By Tim McGlone

Two stunning first-half strikes helped Kingston City on its way to a 5-0 demolition of Richmond at Kevin Bartlett Reserve on Friday night.

Gino Defeo came off the bench in the second half to score a double, completing a scoreline that few at the ground would have predicted pre-game.

Coming off the back of two convincing defeats, Kingston was magnificent all night, with the
scoreline reflecting the nature of the away side’s dominance.

John Maclean opened the scoring in the 8th minute, escaping the offside trap before finishing with an audaciously cheeky 25-yard lob over Richmond keeper Matt Hrastov.

Richmond had its chances in the opening stages, with Liam Flynn creating opportunities from the left flank. Tom Cahill spurned a golden opportunity when he blasted over from close range too after getting on the end of one of Flynn’s crosses.

The home side was made to pay when Kingston full-back George Stavridis doubled his side’s advantage with an incredible goal in the 17th minute.

Coming in on the right-hand side, Stavridis floated in a ball that may have been meant as a cross, but drifted over an unlucky Hrastov and delightfully into the opposite corner of the net.

If Richmond could count itself unlucky with the quality of the goal it conceded in the first half, then it could have no complaints about the result in the second half.

Kingston’s Velibor Mitrovic split the hosts’ defence wide open on many occasions, and was rewarded when he finished coolly in the 73rd minute.

Defeo completed the rout with two late goals, the second of which came from a series of defensive errors from Richmond.

Kingston City coach Nick Tolios was extremely pleased with the performance of his charges.
“The character of the guys was great. I’m really proud,” Tolios said.

“We were up against it after the last few weeks, but the boys stuck to the game plan. Even when we were under the pump for 20 minutes in the first half, they dug deep, and it was our commitment that was the difference tonight.”

Richmond was unavailable for comment.

Both sides have a bye during the Easter weekend next weekend. Following the bye, Richmond travels north to play FC Bendigo, while Kingston City plays host to North Geelong Warriors.

MATCH DETAILS

Richmond 0 lost to Kingston City 5 (Maclean 8’, Stavridis 17’, Mitrovic 72, Defeo 73’ 90’) at Kevin Bartlett Reserve [HT: 0-2]

Richmond: 1. Matt HRASTOV (GK), 2. Andrew GOFF, 12. James STEFANOU, 5.Rylan SADLER, 18. George TSIAKALAKIS (10. Tim PURCELL 54’), 14. Sebastian PETROVIC, 6. David KUSTURA (3. Daniel MILBURROW  83’), 8. Josh KNIGHT, 11. Liam FLYNN (4. Ryan SUPPLE 65’),7. Hamlet ARMENIAN, 9. Tom CAHILL,

Unused Subs: 20. Tom BANFIELD, 16. Mitchell BEAMISH

Yellow Cards: James STEFANOU 20’.

Kingston City: 13. George MALLIARAS (GK), 5. Curan KEMAL, 16. Nicholas STAMATIOU, 3. Stacy TSALKOS, 17. Deniz SABANOVSKI, 7. Velibor MITROVIC, 11. George STAVRIDIS, 10. John MACLEAN, 14. Arthur PAPADOPOULOS (15. Gino DEFEO 65’), 20. Michael GERACE (6. Stefan SOLER), 19. Andrew DOIG,

Unused Subs: 1. Sermin SADIKOVSKI, 8. Anthony STAVRIDIS, 12. Michael HORVATINOVIC.

Yellow Cards: Andrew DOIG 6’, Nicholas STAMATIOU 20’, John MACLEAN 60’, Curan KEMAL 69’.