Avondale Heights and Whittlesea Ranges played out an entertaining nil-all draw in NPL on Saturday.
The Heights – 14 points clear on top of the ladder – were expected to breeze past 13th-ranked Whittlesea, having beaten the Ranges 4-2 earlier in the year.
But Whittlesea is in good form. In its past three games it has beaten Kingston City 4-2, FC Bendigo 2-1 and drawn Sunshine George Cross 1-1.
PICTURE GALLERY | Avondale Heights v Whittlesea Ranges
Whittlesea had its opportunities in the first half, but two sterling saves from Avondale Heights’ goalkeeper Anthony Saric kept it silent.
The Heights played poorly in the opening half but tweaked the side and played much better in the next 45 minutes.
It was typical Avondale Heights football – fast and attacking and always dangerous. Whenever the Ranges went forward they lacked potency and support.
But for all their efforts, the Heights couldn’t score. Shots from outside the box either sailed high or wide, headers were misdirected, the crossbar was hit, and in one golden opportunity, striker Oleksiy Khrapko and defender Michele Crazia collided trying to score barely inches out from goal.
Coach Anthony Barbieri was philosophical after the game.
“You’re not going to win every game,” he said.
“Sometimes you play well, sometimes you don’t play so great.
“I thought we were pretty poor in the first half. I wasn’t happy so we changed things around a bit for the second half. Then we created a lot of chances and probably
should have won, but we’ll take a draw.”
Tempers flared late in the game but both sides left the field with heads held high.
There are nine games remaining in the season. It will take a monumental disaster for Avondale Heights to lose top spot but it has a tough run home, playing the four sides below it on the ladder.
… Daniel Paproth
… dpaproth@theweeklyreview.com.au
