following some delightful team build-up from Julardzija and overlapping full-back Nathan Long.

Anderson pounced on a defensive error and shot low and hard in open space to make it 3-0.

Anderson provided the icing on the cake in the 87th minute when he pounced on a loose ball, once again courtesy of a defensive error, and calmly slotted the ball into the back of the net to round off a good day’s work at the office for the home side.

After the game, North Geelong coach Micky Colina was still on cloud nine, following his side’s triumphant season on the park.

“Conditions were shocking out there, quite possibly the worst I have ever seen, as far as the wind was concerned,” Colina said.

“Nonetheless, credit to the boys. We dominated completely, right from the outset. We dictated the tempo all game and we were composed throughout and we deserved the win today.”

His Brunswick counterpart, Armando Pianece, wasn’t too disappointed by the end result.

“I was appointed to the coach’s job four weeks ago, so this last month has been somewhat of a pre-season to test the players for next season,” Pianece said.

“To be honest, the difficult conditions out there affected both teams. In the end it simply came down to football knowledge and decision making, and they are two key areas we are really lacking in at the moment.

“Lucky there is no relegation, so we can turn our attention to next year and being in the best possible shape come the start of the 2015 season.”

Match Details

North Geelong Warriors 4 (Jurcic 44’, Julardzija 50’, Anderson 78’, 87’) defeated Brunswick City 0 (HT 1:0) at Elcho Park

North Geelong Warriors: 1 Daniel ZILIC (GK), 3 Matt TOWNLEY, 2 Darren LEWIS (5 Michael RADOJEVIC 77’), 99 Nathan LONG, 17 Nicholas JURCIC, 8 Vito CICHELLO, 7 Reardo LUKA (63’ 6 Stipe TRBUHOVICH), 10 Rob ZADWORNY, 21 Matija DRAGOVIC (12 Ivan BALTA 72’), 9 Michael ANDERSON, 77 Juso JULARDZIJA.

Subs not used: 14 Mark PALEKA, 31 Hamish FLAVELL.

Yellow cards: None

Red cards: None

Brunswick City: 1 Mason INTERLANDI (GK), 3 Rikiya KITAMI, 4 Seamus CARR, 17 Sam MAZZOLINI, 2 Lachlan SMALE, 5 George MARKELIS, 10 Patrick MARRA, 15 Denis SADIK (7 Dion BELBRUNO 64’), 30 Dimitri VITHOULKAS, 13 Amara KROMAH (6 Giorgio MAVRELIS 59’), 13 Juan-Pablo ZULETA-ARIAS (8 Athanasios TOZIOS 57’)

Subs not used: Oliver SWADZBA (GK), 14 Christopher DIMITROPOULOS.

Yellow cards: A. Kromah 30’.

Red cards: None