By Alex Bagdasarian | Photo Mark Avellino Photography
With heavy rain both before and during the match setting a waterlogged scene, Heidelberg United came up against an old rival from the NSL days in Green Gully on Friday night at Green Gully Reserve.
The Warriors made only a solitary change to the line-up with Brendan White back in between the sticks in place of Nick Eres, who took his place on the bench.
The opening salvos were as expected – providing an intense contest between the two sides, with the first real chance falling to Anthony Theodoropoulos whose shot zipped narrowly wide.
Eoin Ashton’s amazing strike from a free kick whisked just past the post, with another huge opportunity gone begging for the ‘Bergers.
In form striker Kaine Sheppard then climbed well to head rose well to head from a corner, but his effort was cleared off the line by the home side, with the Bergers well on top at this stage, but with nought to show for it at the main break.
The bleak weather continued to play its part throughout the game, with the combination of driving rain and gusty wind affecting the striking and fall of the ball.
The game swung in Gully’s favour just after the hour mark, when the home side took the lead through a fortuitous penalty decision, which Alex Salmon duly converted.
Moments later the Warriors were left ball watching, as substitute Gianluca Iannucci beat several defendersto double the lead for the home side.
Iannucci then scored his second after another great individual effort to seal the win for his team with their third goal.
Chudiar Tharjiath had an opportunity at goal by cutting in and having a shot, which unfortunately went over the bar. The home side got their fourth late in the picture, as Luke Jeggo took advantage of a tiring Berger defence to smash it into the back of the net from close range.
In keeping with the results of this season, the inconsistency belies the intensity shown against the top sides, with the recent run abruptly halted at a soggy Gully Reserve.
Heidelberg United will need to regroup and put this result behind it, as it faces yet another huge away clash against Avondale next Saturday.
Match Details:
Green Gully 4 (A. Salmon 65’, G. Iannucci 72’, 79’, L. Jeggo 88’) – Heidelberg United 0
1 – Brendan White (GK)
4 – Mallan Roberts
5 – Ajdin Fetahagic
6 – Joseph Franjic
8 – Dominic Falla (19 – Sean Ellis 75’)
9 – Adrian Zahra (c)
14 – Kaine Sheppard
15 – Brian Summerskill (12 – Deion Nikolaidis 64’)
18 – Anthony Theodoropoulos (20 – Luka Ninkovic 75’)
21 – Eoin Ashton
22 – Kazuki Okada (23 – Churdiar Tharjiath 64’)
Subs not used:
63 – Nick Eres (GK)
24 – Hussain Al Sharifi
