Scramble … Green Gully went down to Hume City in a rematch of last year’s Victorian Premier League semi-final on Saturday.
By Luke Sheehan
GREEN Gully kicked off its 2010 Victorian Premier League campaign with a loss, going down to 2009 preliminary finalist Hume City 2-1 at Green Gully Reserve on Saturday.
The match was a replay of last year’s semi-final that Hume won 1-0, and the similarities did not end with the result, as Tansel Baser backed up his goal in last year’s semi with the opening goal for Hume in 2010, haunting the Cavaliers’ defence once more.
Green Gully recruit Graham Hockless proved his worth not long after Basel’s opener with a cracking goal that levelled the scores.
Another new recruit, this time City’s Richard Cardozo secured the three points for Hume when he found the back of the net later in the second half.
City coach Andy Vlahos was satisfied that his side held off the Cavaliers, despite finishing with 10 men.
“They (Green Gully) were on top of us the first 20-25 minutes of the game, they probably should have converted a couple of goals. Lou Acevski was on a good day, and he held them out and we absorbed a bit of the pressure.
“I think we had most of the play in the second half. Even down to 10 men, we looked very solid and disciplined at the back, creating numerous chances, and took a couple of them.”
Vlahos said the pitch at Green Gully was in good condition for the Victorian Premier League, a commodity when compared to City’s home ground, still under a cloud to be fit for competition this season.
Vlahos had no complaints about the red card given to Ross Thompson.
“Look it’s the way the ref saw it, straight red, a bit above the ankle, ref’s call.”
Green Gully will travel to Richmond this Friday night, looking for its first points of the season, while Hume will host Dandenong Thunder this Sunday afternoon.
