By Tonci Prusac (@TonciPrusac)

A weary Hume City has overcome an inefficient North Geelong in a tight tussle at Elcho Park on Saturday afternoon, with the only goal of the game coming from a Theo Markelis strike in the first half.

Fronting up just days after their triumphant midweek FFA Cup clash with Kingston City, the visitors scored the game’s solitary goal in the 40^th minute, to ease back into fifth spot on the ladder.

Although Hume’s Isyan Erdogan earned the first yellow card of the game in the 5^th minute, for an ill timed tackle on North attacker Yusuf Yusuf, the opening stages of the game were rather tame.

North had the best two chances of the opening stanza with both Yusuf and fellow attacker, Michael Anderson, fluffing their gilt-edged opportunities from barely five metres out.

Ultimately, however, it would be a defensive error that would cost the Warriors dearly, with City scoring from virtually its only clear cut chance of the game in the 35^th minute.

Against the run of play, in-form striker Markelis found himself on the end of a defence splitting long ball, managing to poke the ball past North keeper Daniel Zilic for what would prove to be the only goal of the game.

In the second half, the action at both ends turned up a notch, but the scoreboard attendant was not troubled.

The highlight of the final 45 minutes was the return from injury of Warriors striker Mark Paleka. Coming on to replace Yusuf in the 59^th minute, it was Paleka’s first appearance in North’s red strip since the Round 8 clash with Avondale.

It was the only positive outcome on yet another disappointing day for Warriors supporters, while the high flying Hume managed to do just enough to secure the three points.

 

Match Details:

North Geelong 0 defeated by Hume City 1 (Markelis 35’) at Elcho Park (HT 0:1)

North Geelong: 1 Daniel ZILIC, 2 Darren LEWIS, 3 Matt TOWNLEY, 6 Josh PUGH, 4 Nikola JURKOVIC, 7 Reardo LUKA (9 Rudi SAGLAM 80’), 8 Vito CICHELLO, 10 Yusuf YUSUF (14 Mark PALEKA 59’), 17 Nicholas JURCIC, 23 Michael ANDERSON, Gareth RICHARDS.

Subs not used: 5 Anthony BANOVAC, 19 Matija DRGOVIC, 31 Hamish FLAVELL

Yellow Cards: Cichello 40', Jurkovic 73’.

Red Cards: None

Hume City: 1 Chris OLDFIELD, 9 Paul HARVEY, 17 Marcus SCHROEN, 13 Shane REXHEPI, 16 Matty HENNESSEY (18 Lian NEWMAN 15'), 3 Shaun TIMMINS, 4 Isyan ERDOGAN, 2 Daniel CHABANI, 39 Nick HEGARTY, 8 Theo MARKELIS (11 Ivan PAVLAK 87’), 7 Jai INGHAM

Subs not used: 21 Niko JACKSON, 12 Daniel CLARK, 20 Tom BANFIELD.

Yellow Cards: Erdogan 5'

Red Cards: None