By Josip Zilic
North Geelong Warriors has regained form with an emphatic 4-0 win over Whittlesea Ranges at Epping Stadium in National Premier League state football.
Ironically, Whittlesea succumbed to the problem plaguing the Warriors’ recently when former North Geelong player Tomislav Trbuhovich was unable to put away early chances.
Reardo Luka made Ranges pay at the 15th minute when he and strike partner Mark Paleka broke the defensive line and fed Luka through for the opener.
Whittlesea kept the pressure on but Frano Saric returned in goals for North with a terrific performance to deny the hosts several times.
Just before half time the Warriors went two up after a free kick from the right corner made its way through the numbers in the box for Paleka to prod home.
Five minutes after the break Whittlesea was dealt a cruel blow when a controversial penalty was paid to North Geelong. Daniel Sotiropoulos looked to have thwarted Robert Zadworny’s advance at goal but the referee saw differently, awarding the penalty and Luka dispatching it to go 3-0 up.
Whittlesea ruined any chance of a comeback at the 65th minute when Matthew Iuliano earned a second yellow for arguing with the referee after Zardworny’s yellow card for a foul on him, reducing the hosts to 10 men.
With 10 minutes left the Warriors seized the opportunity for a percentage boost when Nick Jurcic drilled through a low ball for the advancing Luka to easily tap in for his hat-trick.
North Geelong coach Ante Skoko was delighted with the win after errors-strewn losses in recent week.
“When we do the simple things right the rewards come,” he said.
This Saturday North Geelong is home at Elcho Park to take on Moreland Zebras, battling its own form issues.
Moreland is traditionally a tough unit to break down, with many experienced campaigners on hand.
However, the Warriors’ first clean sheet and its pairing of front two Paleka and Luka promise a run of positive results.
