By Andrew Macdougall (@RealMacdougall)

Box Hill United picked up a tough 1-0 victory over North Geelong Warriors at Elcho Park on Saturday.
A second-half goal from the penalty spot by Rinor Muriqi was enough to give Box Hill an important three points.

There would be no goals in the first half as both teams traded chances, but as the half wore on North Geelong started to dominate possession and produce opportunities.

The first meaningful chance of the game came via Warriors midfielder Reardo Luka, who found space in front of the penalty box and blasted a goal-bound shot which forced a terrific diving save from Alexander Pavlidis.

With the Warriors controlling the play, Box Hill defended valiantly as it cleared and blocked its way out of trouble. In a rare chance in the first half for Box Hill, Matt Waters skyed his attempted shot after getting on the end of a Matt Collier cross.

As both teams battled for the ascendency, the first half finished with both teams locked at 0-0.

The second half would see a much more lively and attacking Box Hill, with star Kenny Athiu substituted into the match and immediately causing the home side trouble.

At 56 minutes Box Hill was rewarded for its attacking play when a penalty was called against Mark Paleka for a push from behind. Muriqi stepped up and took the penalty, sending goalkeeper Frano Saric the wrong way to give the away side a vital 1-0 lead.

The Warriors searched forward looking for that important equaliser, and that chance came in the 65th minute as a loose ball fell to the feet of Paleka whose powerful shot on goal bounced off a sea of legs and was eventually cleared by Box Hill.

The game took a turn on 80 minutes when the referee showed a red card to North Geelong’s Luka, forcing the home side to play with 10 men for the remaining 10 minutes.

Chasing the game and a man short, North Geelong kept looking to take something from the match, and on 89 minutes it was nearly rewarded as Box Hill’s Christian Lak looked to have impeded on Paleka, but the home side’s pleas were waved away and the game would end with Box Hill holding on for a tough and important victory.

Even with the loss, North Geelong coach Ante Skoko was pleased with the way his side played against a solid Box Hill team.

“We were playing probably one of the best teams in the league, we didn’t have the lion share of possession, but I thought we were more effective and spent more time in their half,” Skoko said.

“That’s very pleasing to me, because I have a lot of respect for what they are doing at Box Hill.”

Match Details

North Geelong Warriors 0 lost to Box Hill United 1 (Muriqi 56’ pen.) at Elcho Park (HT: 0-0)

North Geelong Warriors: 22. Frano SARIC (GK), 99. Nathan LONG, 11. Matthew TOWNEY, 2. Darren LEWIS, 52. Reha KURUL, 8. Vito CICHELLO, 23. Michael ROJAR, 17. Nicholas JURCIC (4. Nathan COOK 72’), 7. Reardo LUKA, 10. Robert ZADOWRUY, 14. Mark PALEKA (19. Nicholas ANDERSON 85’).

UNUSED SUBS: 1. Daniel ZILIC, 5. Michael RADOJEVIC, 32. Jackson DAVIS.

YELLOW CARDS: Vito CICHELLO 5’, Mark PALEKA 56’.

RED CARDS: Reardo LUKA 80’.

Box Hill United: 35. Alexander PAVLIDIS (GK), 12. Adrian DEL MONACO, 3. Matt COLLIER, 10. Rinor MURIQI (16. Christian LAR 79’), 22. Nick KOKALAKIS, 11. Matt WATERS, 4. Chris IRWIN (20. Josh BUSCH 69’), 8. Samuel CATHERINE, 29. George HOWARD, 5. Alex SCHROEN (Kenjor ATHIU 55’), 22. Josh VALADON.

UNUSED SUBS: 21. Christian PAVLIDIS, 28. Imran SAHKOH.

YELLOW CARDS: Nick KOKALAKIS 60’, Chris IRWIN 62’, Samuel CATHERINE 83’.

RED CARDS: None.