South shocked in Suns draw

By Chris Hearn (@_ChrisHearn)

Goulburn Valley Suns has completed one of the shocks of the season, as the Shepparton-based side held on for a 1-1 draw against South Melbourne at Lakeside Stadium.

The result cuts South's lead at the top of the table to four points, after Oakleigh won in Ballarat yesterday.

Tyson Holmes' screamer was cancelled out by Suns winger Benjamin Clarke to conclude the scoring.

Jamie Reed's missed penalty in the second half was costly as the league leaders could not find a way past an impressive Suns custodian Phillip Petrovski in the second period.

The Suns started the game brightly, forcing a succession of dangerous set-pieces and crossing opportunities, but South drew first blood with ruthless efficiency.

Holmes brought the home crowd to its feet with a wonder-strike. The midfielder swivelled brilliantly on the edge of the area to get rid of his marker, before blasting an unstoppable volley past Petrovski.

The Suns would only wait a mere five minutes for a riposte, however, as Clarke struck.

A defence-splitting pass from Craig Carley was aided by Michael Eagar's slip, as the striker chipped brilliantly over Jason Saldaris.

Reed and Nick Epifano then went close, but South's struggle in the final third was evident as the half drew to a close.

South got the response it was looking for in the 47th minute. Milos Lujic's hold-up play earned his side a penalty - the referee adjudging that the striker was being impeded, but it looked like a particularly soft decision.

Reed took responsibility over the resulting spot-kick, but his powerful drive was brilliantly parried by Petrovski.

The final 40 minutes was played at a frenetic pace with both sides bypassing the midfield.

The Suns’ effort levels lifted after Reed's miss, and former South man Kristian Sarkies caused havoc with a free-kick, but the danger was cleared.

Mathew Theodore replied for the hosts with a shot that smacked the upright from 25 yards.

Epifano's guile nearly resulted in a tap-in for Lujic, but the Suns’ defence remained stringent.

Lujic was booked with 15 minutes to play as his challenge left Nick Kalafatis clutching his knee and the defender was subsequently stretchered off.

The bottom-placed Suns sat deep in the closing stages, riding their luck as South rallied, but eventually holding on for the most unlikely of results.


South Melbourne coach Chris Taylor was disappointed with his side’s performance.

"We got the goal at the right time early on, and gifted them a goal to come back into the game," Taylor said.

"All in all it was poor finishing by us.”

Suns goalscorer Clarke was pleased with the direction given to the squad by coach Peter Zois, as well registering his name on the scoresheet.

"We had a game plan which our gaffer Peter Zois set up, to keep the space compact and try to hit them where it hurt,” Clarke said.

"It was a good through ball from Craig (Carley) and I made my mind up straight away."

This result leaves the Suns seven points adrift of 12th-placed Port Melbourne, and assistant coach Shaun Ontong remains confident but grounded at the prospect of improving the club's fortunes.

"It's very much a work in progress, but we're happy with the result,” Ontong said.

"We play Oakleigh away next week, so it doesn't get any easier.”

MATCH DETAILS

South Melbourne 1 (Holmes 10') drew Goulburn Valley Suns (Clarke 15') at Lakeside Stadium [HT:1-1]

South Melbourne: 1. Jason SALDARIS, 2. Tim MALA (15. Kobbie BOAHENE 68'), 3. Andrew MULLETT, 4. Michael EAGAR, 7 .Nick EPIFANO , 8. Mathew THEODORE, 9. Milos LUJIC, 10. Tyson HOLMES, 12. Iqbal JAWADI, 14. James MUSA,17. Jamie REED (Leigh MINOPOULOS 62'),

Unused subs: Dimi TSIARAS, Dion KIRK, Chris MAYNARD

Yellow cards: Mala 38', Lujic 75'



Red cards: None

Goulburn Valley Suns: 1. Phillip PETROVSKI, 2. Cody SELLWOOD , 3. Naum SEKULOVSKI, 5. Nick KALAFATIS (4. Thomas LANGMAN 75'), 7. Benjamin CLARKE, 9. Craig CARLEY (14. Rossi LAGANA 88'), 10. Kristian SARKIES, 11. Ardian VUNIQI, 13. Zachary PARASKEVAS (15. Anthony CALANDRO 88'), 16. Frank LAGANA, 19. Hernan ESPINDOLA.

Unused subs: 6. Fahed ALGHAZALY, 22. Jake KEATING



Yellow cards: Sekulovski 26'



Red cards: None

Pictured: South Melbourne's Tyson Holmes gives instructions to Milos Lujic (No.9). Image credit: Cindy Nitsos.




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