By Damir Kulas

Avondale have recurred from their weekend annihilation at the hands of South Melbourne to record a comprehensive 5-1 victory over a lacklustre Oakleigh Cannons at Jack Edwards Reserve on Wednesday night.
A hat-trick to Jacob Colosimo and further strikes from Matthew Sanders and youngster Dean Campelj secured all three points for the visitors with Mirjan Pavlovic’s first-half goal proving to be mere consolation for the Cannons.
The tone of the contest was set from the outset as Anthony Barbieri’s men took an early lead as some good team interplay saw Colosimo cut the ball back to Sanders to tap home an easy opener.
Matthew Foschini went in search of a quick-response for the home side but saw his fierce effort from the edge of the box deflected just wide of goal by the Avondale defence.
A clever dink from Massimo Murdocca found Alex Khrapko but the Ukrainian-born forward saw his shot well saved by Lajos Hun, who deputised for the absent John Honos.
One quickly became two as a fantastic through ball was latched onto by Colosimo who doubled his side’s lead with a splendid finish past the stranded Hun.
Avondale almost grabbed a third immediately after when the tricky Francesco Stella saw his shot from range clip the top of the crossbar.
Dusan Bosnjak went close to reducing the deficit but he was denied by Avondale goalkeeper Frazer Siddall who produced a fantastic save to deny the Cannons attacker.
Oakleigh did however get one back before the break when a slick counter-attack saw Jake McLean and Sean Rooney combine well to set-up Pavlovic who expertly tucked the ball home to reduce the deficit.
Lajos Hun came to his side’s rescue after the break when his splendid save denied Sanders a second after some neat build-up play from Murdocca and Colosimo.
However there was to be no denying Colosimo who made it 3-1 not long after as a fantastic ball to the back post saw the ex-Melbourne Knights forward head home for his second.
He then grabbed a deserved hat-trick two minutes later when he headed home once more, this time from Stella’s corner with the Oakleigh defence at sixes and sevens unable to stop a rampant Avondale attack.
Colosimo then almost grabbed his fourth in the preceding minutes while Sanders had his shot cleared off the line after some great work from Khrapko.
Oakleigh’s humiliation was complete soon after when a brilliant low-dink ball into the box from Murdocca found an unmarked Campelj who took his opportunity and finished well for his side’s fifth.
An embarrassing home defeat for Arthur Papas’ men who could do nothing to stop an inspired Colosimo and Avondale in the side’s penultimate clash of the season heading into this week’s final round.

MATCH DETAILS

Oakleigh Cannons 1 (Pavlovic 33) defeated by Avondale (Sanders 3, Colosimo 20, 71, 73, Campelj 76) at Jack Edwards Reserve

Oakleigh Cannons: 35. Lajos Hun (GK), 5. Aron Wilford (4. Theo Papageorgiou 68’), 6. Steve Pantelidis, 8. Dusan Bosnjak, 11. Kofi Danning, 12. Tremayne Sadler, 14. Mirjan Pavlovic, 15. Jake McLean (10. Dean Piemonte 71’), 16. Sean Rooney (26. Lambros Honos 78’), 21. Jakob Williams, 22. Matthew Foschini
Unused Subs: 76. Evan Kraloglou (GK), 2. Rowan McNamee
Yellow Card(s): Williams 44
Red Card(s): None

Avondale FC: 20. Frazer Siddall (GK), 4. Jacob Colosimo (23. Vojislav Milojevic 83’), 5. Jeff Fleming, 7. Luke Colaianni, 8. Massimo Murdocca, 9. Alex Khrapko (31. Omar Ammache 79’), 11. Francesco Stella (24. Daniel Slovacek 79’), 13. Michele Crazia, 16. Matthew Sanders, 17. Phillip Riccobene, 37. Dean Campelj  
Unused Subs: 1. Mark Spiteri (GK), 10. Burakhan Koca
Yellow Card(s): None
Red Card(s): None