By Shaun Moran (@moranshaun)

A dogged Pascoe Vale produced a stirring comeback to claim its first ever NPL win courtesy of a 2-1 win over Heidelberg United at Hosken Reserve on Thursday night.

It was the Bergers who took the lead in albeit controversial circumstances. Heidelberg played on after play seemed to halt for a second while the Pascoe Vale players and bench appealed for a foul in the middle of the park.

The ball soon found itself at the feet of Dan Heffernan, who wriggled his way into the area before slotting past Stefaan Sardelic’s extended right hand.

A Kosta Kanakaris challenge was adjudged to have been illegal and it prompted referee to brandish the first card of the match.

It more importantly provided Michael Ferrante with a set piece that Joseph Youssef snapped up convincingly, in what is becoming the latter’s trademark style.

Youssef’s header across the goal flew beyond Griffin McMaster, sparking raucous cheers from the home faithful.

The reception to the second and ultimately winning goal was as deafening following Luca Santilli’s slick drive, which nestled itself into the bottom corner.

Youssef’s clever pass found Ferrante on the edge of the 18-yard box who, instead of shooting, played a clever lateral ball to Santilli, who had a lot of work to do before smashing in the winner.

Kaine Sheppard looked lively early on for the visitors and it was from a marauding run down the right flank that he whipped in a ball to Heffernan which he failed to direct on goal.

The home side sought out their tireless target man Youssef, who made a nuisance of himself throughout the opening stanza.

George Katsakis’s men began the brightest at the beginning of the second period and had the home side on the back foot. The occasional Pascoe Vale counter attack bore little fruit though as the Bergers short-circuited much of the Vale’s free-flowing passing attempts.

Pascoe Vale thought it had knocked in the sealer a quarter of an hour from time. Ferrante’s corner bobbled around in the area for what seemed to be an eternity, before Youssef toe-poked the ball straight at McMaster, who managed to keep the ball out.

Marco Santilli was given a straight red card for a foul late on, which threatened to unravel the Vale’s plan, but it did not prove decisive as the home side held on for a crucial victory.

Coach Vitale Ferrante expressed his relief in securing his side’s first NPL victory.

“The boys have been doing so well statistically, but we haven’t put any pressure on the opposition because we haven’t scored,” Ferrante said.

“But tonight we did and it was a relief. After going one-nil down, they showed character and I’m rapt for them. They deserved it.”

Heidelberg coach George Katsakis was left to rue a number of missed opportunities.

“It’s very frustrating to be honest,” Katsakis said.

“I thought we had enough possession to capitalise in that first half and go two up. We gave the ball away in the middle of the park and it probably ended up costing us in the end,” Katsakis said.

Heidelberg now turns its attention to its rescheduled Round 4 match against Ballarat on Monday, while Pascoe Vale will be looking to build on its win when it also meets Ballarat at home on Saturday night next week.

MATCH DETAILS

Pascoe Vale 2 (Joseph Youssef 41’, Luca Santilli 72’) defeated Heidelberg United 1 (Daniel Heffernan 32’) [HT: 1-1]

Pascoe Vale: 1. Stefaan SARDELIC, 2. Adrian TALARICO, 3. Nathen MEGIC, 4. Tomislav MILARDOVIC, 7. Luca SANTILLI (6. Roberto DI VITO 75’), 8. Joseph YOUSSEF, 14. Alvaro CARRILLO, 15. Mark PISTININZI, 16. Marco SANTILLI, 20. Alistair DUNLOP (13. Matthew LAZARIDES 82’), 21. Michael FERRANTE.

Unused subs: 10. Davey VAN’T SCHIP, 11. Jonathan VOULGARIS, 25. Yaren SOZER.

Yellow Cards: Nil

Red cards: Marco Santilli (74’)

Heidelberg United: 1. Griffin McMASTER, 4. Jordan WILKES, 13. Luke BYLES, 2. Peter KRATKY, 6. Paul MILLER (8. Zane SOLE 83’), 9. Kosta KANAKARIS, 10. Jack PETRIE, 11. Mark McGOUGH, 3. Les DOUMBALIS, 22. Kaine SHEPPARD (23. Andrew CARTANOS 79’), Dan HEFFERNAN.

Unused subs: 20. Ryan NORVAL, 7. Stef BARICEVIC, 19. James GOULOPOULOS.

Yellow Cards: Kanakaris (40’)

Red Cards: Nil

Pictured: Pascoe Vale celebrates its first NPL win (image credit: Mark Avellino)