By LIAM TWOMEY
SUNSHINE George Cross confirmed four signings during the first week of the mid-season transfer window.
The State League One soccer side secured Pece Siveski from Hume City, Robert Santilli from Cairnlea, Didier Imbert from Richmond Eagles and Stefan Baricevic from Melbourne Knights.
Siveski is a two-time premiership winner with Altona Magic and was captain of Preston Lions.
Santilli has plenty of experience as a goalkeeper for Whittlesea Zebras, who won the first division championship last year.
Imbert and Baricevic are both 18-year-olds who were on the fringe of first team selection at their former Victorian Premier League clubs.
The Georgies’ horror run was extended to seven successive defeats on Sunday after Western Suburbs had a 2-1 win in the local derby at Chaplin Reserve.
The Georgies had the better of the early exchanges with newcomer Imbert missing with a header and Siveski’s shot just going past the upright.
The deadlock was broken after 33 minutes following a clever shot from the edge of the area that beat the despairing Santilli to put Western Suburbs into the lead.
The Georgies tried desperately to go in level at the break with Eddie Soares hitting the side netting from close range. Suburbs almost increased their lead following a good cross from the left that wasn’t converted by the rushing Suburbs striker.
Sunshine set siege on the Western Suburbs goal in the second half and wasted two good chances in the opening five minutes.
The Suburbs’ defence was finally pierced following great free kick pass by Steve Martin.
The ball found Johnny Kim who found Nicholas Scerri, whose powerful shot was fumbled by the Suburbs keeper and Scerri made no mistake from close range to level the scores.
Western Suburbs came more into the game as the half progressed, and could have gone in front following some hesitation by Sunshine substitute keeper Sean Grech that was scrambled clear.
Grech had no such reprieve at the 80th minute mark when a seemingly easy catch was dropped by the young keeper that allowed Suburbs to scramble the ball into the net.
The Cross threw everything at Suburbs in search of an equaliser in the final 10 minutes but Suburbs’ tall and strong defence was able to hold on.
