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VICTORIAN PREMIER LEAGUE MATCH REPORT |
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 Zebras with the honours over its fellow relegated side
Preston Lions
Sunday
16 August 2009
(Pece Siljanovski) - In blustery conditions at B.T. Connor
Reserve the Zebras grabbed their opportunities and scored
two goals to record their second win of the season against
Preston Lions Football Club in round 22 of the Victorian
Premier League.
After thirteen years in the VPL, Preston Lions Football
Club will be playing in State League One in 2010 along
with the Zebras. It is ironic that both of these clubs
just two years ago were playing in the VPL Grand Final
where the Lions won the Championship 3-1 in front of
around 6,000 people.
The demise of the old National Soccer League changed the
landscape of the Victorian Premier League in many ways,
with many players filtering down to VPL clubs and a few
ambitious clubs with unrealistic goals resulted in costs
increasing sharply at uncontrollable rates. This combined
with other problems from other football stakeholders and
internal problems has led to the demise of season 2009 for
the Lions. Preston's crowds, once the envy of all
Victorian football clubs with average crowd attendances of
around 1,500 for both home and away matches, suddenly
dipped heavily this year after a number of heavy losses.
As Preston Makedonia Soccer Club was established in 1959,
the club this year as Preston Lions Football Club
celebrated its 50th year anniversary. The three hundred
people that attended the Gala Dinner in June would have
walked away with the appreciation that although season
2009 was one to be forgotten on the field, it still formed
one piece in Preston's proud history which includes
participation in the National Soccer League for more then
a decade, crowned as Champions of Victoria for a total of
four times (1980, 1994, 2002, 2007), and winners of many
cup competitions which includes the Dockerty Cup, Gold Cup
and Victoria Cup.
The round 22 match was another frustrating match for the
Lions fans as many chances went begging which allowed for
the opposition to pounce on. In one instance Blaze
Georgioski positioned himself perfectly in front of the
Zebras keeper Robert Simeoni, however his shot went
straight to him.
Taxiarhis Apostolikas gave the Zebras the lead in the 13th
minute. In the second half against the wind the visitors
extended their lead through Nicholas Kalambokis in the
60th minute. Preston keeper Damir Salcin's kick caught
Simeoni off guard as the ball was missed by all the field
players as well as Simeoni who was way off his line as the
ball bounced over his head heading towards goal.
Unfortunately for the Lions the ball was just wide.
Lions defender Andrew Branov placed his shoot perfectly
past Simeoni, however the referee consulted with his
assistant who made a ruling of offside.
With the season now over for both clubs, the Lions will
now have to consolidate off the field and prepare for next
year so that this proud club is again participating in the
states top competition.
In the Under 21's match, Whittlesea
defeated Preston Lions FC 3-2.
Photo: John Punshon
Preston Lions FC: 21 D. Salcin (G), 23 I. Kolevski
8 R. Najdovski, 3 A. Branov, 15 K. Coceski (74' 7 P.
Mitrevski), 9 M. Hana, 18 J. Dolevski, 14 B. Tenovski, 29
D. Jovanovski, 10 B. Georgioski (80' 32 K. Dimitrieski),
17 I. Filipovic (81'30 M. Ristov)
Subs not used: 1 A. Stojanovski
Yellow Cards: B. Tenovski
Whittlesea Zebras: 20 R. Simeoni, 2 S. Symeoy, 3 F.
Dilizia, 4 R. Antoniadis, 5 S. Piorkowski, 6 S. Kovacevic,
7 N. Kalambokis, 21 H. D'Agostino, 18 N. Sarbin (66' 19 J.
Cassano), 9 T. Apostolikas, 14 D. White (46' 15 R. O'Hare)
Subs not used: 17 J. Hamzi, 1 A. Milevski
Goal Scorers: 13' T. Apostolikas, 60' N. Kalambokis
Yellow Cards: R. Antoniadis, J. Cassano
Crowd: 250 (unofficial) at BT Connor Reserve |
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