By Dejan Kalinic
MELBOURNE Knights kept their slim hopes of playing in the Victorian Premier League finals alive with a 4-1 win against local rivals St Albans Saints on Sunday.
Still relying heavily on other results to go their way if they are to make the top five, the Knights continued their strong finish to the season at home on Sunday.
A brace from forward Jacob Colosimo, along with goals from Josip Magdic and Kayne Vincent, were enough as St Albans’ Louis Fenton hit a late consolation.
Only 1-0 up at the break against the relegated Saints, the hosts scored three times in the space of five minutes in the second half to put the game to bed.
Knights coach Paul Magdic, who has suffered just two defeats in the 12 games he has been in charge, was pleased with the match-deciding spell.
“We try to pride ourselves on keeping the ball, keeping possession – just playing the simple passes and a lot of supporting off the ball. It just came together in that five-to-10-minute period,” he said.
“It was simple balls and combinations between a couple of players and it all worked out. We got on the end of it and finished it.”
St Albans football manager Vinko Buljubasic said the Saints “capitulated” in that period, but felt they could have got something out of the game had they been clinical.
“Credit where it’s due, the Knights moved the ball around quick, we were second to the ball and once the second goal went in we dropped our heads,” he said.
“Over the 90 minutes, we had as many chances as what they did – difference was they put them away and we didn’t. That’s been the story of our season.”
When the two sides met in round nine, Saints goalkeeper Steven Pavlovic put in a stand-out performance, but it was his error on 10 minutes that gave the Knights the lead.
Midfielder Josip Kozic worked hard to whip in a cross from the right and Vincent produced a looping header at goal that Pavlovic fumbled on to the bar, allowing Colosimo to tap in an easy opener.
The Saints created several chances and striker Matthew Demo should have equalised early in the second half after Knights goalkeeper Martin John had parried a Daniel Visevic shot into his path, but he blasted over.
In the space of five minutes, beginning in the 55th, the game was over.
First, Colosimo fed Magdic on the left, who shot under Pavlovic to make it 2-0.
The two swapped roles soon after as Magdic made a dazzling run, cutting back for Colosimo to apply a simple finish.
St Albans captain Maks Cuze was dispossessed in midfield and Colosimo played Vincent in to make it 4-0 on the hour mark.
Fenton put in a consolation goal in the 83rd minute when he rounded John and placed home having beaten the offside trap.
