By JOSIP ZILIC
With five scorers, seven goals and seven points in the last three matches, North Geelong Warriors can confidently approach their top-of-the-table clash against league leader Whittlesea Ranges this Saturday.
Whittlesea come off a patchy three weeks, picking up one point at home in the last three weeks and were forced to work hard for their only three points in that period away to Bendigo.
The Warriors were also made to toil for their three points against Bendigo. Although they did it in emphatic fashion, in the end with a 4-1 score it came with it’s share of heart pounding moments.
In quagmire conditions, both teams were unable to play a match that typified any fluency, instead looking for quick breaks and trying to force errors.
Bendigo was first to score in the 49th minute when Lachlan Beever perfectly hit his cross to Sergio Martinez who volleyed home to open the scoring.
It was short lived though, as Kene Eze redeemed himself for some missed opportunities the week before by pouncing on a keeper Dante Thomas’ error after he didn’t collect a Juso Julardzija set piece, and Eze was there to get the home side underway.
Just moments later, it was Julardzija’s turn to notch up his maiden goal since returning to Elcho Park with a 20 metre left foot hit to remember.
It wasn’t until the third goal which was a penalty converted by skipper Matt Townley on 66 minutes that North Geelong held composure and was able to knock the ball around getting between the Bendigo lines.
Through some terrific combination work by Ante Kozul and Matt Thorne, North notched up its fourth goal by Thorne in the 83rd minute by finishing the move.
Coach Micky Colina shared his delight after the match,”It was unfortunate to cop the goal against the play and you can get sucked in as we did last week, however the lads responded brilliantly”
On Saturday at Epping Stadium an epic battles ensues, the most potent attack meets the leanest defence in what could well shape the final placings on the ladder.
