By JOSIP ZILIC
THE second half of the NPL season begins this weekend with North Geelong facing a massive task to find winning ways when against league-leader Bentleigh Greens.
Bentleigh came away from round 13 with bolstered confidence from a 2-1 win over Oakleigh. The Greens had a scare early on when Oakleigh took a fourth-minute lead but their quality shone through as they composed themselves to patiently get the score on the board.
North Geelong suffered a 2-0 loss at home to fellow relegation-threatened team Werribee.
New signings Yusuf Yusuf and Rudi Saglam were prominent in their first hit-outs with the Warriors, the latter a late inclusion after midfielder Nikola Jurkovic was ruled out just before kick-off when he failed to pull up from an achilles injury last week.
Both sides were intent on attacking, with Werribee putting the ball in the net inside four minutes only to have it ruled offside.
Ten minutes later Simon Zappia finished off Chris Cristaldo’s nice through-ball in the box to put visitors up 1-0.
North Geelong hit back moments later when Yusuf slotted in a through-ball that Werribee keeper Frano Saric didn’t control but he was ruled off side.
North Geelong continued to press and had the lion’s share of proceedings, with several shots peppering the goal but none having the right impact to get the elusive equaliser.
The Warriors’ spirits took a knock on 41 minutes when the in-form Steven Cudrig headed at the near post from a corner to take the score to 2-0.
The Warriors staged a huge effort in the second half, with Saglam causing problems from set pieces including one that Josh Pugh got his head to only to see it narrowly sail over the bar.
With injuries limiting their options, the Warriors were unable to summon enough from the tank to avert defeat.
The new additions to the side showed promise and, with Juso Julardzija and Jurkovic returning to the team next week, the Warriors will feel they can turn their fortunes around.
