By Damir Kulas (@DamirKulas)

Werribee City has ended Bentleigh Greens' 100 per cent start to the season, after a 1-1 draw in an entertaining game of football at the Kingston Heath Soccer Complex on Wednesday night.

New signing Christopher Cristaldo opened his account for the visitors from the spot just after the break, before Matt Thurtell converted an indirect free-kick late on to salvage a point for the Greens.

John Anastasiadis' side came into the clash having won their first two games and brought in Troy Ruthven into the eleven for his starting debut in place of the suspended Jack Webster.

The visitors had lost their two opening games and were without veteran Simon Colosimo - who was rested - but did bring in former Melbourne Victory midfielder Christopher Cristaldo into the line-up for his debut.

The home side was first to launch a genuine effort on goal when Chris Lucas set up Tyson Holmes in the sixth minute, only for the midfielder's shot flash just wide.

Werribee striker Gazmund Ajdini then almost gave the visitors a shock lead when he met Anthony Ragusa's cross from the left with a powerful header that had Alistair Bray beaten in Bentleigh goals, but not the post as the ball cannoned back off the woodwork.

With Holmes pulling the strings in midfield, the Greens looked ever so dangerous up front with the in-form Thurtell and Chris Lucas fluffing good opportunities to break the deadlock.

City goalkeeper Frano Saric then thwarted the hosts on two separate occasions, the first saw him tip Holmes' goal-bound striker over the bar before producing a great save to deny Greens captain Wayne Wallace from distance.

Holmes was unlucky not to have opened the scoring in the 41st minute when his shot from the edge of the area hit the post as Daniel Visevic's follow-up untested a defiant Saric in goals.

Two more good opportunities were spurned before the interval when Luke Pilkington had an effort well saved by Saric before Ajdini missed a gilt-edged chance in stoppage time, as he blazed over.

Upon the resumption of play came the game's big talking point as the referee pointed to the spot after Steven Topalovic was adjudicated to have fouled Simon Zappia in the box.

Debutant Cristaldo stood up and sent Bray the wrong to give Nino Ragusa's men a shock lead in the 49th minute.

That sprung the home side into action with the tricky Visevic and the lively Pilkington coming close to finding an equaliser without ever troubling a defiant Saric in goals.

The hosts brought on 17 year-old youngster Austin Wong for his debut in an attempt to find an equaliser and a stroke of fortune would see them find them when Saric was deemed to have picked up a back-pass right in front of goals.

Thurtell stepped up and blasted the in-direct free kick home in what was his fourth goal in three games this season.

Despite the hosts throwing plenty of men forward, Werribee held on for a point to claim their first point of the season while Bentleigh would be disappointed not to have continued their winning start.

Match Details

BENTLEIGH GREENS 1 (Thurtell 86') drew with WERRIBEE CITY 1 (Cristaldo 49 pen')

BENTLEIGH GREENS: 21. Alistair Bray (GK), 2. Thomas Matthews, 4. Troy Ruthven, 8. Wayne Wallace, 9. Chris Lucas, 10. Tyson Holmes, 11. Dion Kirk (6.Liam McCormick 73'), 18. Matt Thurtell, 19. Daniel Visevic (7.Jamie de Abreu 64'), 24. Luke Pilkington, 36. Steven Topalovic (23.Austin Wong 78')

Unused Substitutes: 1. Ryan Scott (GK), 15. Kobbie Boahene

Yellow Card(s): Wallace 84

Red Card(s): None

WERRIBEE CITY: 1. Frano Saric, 3. Ryan Filipovic, 6. Anthony Ragusa (5. Arturo Ymeri 72'), 7. Simon Zappia (22. Josh Jokic 80'), 10. Christopher Cristaldo, 11. Bobby Vidanovski, 13. Milan Savic, 15. Nicola Carafiglio, 18. Gazmund Ajdini (14. Julien Cassano 55'), 19. Rob Naumovski, 23. Steve Cudrig

Unused Substitutes: 9. Evan Batsis, 12. Robert Kilmartin (GK)

Yellow Card(s): Cudrig 21, Carafiglio 44, Vidanovski 84

Red Card(s): None

PHOTO: Charlie Lombardo