By JOSIP ZILIC
NORTH Geelong Warriors has opened its 2014 National Premier League campaign with a gritty 2-1 win against Dandenong City.
North Geelong lost young defender Michael Grgic early with a groin injury. He was replaced by Robert Zadworny at wide midfield, while Reha Kurul moved into centre back.
Dandenong piled on the pressure, scoring at 10-minute mark before the Warriors levelled five minutes later from a free kick.
Matt Townley sent a searching ball for skipper Michael Anderson at the back post, which eluded everyone but still found the back of the net.
North Geelong opened gaps in Dandenong’s midfield as Zadworny linked with Anderson but the Warriors’ finishing was under-powered.
They were finally reward with a Vito Cichello screamer from 25 metres out before a looming storms forced the referees to call a short break to avoid calling off the match.
When the teams resumed for the second half neither could combine long enough to gain an acendancy, although Dandenong went close in the 71st minute through Keegan Ziada Keegan when he forced the Warriors’ Frano Saric into a smart double-save on his near post.
After the match Warriors coach Ante Skoko expressed satisfaction at how his side clawed its way back.
In the under-20s, North Geelong beat Dandenong City 5-2, with four goals to Kristian Edwards and one to Oskar Lundin.
