By James Manton

In a tight and defensively stout game, neither Eastern Lions nor Melbourne Victory was able to take home the three points at Gardiners Creek Reserve on Saturday afternoon.

Despite a late flurry of shots from the Lions in the dying minutes, the game was evenly contested and the 1-1 result was appropriate for both sides.

The first half was marred with a lack of opportunities, Joey Katebian's saved effort 15 minutes into the match the first of very few.

Christian Cavallo came closest to scoring as he nearly pounced on an Andrew Lightfoot save, but a sliding tackle just metres out from the goal saved him from scoring into an empty net.

Victory had the greater control of possession in the opening half, but none of its front three could muster clear shots or opportunities.

The second half continued in much the same manner as the first, with the first shot coming well after the restart, as Wyatt Chant easily stopped a Munyaradzi Nyadzayo shot from the edge of the area - his first save of the day.

The deadlock was finally broken by the Lions in the 67th minute as Philip Ajao picked up the ball near the halfway line, running it to the byline and dinking a cross onto the head of Mitch Beamish, who duly slid the ball into the far corner.

However their celebrations were short lived as barely five minutes later Melbourne equalised through a Milos Ridesic header, as he found himself clear from a corner to easily power the ball into the net.

Anthony Duzel could have given the home side the lead just a couple of minutes later as he intercepted an awful clearance inside the box, but his woeful attempt was hit well over the crossbar.

With time nearly up, the Lions had two clear chances to win the match in injury time, however both Ajao and Nyadzayo missed gilt-edged opportunities from inside the box to ensure the points were split.

Melbourne Victory 1 (Ridesic 73') drew with Eastern Lions 1 (Beamish 67')

MELBOURNE VICTORY: 1. Wyatt CHANT, 19. Nick GLAVAN, 5. Damien MISKULIN, 3. Milos RIDESIC, 4. John VAKIRTZIS (13. Lucas DERRICK 46'), 8. Anthony DUZEL (17. Pierre WARING 77'), 6 Stefan NIGRO, 10. Dion PAOLA, 18. Christian CAVALLO, 9. Joey KATEBIAN, 11. John MACLEAN.

Unused substitutes: 7. Jesse DALEY, 20, Andre JANNESE, 2. Reece CALDECOURT

Yellow card(s): Nigro 62'

Red card(s): Nil

EASTERN LIONS: 1. Andrew LIGHTFOOT, 2. William ELLIS (14. Jordan HORN 78'), 3. Matthew PARRY, 5. Thomas FALCONER, 6. Andrew WILLIAMS, 7. Ziggy RAZUKI (4. Michael JONES 46'), 8. Mitch BEAMISH, 10. Philip AJAO, 11. Munyaradzi NYADZAYO, 13. Jarrah CLEAR, 16. Shaun KERRY (15. Yianni TOUMANIDIS 56')

Unused substitutes: 27. Robert HAVERCROFT, 12. Cameron PAIN

Yellow card(s): Williams 39'

Red card(s): Nil