By Josip Zilic
North Geelong suffered its second consecutive loss going when it went down to a down 2-3 to a determined Bendigo in Saturday’s National Premier League football clash of Victorian regional clubs.
The Warriors went a goal down in the third minute as keeper Frano Saric pushed a tame cross into the path of goal for an unmarked George Slefendorfas to tap home.
Michael Boyar almost made amends immediately after but blasted over the bar from five metres.
The Warriors looked lethargic and lacked build-up to their play, while Bendigo was first to the ball, further dampening the locals’ spirits.
In the 38th minute Bendigo midfielder Matthew Breeze launched a long-range effort that caught Saric flat-footed and the midfield ball-watching, putting Geelong 0-2 behind.
With only minutes left in the first half, the Warriors’ Boyar and Robert Zadworny had chances but they weren’t enough to test Sebastien Mattei in goals for Bendigo.
The second half started with the visitors gifted a goal from an error when Matthew Breeze capitalised on a poor pass in defence by Reha Kurul at the 47th minute to go up 0-3.
With the contest slipping away, coach Ante Skoko looked to 16-year-old Nikola Jurkovic in the 52nd minute to replace Vito Cichello who took a hard knock to his back.
Jurkovic provided determination to win every ball and the flow-on lifted the Warriors.
In the 70th minute Matthew Townley presented in the box for a solid header, finishing past Mattei and putting pressure back on Bendigo, which then began to panic with its possessions.
Zadworny came close minute later when he caught Mattei off-guard only to see his strike whistle past the post.
In the 90th minute Jurkovic was rewarded for his toil, slotting in from close range setting up a tense finish to the match, However, it just wasn’t enough for the Warriors to salvage a draw.
Bendigo coach Steve Martin was excited about his team’s first win of the year, saying the region should be proud of the fledgling club.
Warriors’ assistant Ivan Skoko emphasised his disappointment in North Geelong’s lack of leadership to recover from mistakes but drew on the positive of Jurkovic’s performance.
North Geelong faces a tough challenge to turn its fortunes this Saturday with an away-trip against Sunshine.
With injuries to Mark Paleka and Michael Anderson with Cichello also leaving the ground early on Saturday with a back injury, the Warriors coaches will look to the team’s youngsters to step up and into some important roles.
