By Josip Zilic
North Geelong Warriors will seek to continue its rich vein of form against Kingston in National Premier League’s first division this weekend after a 5-2 away win over fancied Bulleen Lions.
The Warriors lost 2-0 to Kingston last time they met, which marked the beginning of a three-week losing streak.
But since then the Warriors have picked up 19 points compared to Kingston’s seven.
Undefeated for six weeks, the Warriors now sit just outside promotion places.
Notable differences in North Geelong’s play have been the conversion of opportunities, players’ work-rate without the ball and their pace when turning defence into attack.
The match against Bulleen started in a blaze of end-to-end action during which the home side was the greater threat. However, Warriors keeper Daniel Zilic was up to the challenge and thwarted any attempt.
North Geelong opened the scoring in the 30th minute when Matthew Townley drifted the perfect ball for Mark Paleka to run onto at the back post and head home.
Two minutes later Michael Grgic slotted another after the Bulleen defence dealt poorly with a corner.
In the 40th minute and after some confusion in the Warriors box, Lions midfielder Lewis Waddell pounced to nudge the ball past Zilic after calls for a foul by the North Geelong defence.
The Warriors lifted the tempo after half-time, reaping rewards five minutes in when Paleka stormed toward the back post to drive his shot on target for 3-1.
The onslaught continued on 65 minutes when Robert Zadworny’s ever-present charge at goal resulted in a foul on the edge of the box. Townley stepped up and drilled it hard and low for the Warriors’ fourth of the match
Both sides then made a series of changes and the match settled into a calmer rhythm but the scoring continued.
On 90 minutes Jackson Davis nestled a delightful through-ball behind the Lions’ defence for Juso Julardzija to place past the keeper, notching up a memorable away win.
A late injury-time free kick to Bulleen gave its score a little respect but the damage was done.
Warriors boss Micky Colina heaped praise on his charges’ effort and work-rate.
“The commitment has been fantastic and we continue to work at being a better and more complete team,” he said.
