By Jordan Lim (@JordanLim24)

Hume City has earned its first points of the season as it claimed a late 2-0 win over Avondale FC at Broadmeadows Valley Park on Sunday afternoon.

Despite the picturesque conditions, the healthy crowd wasn’t treated to a football contest to match the landscape, as the game struggled for any sort of potency, save for the last 10 minutes.

Jai Ingham was the man who eventually broke the deadlock with just over 10 minutes to play, before supplying the final ball for Nick Hegarty’s sealer, but those magic moments were few and far between.

Chances fell periodically in a midfield dominated game, the first going Avondale’s way as former Werribee man Simon Tolli pressed hard to win the ball twice in quick succession.

On the second occasion, the former Werribee man found a telling cross to the far stick, with Jungho Kim poking narrowly wide as he desperately slid to meet the ball.

Hume’s new striker Calvin Mbarga had the ball on a string as he kept possession on the edge of the penalty area, drawing a number of defenders before eventually feeding Hegarty, who cut onto the left and fired into the arms of Fraser Siddall.

The goalkeeper was forced into action again on the hour mark as he rushed out of his area to meet a delivery on the right flank, but his clearance found Hume’s skipper, who was brought down before he could unleash into an empty net.

Opposing number one Chris Oldfield was forced into something similar, as he charged out of his area to smash a high clearance away.

Avondale forward Tolli couldn’t force an effort despite being first to the poor ball from Oldfield, as Shane Rexhepi mopped up the danger.

From defence to attack in a split-second, centre-half Rexhepi saw an injury time header cannon off the upright and agonisingly out of play.

Hume raced out of the blocks in the second term, applying pressure in the form of delivery into the 18-yard-box, but Avondale were resolute in their defence.

But it was the newly-promoted side that came closest to breaking the deadlock, as Chris Irwin had a couple of bites at the cherry, scuppered by the diving leg of fullback Dean Tomeski, before being matched by a double save from Oldfield, who scampered away at his near post.

With 20 minutes remaining, Rexhepi saw another effort saved on the last line of defence, as Avondale centre-back Michele Crazia stood firm on the far post to clear any danger.

It may not have looked likely, but the deadlock was eventually broken on 79 minutes through new man Ingham.

The livewire winger took a moment to compose himself on the edge of the area before unleashing his shot into the bottom corner.

Substitute Deang Aguek came close to doubling Hume’s advantage, first with a glancing header which forced a save from Siddall, then with his cutback on goal which didn’t get the final touch it deserved.

Hegarty and co. hit Avondale on the counter, and the captain killed the game off with a 90^th minute goal, after a neat interchange with Ingham.

 

MATCH DETAILS

Hume City 2 (Ingham 79’, Hegarty 90’) defeated Avondale FC 0 at Broadmeadows Valley Park

Hume City: 1. Chris Oldfield (GK), 2. Dean Tomeski, 13. Shane Rexhepi, 5. Petar Franjic, 3. Shaun Timmins, 7. Jai Ingham, 10. Joey Franjic, 4. Isyen Erdogan, 39. Nick Hegarty, 8. Calvin Mbarga (9. Deng Aguek 67’), 17. Marcus Schroen (19. Sam Beninato 60’)

Unused Subs: 14. Aaron Turner, 16. Matt Hennessey, 20. Tom Banfield

Yellow Card(s): Nil

Red Card(s): Nil

Avondale FC: 20. Frazer Siddall (GK), 6. Anthony Strono (14. Daniel Slovacek 86’), 13. Michele Crazia, 15. Zoran Pajic, 27. Julien Cannizzaro, 16. Jungho Kim (17. Phillip Riccobene 73’), 5. Jeff Fleming, 4. Chris Irwin, 18. Jonathan Munoz (7. Andrew Le Page 73’), 8. Simon Tolli, 9. Oleksiy Khrapko

Unused Subs: 1. Anthony Saric, 28. Anthony Fallone

Yellow Card(s): Nil

Red Card(s): Nil