By DAMIR KULAS (@DamirKulas)

Bentleigh Greens has jumped to the top of the PlayStation 4 NPL Victoria table after a late equaliser earned them a 1-1 draw over a resolute ten man Pascoe Vale at CB Smith Reserve on Friday night.

The home side opened the scoring early on through Davey van’t Schip before a red card to Aaron Turner changed the course of the game, with a late equaliser to Liam McCormick earning the Greens a hard-fought point.

Vitale Ferrante’s side were quick out of the blocks early on as a Matthew Lazarides ball into the near post picked out skipper Joseph Youssef who was unable to direct his effort on target.

The hosts then had a good set-piece opportunity as Tom Black’s free kick just outside the box forced Bentleigh goalkeeper Alastair Bray into a sharp save.

Paco’s early pressure was rewarded just past the 20 minute mark when a great ball into the box from Jake Halliday was met by van’t Schip who turned onto his right before slotting the ball past a stranded Bray in Bentleigh's goal.

The game soon turned as starting debutant Aaron Turner was shown a straight red card for preventing a clear goal-scoring opportunity on the line with his arm.

Chris Lucas stepped up from the spot but blasted his kick onto the post with the follow-up falling to Ryan De Vries, who skied his effort over the bar.

With Pascoe Vale sitting deep, Bentleigh pressed high in search of a quick response only for De Vries’ half-volley to skim past the post.

The Greens came out in the second half in desperate search of an equaliser but found themselves up against a determined home outfit which limited them to mainly half chances.

Chris Lucas managed to flash a quick shot that breezed past the side netting from a De Vries cross from the left in the 54^th minute.

With just twenty minutes on the clock remaining, veteran Greens attacker Daniel Visevic unleashed a fierce shot from distance which was destined for the top corner if not for a fingertip save from Paco goalkeeper Alex Pavlidis.

With the clock ticking, Lucas and McCormick tried their luck to no avail as a tame header and an off target shot from distance failed to trouble Pavlidis.

Just as it looked like Pascoe Vale would hold on for all three points, a classy back-heel from Visevic found McCormick, whose sublime chip sneaked in under the crossbar for a brilliant equaliser.

The Greens had one more chance to win the game but substitute Jamie de Abreu sliced his shot off target after being teed up by Tyson Holmes.

Match details

Pascoe Vale 1 (van’t Schip 21) drew with Bentleigh Greens 1 (McCormick 88) at CB Smith Reserve

PV: 35. Alex Pavlidis (GK), 2. Adrian Talarico, 4. Adam Nakic, 7. Luca Santilli (3. Nathan Megic 82’), 8. Joseph Youssef, 10. Davey van’t Schip (19. Andrew Scicluna 90’), 13. Matthew Lazarides, 16. Tomi Milardovic, 17. Aaron Turner, 18. Tom Black, 23. Jake Halliday

Unused Subs: 1. Dennys Martin (GK), 11. Carlos Matti

Yellow Card(s): None

Red Card(s): Turner 23

BG: 21. Alastair Bray (GK), 4. Troy Ruthven (7. Jamie de Abreu 67’), 5. Jack Webster, 6. Liam McCormick, 9. Chris Lucas, 10. Tyson Holmes, 11. Dion Kirk, 19. Daniel Visevic, 23. Ryan De Vries, 24. Luke Pilkington, 36. Steven Topalovic

Unused Subs: 1. Ryan Scott (GK), 3. Ryan Love, 24. Austin Wong

Yellow Card(s): Lucas 35, Topalovic 75, Pilkington 86

Red Card(s): None