By MARC SUDHOLZ (@marc014)

Kingston City have run out convincing 1-4 winners over Bulleen Lions at David Barro Stadium on Monday Night.

A Sean McIlroy hat-trick, and a goal from Benjamin Osei-Safo were more than enough for the visitors, as they recorded an upset victory over their high-flying hosts.

Both sides started the game cagily, and the result could have been very different had Bulleen taken an early chance.

With 15 minutes played, Anton Nardella and Billy Romas combined with a clever one-two, but Nardella dragged his shot wide.

Bulleen would be made to pay with lethal effect soon after.

On 25 minutes, a scuffed shot on the edge of the box fell to Osei-Safo, who cut across goal to McIlroy, the striker enjoying the easiest of tap-ins.

The visitors made it 0-2 with nine minutes of the half remaining.

Denis Subanovski cleverly found space on the wing, before playing an intelligent cut-back to McIlroy, who volleyed home with his left to double his tally, and his side's lead.

Subanovski almost got onto the scoresheet himself, but his chip was cleared off the line by Will Abbott.

Kingston went into the half with a deserved lead, but it was reduced just three minutes into the second half.

Dean Lorenzi found space inside the box, and rifled a right-footed shot home to give Bulleen hope.

This hope would be shut out swiftly.

The ever-threatening Osei-Safo beat the offside trap on 62 minutes, controlling, turning, and curling a shot past Luke Gallo.

Bullen then self-destructed.

After being booked for dissent earlier, Anton Nardella made a tackle out of frustration, leaving the referee no choice but to dismiss him.

Bulleen threw numbers forward as they tried to get something out of the game, with Kingston countering at every opportunity.

From one such counter came Kingston's fourth goal.

Substitute Gino Defeo played in McIlroy, who surged powerfully into the box, before being fouled by Abbott, who was the last man. Again, the referee had little option but to produce the red card.

McIlroy promptly blasted the resulting penalty home, to cap off a stunning victory for Kingston City.

Kingston coach Nick Tolios said he could not be prouder of his side’s performance,

“Credit to my guys. They just worked hard. One thing we’ll do is we’ll work hard," he said,

“Tonight I think we did the right thing throughout.

"We couldn’t fault anyone."

Bulleen coach Domenic Barba rued his side’s defensive lapses.

“Our defensive side of our game, which is something we’ve been relatively proud of let us down today,” he admitted.

Bullen Lions 1 (Lorenzi 48’) Defeated By Kingston City 4 (Mcilroy 25’,36,90+2’, Osei-Safo 62’) at David Barro Stadium, Bulleen.

Bulleen XI: 21: Luke GALLO (GK), 4: Samual BORGHESI, 3: Will ABBOTT, 6: Hysoli BARDHI, 8: Matteo BALLAN (C), 9: Sayeed Reza HOSSANI (13: Dean LORENZI 46’) , 10: Takanori NISHIMOTO, 12: Eli LUTTMER, 15: Billy ROMAS (31: Dylan BRESOLIN 75’), 17: Anton NARDELLA, 20: Andrew MULLETT.

Subs: 1: Matt BANOERIC (GK), 5: Lewis WADDELL, 23: Edison DONARI.

Yellow Cards: Nardella 65’, 72’

Red Cards: Nardella 72’, Abbott 90+2’

Kingston XI:1: Fraser MCLAREN (GK), 2: George STAVRIDIS (3: Kemal CURAN 77’) , 6: Nicholas MODAFFUSI, 4: Nicholas KARVELIS, 5: James TEICHMANN, 16: Nicholas STAMATIOV, 14: Nicholas IACONIS, 8: Deniz SABANOVSKI, 22: Sean MCILROY, 7: Benjamin OSEI-SAFO (17: Laurent CORALIE 83’) , 11: Stelios KONSTANDINIDIS(15: Gino DEFEO 86’) .

Subs: 13: Douglas LINDBERG, 21: Steve FERGADIOTIS.

Yellow Cards: Stavridis 55’

Red Cards: None.