By Charlene Gatt
THE Green Gully Cavaliers have posted their first draw of the Foxtel Cup season after battling it out against Richmond at Kevin Bartlett Reserve on Friday night.
The Cavaliers are sitting fourth on the ladder after the side failed to make the most of an early lead by striker Joel Nikolic.
Nikolic joined Brandon Vassallo and Campbell Banks to forge an early attack on the Eagles’ defence after Richmond captain Stuart McCluskey was pulled off the pitch injured.
Nikolic surged to post the first goal of the game 28 minutes in, but the lead was shortlived for Green Gully with Eagle Henry Fa’arodo booting through an equaliser only six minutes later and team-mate Xhezair Sulemani putting in another in quick succession to see Richmond finish the half at 2-1.
A goal by Cavalier Andy Vargas saw the scores drawn again early in the second half, but neither side could build on the tally, with Richmond’s Brendan Beni narrowly missing a vital opportunity in the last minutes to secure a win.
It was a bittersweet result for the Cavaliers, who were seeking revenge following their two-goal loss at the hands of the Essendon Royals.
Green Gully will be looking to redeem itself on Friday night when they go head-to-head with top-of-the-table Oakleigh Cannons at Jack Edwards Reserve.
At Ralph Reserve, the Sunshine Georgies experienced a similar game in it’s 2-2 draw with Altona Magic.
After a scoreless first half, the second term looked to be heading in the same direction before the Georgies’ Alfonso Opazo kicked a goal in the 86th minute only to be matched by the Magic’s Kole and Koce Delev in the 89th and 91st minute respectively.
Desperate for an equaliser, Vasko Trpcevski was in overdrive in the dying minutes of the game and managed to put one away for the Georgies at the crucial juncture.
The Georgies will face the AIS this Sunday at Chaplin Reserve.
Meanwhile, the Western Suburbs are yet to chalk up their first win for the season after yet another draw.
The side met the AIS at Ralph Reserve and made an early bid at snaring game points with Lorenz Kindtner scoring at the 14th minute.
As the game went into its second term it seemed likely the crowd would witness the Suburbs’ first win, but Milos Lujic decided to burst the bubble with a goal to level the score.
Western Suburbs hit back seven minutes later, but were prevented from claiming victory after a last-minute goal from the AIS’ Bonel Obradovic.
The team will meet Springvale White Eagles on Saturday.
