By Ahmed Yussuf (@ahmedyussuf10)

Avondale Heights extended its unbeaten streak to 14 games after a 2-1 win against a spirited Brunswick City side in rainy conditions Saturday afternoon at Dunstan Reserve. 

The victory came in wet conditions with the surface not ideal for passing football, making set-piece deliveries the source for much of the goalmouth action. 

Both Avondale goals came in quick succession from Andrew Le Page corner kicks.

The first came from a deflection off the cross, which rebounded off the boot of Brunswick City attacker Denis Sadik to trickle over the line.

Avondale’s second showcased Le Page’s deadball prowess yet again. 

The delivery found the head of a leaping Dean Campelj and nestle into the middle of the net.

The game against two opposite ends of the NPL 1 table began evenly, with not much separating the two. 

Brunswick custodian Mason Interlandi was forced into an early save from distance after a long-range volleyed effort. 

The hosts were then subjected to a bombardment of Avondale attacks.  

Heights’ defender Michele Crazia went on a mazing run swiveling past City bodies, but despite the determination the final effort was lacking and Crazia’s weakened shot fell directly into the hands of Interlandi. 

Brunswick was under heightened pressure, and if not for a Rikiya Kitami clearance off the goal line they might’ve been a goal down in less than 20 minutes. 

Ten minutes from half time Avondale won a corner. 

Creative force Le Page drilled in a low delivery that deflected off Sadik to open the scoring. 

Brunswick was hit by yet another blow late on in the half.

Le Page repeated the trick and found Campelj who rocketed in a header to make it two just before the break.

But despite the half time deficit the home side entered the half reinvigorated and ready to fight. 

Dimitri Vithoulkas found himself in a good position wide on the left flank, but he was unable to get anything meaningful out of his play, as an ineffective cross-turned-shot fell into the hands of Avondale shot-stopper John Scollo.  

Sadik then exercised some first half demons when his corner delivery found the head of Vithoulkas to pull one back with over 20 minutes to play. 

The contest was keenly fought out in the final stages but for all of Brunswick’s effort, bluntness in their attack stopped them from finding that all-important equaliser. 

Despite the loss Brunswick Coach Joe De Martino dubbed this “the new Brunswick” taking pride from his side's spirited team performance against the league leaders.

“That was the bottom of the league taking it right up to the top team of the competition,” De Martino said.

“This is a new Brunswick [City] and all I’ve got to say is ‘for the next ten matches we’re planning to take most of those 30 points that are still available’.” 

Avondale Heights assistant coach Adam Inglese was “happy overall” to get another win on the board to extend the club's unbeaten streak.

“Overall we are happy to get another win on the board to keep the momentum,” Inglese said.

“We would’ve liked to have done it a little bit easy, but we’re happy overall with the win.”

MATCH DETAILS: 

Brunswick City 1 (Dimitri VITHOULKAS 63’) defeated by Avondale Heights 2 (Andrew LE PAGE 36’, Dean CAMPELJ 39’) at Dunstan Reserve [HT:0-2] 

Brunswick City: 1. Mason INTERLANDI (GK), 24. Sam MAZZOLINI, 16. Rikiya KITAMI, 14. Denis SADIK, 55. Lachlan SMALE, 32. Matthew TANCEVSKI, 30. Nick ARGYRAKAKIS (45. George MARKELIS, 86’), 99. Dimitri VITHOULKAS, 4. Manny KARAS (29. Amara KROMAH, 64’), 2. Seamus CARR, 9. Baggio YOUSIF.

Unused sub(s): 25. Alex GIANNETTA, 44. Rodjar ZENGIN, 31. Simon STANKOVSKI

Yellow card(s): Nil.

Red card(s): Nil.

Avondale Heights: 20. John SCOLLO (GK), 6. Anthony STRAND, 31. Michele CRAZIA, 15. Zoran PAJIC, 33. Dean CAMPELJ, 7. Andrew LE PAGE (22. Christopher VARTACI 90+1’), 34. Oleksiy KHRAPKO, 10. Burakhan KOCA (5. Andrew SACCHEZA 88’), 14. Daniel SLOVACEK (24. Resit CULCULOGLU 71’) 8. Bosin GEORGEVSKI, 11. Arturo YMERI.

Unused substitutes: 21. Ben SGRO

Yellow card(s): 33. Dean CAMPELJ 43’, 14. Daniel SLOVACEK 52

Red card(s): Nil.