Werribee earns first win in hard-fought contest with Oakleigh
By BRAD HUTCHINGS (@BradHutchings_)
Werribee City has its first PS4 NPL Victoria win for season 2015 with a 2-1 win over Oakleigh Cannons at Galvin Park on Sunday afternoon.
The drought finally broke for the Bees in front of their home fans thanks to first half goals to Ryan Filipovic and Steven Cudrig.
The hosts were forced to do it the hard way, forced to play a large portion of the second half with 10-men with Flipovic receiving a second yellow in the 68th minute.
Werribee started the game brightly and could have scored inside two minutes after Chris Cristaldo forced a smart save from Cannons keeper John Honos.
After controlling the play Werribee bagged the opener in the 13th minute with a mad scramble inside the box from a free kick resulting in Cudrig bundling home.
Five players could have had the chance to find the net, before Cudrig got the final touch.
Oakleigh were back on level terms just five minutes later when Dusan Bosnjak broke clear of the Werribee defence to slide one past Bees’ number one Frano Saric.
Not deterred by the goal Werribee pushed Oakleigh in search of its second and almost had it when Simon Zappia’s curling shot from distance was saved by Honos.
Werribee retook the lead just moments shy of half time when Anthony Ragusa went down in the box resulting in a Werribee penalty which Filipovic buried.
Werribee defended with intent on the second 45 and was happy to sit back and let Oakleigh take them on.
That task was made that more difficult when Filipovic was sent from the field after copping a second yellow when he kicked the ball away after his side was on the wrong end of a free kick.
The exit of the main man in defence didn’t deter Werribee as the hosts continued to defend their lead expertly.
Despite owning all of the football in the second half, Oakleigh couldn’t find a way through the resolute Werribee defence and struggled to force Saric into many saves.
The win sees Werribee jump clear of North Geelong Warriors on the bottom of the table after both sides went into the weekend level on points.
Match details
Werribee City 2 (Cudrig 13, Filipovic 45+1p) defeated Oakleigh Cannons 1(Bosnjak 18) at Galvin Park
Werribee City: 1. Frano Saric(GK), 4. Simon Collosimo, 8. Daniel Chaabani, 23. Steven Cudrig, 11. Bobby Vidanovski, 19. Robert Naumovski, 3. Ryan Filipovic, 13. Milan Savic(C), 6. Anthony Ragusa (2. Michael Sims 79’), 7. Simon Zappia (15. Nicola Carafiglo 85’), 10. Chris Christaldo (9. Evan Batsis 88’)
Unused subs: 16. Angus Martin, 14 Julien Cassano.
Yellow Cards: Chaabani 62’, Filipovic 58’
Red Cards: Filipovic 68’
Oakleigh Cannons: 76. John Honos, 12. Tremayne Sadler, 18. Adam Le Cornu, 3. John Black, 5. Aron Wilford, 7. Ben Clarke, 23. Dominic D’Angelo(16. Liam Boland 85’), 26. Lampros Honos, 8. Dusan Bosnjak, 10. Deam Piemonte(15. Jake McLean 61’), 19. Goran Zoric(21. Kristopher Kioussis 72’).
Unused Subs: 22. George Krommidas 35. Lajos Hun
Yellow Cards: Bosnjak 58’
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