By Lucas Pavlidis (@LucasPavlidis)

FC Bulleen Lions has salvaged a point from a game they failed to make a major impact in, against Bendigo City FC on Saturday afternoon.

The home side began in an improved fashion from their last game, where they scraped a last minute equaliser thanks to Gianni De Nittis, whose goalscoring exploits were rewarded with a spot in the starting eleven.

Yet it was Bendigo City who had the first chance of the game with George Slefendorfas hitting an effort over the bar after turning his man inside the box.

Bulleen was next to go close, with Takanori Nishimoto’s run down the wing finishing in a sublime through ball to De Nittis be he failed to get his shot away after getting the ball tangled under his feet.

Bendigo again tested Bulleen’s resolve via Prince Quansah, who bussled his way through a sea of defenders to see his fierce volley coped with well by Matt Banovic in goals.

Anton Nardella and Nishimoto continued to cause havoc for Bendigo’s defence. A quick free kick caught out the visitors, but the home side was unable to get on the end of the move.

City’s shotstopper Gianmarco D’Orio had his handful in the opening period, doing well to deny Nardella twice within quick succession, followed by a stunning save from Bulleen captain Matteo Ballan’s free kick which looked goal-bound.

A diving stop from D’Orio tipped the ball around the post in what was the last clear cut chance for the home side.

Bulleen might have wished they had capitalised on their chances in the first half, as the second half brought a very early goal.

Substitute Godwill Basha was at hand to poke home a goal for Bendigo City FC after some calamitous defending from Bulleen, gifting the visitors the lead.

It took Bulleen 60 minutes to actually get a shot off, with Samuel Borghesi coming close just past the hour mark. His run from left back found him outside the box, with his show narrowly missing the post.

Bulleen’s advances forward appeared to be futile until a late goal saw the home side a point with minutes left.

Nishimoto was finally thread through and was all alone after Billy Romas’ shot was twice blocked, his pass finding the winger alone who finished into the bottom corner.

Two final chances fell for both sides in the last minute. Slefendorfas unable to steer his header home, and Nishimoto denied a 1 v 1 opportunity by another great save by D’Oria.

Match Details

FC Bulleen Lions 1 (Nishimoto 86’) drew Bendigo City FC 1 (Basha 46’) at Veneto Club, Bulleen

FC Bulleen Lions: 1. Matt BANOVIC, 13. Dean LORENZI (15. B.ROMAS 46’), 3. Will ABBOTT, 4. Samual BORGHESI, 6. Bardhi HYSOLLI, 8. Matteo BALLAN, 10. Takanori NISHIMOTO, 11. Gianni DENITTIS (31. Dylan BRESOLIN 67’), 12. Eli LUTTMER, 17. Anton NARDELLA, 18. Felix ROSMAN

Subs: 2. Dean ROMAS, 21. Luke GALLO

Yellow cards: None

Red cards: None

Bendigo City FC: 1. Gianmarco D’ORIA, 2. Riley DILLON, 3. Jordan SECTO (17. Alex CALDOW 51’) , 4. Daniel REES, 5. Ryan SADLER, 6. Jason SHADE, 8. Karl SLEVIN, 9. George SLEFENDORFAS, 10. Greg THOMAS, 16. Daniel PURDY, 21. Prince QUANSAH (15. Godwil BASHA 40’)

Subs: 17. Alex CALDOW, 20. Finn HUZZEY, 15. Godwill BASHA, 22. St. Ares GILARDI

Yellow: Dylan, Slevin, Thomas, Quansah

Reds: None