Preston unlucky as Sunshine just
managed to steal the points
Wednesday 29
April 2009
(Gordon Bennett - Goal Weekly) - The
rain kept away from the BT Connor Reserve for the duration
of this match, but the howling cold wind made this game a
scrappy affair with both sets of players having great
difficulty playing any positive football.
It was the home team who had the better of the first half
that must have encouraged new coach Zeljko Cagula, who was
taking charge of his first game after the resignation of
Zoran Trajceski.
The home team suffered a set back after only 3 minutes
when midfielder Blaze Georgioski limped off with a
hamstring injury and was replaced by Robert Najdovski.
This had little effect on the way Preston went about their
job in the first half.
They forced the Georgies onto the back foot and could have
taken the lead with a little more steadiness in front of
goal. Michael Bozevski tried his luck from long range but
his shot was off target. The Georgies couldn't get going
with their best effort coming from a feeble John
Sapazovski header that gave stand in keeper Alex
Stojalovski no problems.
Robert Dolevski was giving Georgies fullback Joe Clancy a
lot of problems out on the right wing and it was he that
sent Bale Mickovski through on goal. Mickovski cut the
ball across the penalty area, but Lupce Koceski's shot
went well over the cross-bar. Preston defender Michael
Miskas also went close to scoring following a corner kick
that caused panic in the Georgies' defence. The Georgies
should have taken the lead following a foul on George
Papadopoulos after 33 minutes.
John Sapazovski's free kick sailed high and deceived the
Preston keeper who was saved by the cross-bar. The ball
fell nicely for Georgies' captain Wayne Wallace who headed
the ball yet again onto the cross-bar. It was a lucky let
off for Preston. Wallace had another good opportunity
moments later following a well taken Neal Hooks corner.
This time his header was well wide of the mark. Sunshine's
striker John Barros was forced to leave the field with a
suspected broken bone in his foot after 37 minutes.
Four minutes before the break Preston wasted their best
chance when Bale Micovski was through on goal. Martin John
came out to narrow the angle, but Micovski's lob over John
went wide and the opportunity was lost.
The second half belonged to Sunshine as the visitors took
control of the game. Good play out wide by Nicholas Scwall
ended up with a Steve Manceski shot being deflected for a
corner. The Georgies were running the show in midfield but
it was a case of indecision and a bad final ball that kept
them from scoring.
The opportunities kept on coming and just as quickly being
wasted. The break through came after 60 minutes when John
Sapazovski broke through on to goal. His low shot was
blocked by the Preston goalkeeper. The ball was deflected
into the path of Steve Manceski whose first time effort
was gaol bound. Preston's Michael Miskas stopped the ball
with his hand that resulted in a double blow for his team.
He was dismissed and the resultant penalty kick was tucked
away by John Sapazovski who scored his first goal since
coming to the Georgies from Preston.
The visitors kept on wasting chances with poor choice
final pass that kept Preston in with a chance. The home
team did not give up and could have snatched a draw in the
dying moments of the match when Igor Arsovski set up
Robert Dolevski but his glancing header was save by Martin
John.
The final whistle saw the Georgies record their 3rd win of
the season, while Preston's position remained perilous at
the foot of the ladder with only 1 point. In the under
21's the Georgies won their 5th successive game when they
overcame Preston 2-1.
This coming Sunday the Georgies are at home to the
Melbourne Knights, while Preston travels to the George
Andrews Reserve to play league leader Dandenong Thunder.
PRESTON LIONS FC: A. Stojanovski (GK), M. Miskas, B.
Georgioski (3' R. Nadjovski), C. Toleski, M. Bosevski (C), I. Filipovic, L. Koceski, R. Dolevski,
I. Arsovski, B. Micovski, I. Kolevski (82' M. Ladnjak)
Subs not used: A Kitanovski (GK), J. Dolevski, K.
Coceski
Goals: None
Cautions: M. Miskas
Red Cards: M. Miskas
SUNSHINE GEORGE CROSS: M. John, N. Schwal, J.
Clancy, W. Wallace, C. Konstas, T. Johnstone, M. Cini (60'
B.Cogger), J. Baros (37' S. Manceski), G. Papadopoulos, N.
Hooks, J. Sapazovski (77' S.Underwood)
Subs not used: A. Pecora, J. Webster
Goals: 62' J. Sapazovski (pen)
Cautions: C. Konstas, S.Underwood
Red Cards: None
Crowd: 450 (unofficial) at
BT Connor
Reserve |
