By JOSIP ZILIC
LAST plays first in National Premier League when North Geelong hosts high-flying Heidelberg at Elcho Park on Saturday.
Heidelberg has been piling on goals while keeping opponents at bay this season with a lean defensive record, including a 1-0 win against Melbourne Knights last up.
In contrast, North Geelong has failed to score a goal in open play over the past four rounds even though the Warriors were on scoresheets frequently in previous weeks despite losing.
Last week’s encounter against Oakleigh did little for their confidence, either, with the Warriors going down 2-0 at home.
Improvements looked to be coming during the game but two moments of clinical finishing undid any good work.
Oakleigh started the match with more intent, combining passes and looking settled earlier.
North Geelong clicked after 10 minutes when gutsy young midfielder Nikola Jurkovic was at the centre of many of Warriors possession wins and gave Vito Cichello opportunities to get balls in behind defenders.
But Oakleigh was organised and forced turnovers with ease out of defence.
In the 25th minute the game came to halt when Warriors defender Nathan Long had to be stretchered off after a collision with teammate Nikola Jurkovic. Long finished second best in their attempt to foil a shot at goal and will miss at least two weeks with strained knee ligaments.
Josh Pugh replaced Long in the game.
With the half coming to an end, Oakleigh scored its opening goal with only seconds left when Jake McLean sliced a diagonal ball through midfield into the path of Ben Clarke who finished with precision.
North Geelong continued trying to build up its play in the second half until the 65th minute when Vlado Zoric pounced on a through-ball to calmly slot past the advancing Daniel Zilic.
The Warriors introduced Reardo Luka and Stipe Trbuhovic in an attempt to change things up but the knock to the team’s confidence was apparent as long, hopeful balls failed to find avenues to goal.
This week will be a crucial opportunity for the Warriors to show determination and unsettle the league leader.
