By Alen Delic (@alendelic)

Avondale Heights has stretched its lead at the top of the NPL 1 table after a fiery affair at Elcho Park against North Geelong Warriors.

An Opeksiy Khrapko goal in the 25th minute was enough to separate the two sides and earn Avondale Heights an invaluable away win in a gritty, hard-fought 1-0 win.

The opening attacking forays were all the way of the home side, with Avondale Heights on the defence.

An early long shot in the fourth minute from Robert Zadworny almost caught Anthony Saric unaware, but Avondale’s keeper was equal to the task and managed to make a strong save.

The hosts had another chance to take the lead shortly after, when Reha Kurul got on the end of a Luka Reardo corner but put it just above the crossbar.

Avondale began to press back, but couldn’t get past the Warriors’ defence.

North Geelong had a third chance to get a goal within the opening 20 minutes when some beautiful play freed up Zadworny to drift a searching cross to the far post, but a desperate diving header from Nathan Long couldn’t direct the cross on target.

Despite the hosts’ domination, it was the visitors that struck first.

A blocked clearance from defender Darren Lewis was skillfully controlled by Jason Principato on the wing, and a last ditch challenge from Kurul couldn’t stop the square ball in to Avondale Heights’ target man Opeksiy Khrapko at the six-yard box.

Big man Khrapko dutifully took his chance with a first-time shot under goalkeeper Damel Zilic to put the visitors in the lead.

That goal was the turning point in the game, as North Geelong’s dominant spell came to an end.

The game turned into a tit-for-tat battle of attrition with the main weapons being long balls and early crosses.

Temperatures rose and tempers flared after half an hour, when Zoran Pajic dived in dangerously on Nathan Long, earning himself a yellow card. It looked a potentially dangerous challenge, but Long walked away from it.

Just 15 minutes later, a seemingly innocuous challenge from Zadworny left Avondale full-back Julien Cannizzaro writhing in pain.

It was the end of his game, with Michele Crazia coming on just before halftime.

The second half began in a similar fashion to the way the first ended: a flurry of set pieces and long balls.

Neither team looked capable of taking hold of the game and creating opportunities from open play.
Tempers again flared after an off-the-ball incident in the 75th minute when substitute Nicola Jurkovic was seemingly floored.

After consulting the assistant referee, Crazia was booked.

Just minutes later, North Geelong thought it was in with a penalty shout when forward Mark Paleka fell in a shoulder-to-shoulder incident with Zoran Pajic. Referee Bruno D’Aniello was unmoved.

The final minutes of the game again saw North Geelong take hold and push for the equaliser.

But the visitors held firm, not giving the Warriors’ a chance to get a clean shot on target.

Avondale Heights saw out the game and managed to escape with a 1-0 win away from home, and extend its lead at the top of the table to five points, thanks to a Sunshine George Cross loss.

Despite sealing the three points, Avondale Heights coach Anthony Barbieri was not happy with his side’s performance.

“It wasn’t a very pretty performance by us,” Barbieri said.

“It’s probably our worst performance of the year, being quite honest.

“But credit to North Geelong, they made it hard for us to play our game.”

Barbieri said that despite the performance, the game showed that his side has what it takes to make top spot their own.

“Today proved it,” he said.

“You’ve got to win those games where sometimes things aren’t going your way, and you have to grind out a result.

“But there’s still miles to go. We’ll take it week to week.”

North Geelong coach Ante Skoko was unavailable for comment.

MATCH DETAILS

North Geelong Warriors 0 were defeated by Avondale Heights 1 (Khrapko 25’) at Elcho Park [HT: 0-1]

NORTH GEELONG WARRIORS: 1. Damel ZILIC 35. Matthew TOWNLEY 2. Darren LEWIS 16. Michael CARCIC 52. Reha KURUL 99. Nathan LONG (17. Nicholas JURCIC 85’) 8. Vito-Simon CICHELLO 7. Luka REARDO 14. Mark PALEKA 10. Robert ZADWORNY 23. Michael BOYAR (36. Nicola JURKOVIC 67’)

Unused subs: 22. Frano SARIC 4. Nathan COOK 9. Allesandro STEFANO

Yellow cards: Nil

Red cards: Nil

AVONDALE HEIGHTS: 1. Anthony SARIC 27. Julien CANNIZZARO (31. Michele CRAZIA 44’) 6. Anthony STRANO 15. Zoran PAJIC 4. Dean CAMPELJ 10. Burakhan KOCA 24. Resit CULCULOGKU (20. John SCOLLO 87’) 11. Bale MICOVSKI 19. Jason PRINCIPATO (8. Bosin GEORGEVSKI 67’) 7. Andrew LE PAGE 34. Opeksiy KHRAPKO

Unused subs: 12. John MUSICO

Yellow cards: 15. Zoran PAJIC 31’ ; 31. Michele CRAZIA 75’

Red cards: Nil