By JOSIP ZILIC
NORTH Geelong faces a dramatic final round as it faces Werribee away in a must win game.
The round 26 clash is a match the Warriors cannot afford to lose if they wish to remain in the NPL next season.
The epic final round clash sees 12th placed North Geelong face Werribee in 13th. Both are on 18 points but North Geelong has the greater goal difference.
Werribee heads into the final round with some confidence after picking up crucial wins two weeks in a row.
After losing head coach Nino Ragusa a few weeks back, Werribee hit the wobbles but new coach Domenico Gangemi has steadied the ship with the team becoming difficult to score against.
Likewise North Geelong has built confidence in the closing stages of the year, having found the net 12 times in its last five matches.
The best was last Saturday’s emphatic 3-0 win against Dandenong.
The first 25 minutes saw a see-saw game with both teams trying to work each other out.
However the Warriors stepped up a gear marshalled by midfielder Vito Cichello and started opening up the opposition.
A set piece outside the box was met by a glancing header from Nikola Jurkovic to send the Warriors up 1-0 and lift the excitement of the home fans.
The Warriors retained control in the second half despite renewed intent by the visitors.
Remaining undeterred the Warriors didn’t keep fans waiting long when forward Gareth Richards collected possession in the box in the 53rd minute to round Dandenong keeper Anthony Saric and slot in for a 2-0 lead.
Richards surfaced again in the 76th minute, rising for a header that deceived Saric in goals and dribbled over the line for the final score line.
