Focussed … Andy Vargas in action for Green Gully. 62199 Picture: EMILY LANE
By Dejan Kalinic
A MATHEW Sanders hat-trick helped Green Gully extend its unbeaten run to eight and move into the top five with an entertaining 4-2 win at home against Richmond in the Victorian Premier League.
The Cavaliers dominated the first half but had to wait until attacker Jason Hayne sealed the points in the 92nd minute as the Eagles fought back in the clash between last year’s grand finalists on Saturday.
Gully will enter a tough month of fixtures featuring clashes against fellow finals aspirants Hume City, Dandenong Thunder, Northcote City and Heidelberg United – the team that inflicted its last defeat on 19 April.
Coach Lubo Lapsansky said his team deserved to be in the top five after a tough start to the season.
“We all know that this is where the team belongs but no-one is going to give it to you,” he said.
“You have to go and fight for it, win your games and earn your points to be up there. It’s been a tough five, six, seven weeks. We did a lot of hard work, we didn’t change too many things around, we just worked on our shape, on our system and I think it’s really good reward for the boys to be in the top five.”
The Cavaliers midfield, so dominant over the past month, was again in form and helped produce the opener on 20 minutes.
Graham Hockless, who produced a stand-out display in the middle of the park, fed Jason Hayne on the right and Sanders tucked away his cutback.
The in-form striker had his brace eight minutes later as Andy Vargas broke free down the right and although Sanders dummied the cross for Hockless, he capitalised on the rebound after the midfielder’s shot was deflected onto the post.
Richmond had chances of its own to get back into the contest and deservedly pulled a goal back on the hour mark.
Former Melbourne Victory and Wellington Phoenix midfielder Michael Ferrante struck a trademark free-kick into the top corner from 25 yards.
But the Cavaliers restored their two-goal buffer as Richmond goalkeeper Stjepan Gal parried a Vargas shot into the path of Sanders, who completed his hat-trick.
The comfortable lead only lasted two minutes as Eagles defender Antun Kovacic got a touch on a Ferrante set-piece to make it 3-2 in a pulsating encounter.
Richmond pushed for an equaliser but Hayne put the result to rest when he broke clear, rounding Gal before placing into an empty net.
Lapsansky praised Sanders, who has found the net seven times this season, including five times in the past two games.
“Mathew obviously lost his spot in the first part of the season – worked his way back, his attitude has been fantastic off the park,” he said.
“He has scored some important goals for us and got his opportunity to start and has grabbed it with both hands.”
Lapsansky said he hadn’t set a target for his side’s four important upcoming games.
