NPL NEWS | ROUND 16 MATCH REPORT - PVSC VS BENTLEIGH GREENS

By Shaun Moran (@moranshaun)

Pascoe Vale and Bentleigh had to each settle for a point following a hotly contested scoreless encounter at Hosken Reserve on Friday night.

Neither side could assert itself in what was at times a scrappy and disjointed opening period.

Extended periods of possession were few and far between on a pitch that did not do free-flowing football - or the players’ balance - many favours.

Pascoe Vale’s Santilli brothers created the game’s first opening a handful of minutes in.

Marco Santilli’s hanging ball picked out his brother Luca, whose header forced a fine save from Alastair Bray.

The half’s greatest chance fell to Luca Santilli in added time.

Jonathan Voulgaris’ cut-back to Santilli was hit first time but fortunately for Bentleigh, it had its custodian to thank once again for punching the ball away.

The home side began the second half the brighter of the two teams and was millimetres away from breaking the deadlock 10 minutes in.

Joseph Youssef met an in-swinging corner with his head that hit the inside of the upright before trickling away.

He was at it again to connect to a spill inside the box but was thwarted by Bray on the second attempt.

Substitute Matthew Lazarides then went close to making an impact with a shot that skimmed agonisingly across goal for Vitale Ferrante’s men.

The pressure continued and almost culminated in a goal when Luca Santilli fired wide on the edge of Bentleigh’s box from a standing start, before curling a free-kick marginally wide of the post.

Carl Recchia’s blast dipped wickedly without falling in under the cross bar moments prior to Lazarides’ attempt from close range which would likely have proven to be the winning goal.

Ryan De Vries spurned a priceless opportunity to steal the game late on. The ever reliable forward – signed during the week for his third stint with the Greens - directed his shot shy of the goal, which the South African would rue as the final whistle blew shortly after.

His coach John Anastasiadis attributed a poor surface to his team’s underwhelming showing.

“The problem was the ground,” Anastasiadis said.

“I’m actually disgusted to be playing on a ground like that. If you’re going to get the best out of the best footballers, you have to have the right sort of grounds and facilities.

“They had the second half and we were a bit lucky a few times so I think a draw is a fair result.”

Pascoe Vale assistant coach Daniel Tribuzio lamented his side’s inability to put Bentleigh to the sword.

“We struggled a little in the first half, but once we got some structures right in the second half and got our organisation back, I felt that there was only one team on the park,” Tribuzio said.

“We missed two or three really good opportunities that we probably should’ve put away. But in the end, when you don’t put your opportunities away in this game, you don’t come away with the points.”

Bentleigh returns home to face Nino Ragusa’s Werribee City on Friday night, while Pascoe Vale makes the trip across Melbourne’s north to tackle Northcote City on Sunday afternoon.

MATCH DETAILS

Pascoe Vale 0 drew with Bentleigh Greens 0 at Hosken Reserve

Pascoe Vale: 1. Stefaan SARDELIC, 2. Adrian TALARICO, 3. Nathen MEGIC, 4. Tomislav MILARDOVIC (22. Carl RECCHIA 52’), 7. Luca SANTILLI, 8. Joseph YOUSSEF, 11. Jonathan VOULGARIS, 14. Alvaro CARRILLO, 16. Marco SANTILLI (21. Michael FERRANTE 78’), 19. Lindsey HENDERSON, 23. Melvin BECKET (13. Matthew LAZARIDES 56’).

Unused subs: 18. Vladimir KHAMEES, 25. Yaren SOZER.

Yellow Cards: Milardovic (15’), Voulgaris (90’+1)

Red Cards: Nil

Bentleigh Greens: 21. Alastair BRAY, 2. Thomas MATTHEWS, 3. James CUMMING, 5. Jack WEBSTER, 15. Christian CAVALLO, 24. Luke PILKINGTON, 20. Davide CARDAMONE, 19. Liam McCORMICK (22. Lewis FOSTER 67’), 25. Andre McNAMARA (12. Luke GALLO 75’), 10. David STIRTON, 14. Ryan DE VRIES.

Unused subs: 1. Lajos HUN, 7. Jamie D’ABREU

Yellow Cards: Matthews (65’)

Red cards: Nil