By Bill Molloy (@Bill_Molloy94)

Bentleigh Greens and Goulburn Valley Suns have shared a point at Kingston Heath after a 2-2 draw. 

The draw makes it five points in four games for new Suns coach David Davkovski, but the result is less favourable for fourth-placed Bentleigh, who have dropped in form with just two wins in its last five games.

Bentleigh took the lead early through Ryan De Vries, who took the long ball down with a nice touch before curling the ball around the goalkeeper to give the home side the advantage. 

Goulburn Valley had the chance to equalise late in the second half as the referee awarded a penalty following a clumsy challenge in the area. 

Foxhoven stepped up to take the spot-kick but Allistair Bray reached down low to his right to save it. 

The ball then spilled back out to Foxhoven however, and this time he made no mistake in converting the opportunity. 

Greens regained its lead barely a minute after, as David Stirton broke through on the left flank and fired a well-struck shot across the face of goal and into the back of the net. 

But late in the second half, Goulburn Valley found an equaliser through Ben Clarke as Simon Colosimo dinked a through ball, and an exquisite touch allowed the former to take the ball around Bray before tucking the ball into the back of the net.

Despite a number of chances late in the game for the home side, the Suns were able to hold on for a point.

Bentleigh coach John Gabrielson put the draw down to an inability to finish.

“We lacked a little bit of experience and we were unable to capitalise on a lot of the opportunities that we had and unfortunately we got punished at the other end,” Gabrielson said.

Bentleigh face a busy period ahead, with a mid-week fixture against league leaders South Melbourne and then Heidelberg United, before flying to Blacktown for its first FFA Cup game.

“South Melbourne is a top side. They’re the best side in the league by far...It’ll be a good test for us to see what we can do,” he said.

Goulburn Valley coach David Davkovski was happy with the performance but was disappointed with the result.

“Two points lost. I think we could’ve won the game to be honest. In the second half we played well and we didn’t pack it in but we’ll soldier on,” Davkovski said.

He was also quick to note the amount of youngsters in his side regardless of how undermanned Bentleigh was. 

“They can tell me they put in young boys but I’ve had young boys since I’ve come on the job.”

MATCH DETAILS

BENTLEIGH GREENS 2 (Devries 13’, Stirton 39’) drew with GOULBURN VALLEY SUNS 2 (Foxhoven 38’, Clarke 78’) [HT: 2-1]

Bentleigh Greens: 21. Alistair Bray 2. Thomas Matthews 3. James Cummings 5. Jack Webster 15. Christian Carvallo 20. Davide Cardamore (4. Patrick Avice 48’) 10. David Stirton 14. Ryan Devries 22. Lewis Foster 12. Luke Gallo 16. Nicholas Teichman (23. Christopher Droutsas 67’)

Unused subs: 1. Lajos Hun  18. Oliver Patgrno 

Yellow cards: None

Red cards: None

Goulburn Valley Suns: 1. Phillip Petrovski 2. Cody Sellwood 5. Riley Hamilton 3. Naum Sekulovski 4. Simon Colosimo 16. Frank Lagana 10. Brian Vanega 7. Benjamin Clarke 17. Zachary Foxhoven (6. Mathew Gleeson 61’) 11. Ardian Vuniqi (18. Joey Hogarty 56’) 9. Thomas Langman (14. Rossi Lagana 56’) 

Unused subs: 8. Daniel Chaabani 22. Jake Keating  

Yellow cards: None

Red cards: None