Late goal raises anger

April 28 2014

Shepparton News

A controversial late goal from Green Gully substitute Osagie Ederaro extended Goulburn Valley Suns’ winless start to the National Premier Leagues season to six games.

Ederaro was on hand to stroke home Matthew Sanders’ pass, after a scramble in the box, to hand the Cavaliers a 2-1 win at Green Gully Reserve on Saturday.

Suns coach Melvyn Wilkes was furious with the referee for allowing play to continue after what he perceived to be a foul on goalkeeper Phil Petrovski.

‘‘They’ve literally kicked the ball out of our keeper’s hands,’’ Wilkes said.

‘‘The referee says he hasn’t seen it, (but) it’s a foul on our keeper.

‘‘Their first goal is a well-worked goal, so I take my hat off to that, as a team it’s just good play, but the second goal is a mistake from the referee.’’

After conceding a host of early goals this season, it was the Suns’ turn to strike first, as they began their first game away from home in sprightly fashion.

Leading scorer Craig Carley netted his sixth goal of the season, firing home from outside the box in the fourth minute to put the Suns ahead 1-0.

The forward nearly doubled the lead a short time later.

Suns left-back Josh Glover delivered a defensive-splitting pass between the full-back and centre-half, Carley stole in behind and lifted the ball above Kieran Gonzalez in the Cavaliers goal, only for the stopper to extend a hand and keep it out.

Green Gully hit back at the 20-minute mark, as Brent Fisher linked up with Jeffrey Fleming and took his shot early to beat Petrovski.

The Suns had a penalty shout turned down with scores level, before the Cavaliers upped the ante in the search for a winner after half-time.

The goal came in the 82nd minute and while the Suns almost pinched an equaliser, when Daniel Chaabani’s header struck the inside of the post in injury time, it finished 2-1.

The Suns remain rooted to the bottom of the table, five points behind Pascoe Vale.

The win was Green Gully’s first since the opening week of the season.

‘‘It was a really good game of football and Green Gully, when they got it, used it well, but we matched it with them pound-for-pound,’’ Wilkes said.

Fahed Alghazaly replaced Frankie Lagana in the starting XI, after the midfielder declared himself unavailable to play against his old club just two hours before kick-off.

Wilkes said he was disappointed to receive a text message and not a call and the matter would be addressed.

On the positive side, Alghazaly formed a good partnership with Chaabani in the middle of the park.

Glover only played the first half after picking up an ankle knock and will be monitored throughout the week.

Abdullah Wahidi once again sat on the bench, as he edges closer to a senior debut.