Doom that looms for Warriors

NORTH Geelong suffered another devastating blow to its hopes of staying up in NPL1 on Saturday, going down 3-1 to Bulleen Lions at the Veneto Club.

A 10-man Warriors outfit equalised in the second half before conceding two goals in the final 15 minutes that could have massive consequences for the season.

Following a cagey opening exchange from both sides looking to avoid the drop, North Geelong was left to play with a man down, with Darren Lewis sent off.

There were no complaints. Lewis was left with little option but to bring Lewis Hawke down as the last man, after Matthew Thorne’s loss of possession in the Warriors’ own half.

Coughing the ball up in dangerous areas has been a constant problem for North this season and while it wasn’t immediately reflected on the score sheet, the numerical disadvantage eventually told on Saturday.

Despite calls for offside, Bulleen’s Oliver White looked to be in line with the ball upon Hawke’s delivery back across goal. Unmarked, it was a relatively simple tapin to put the Lions 1-0 up on 56 minutes.

Micky Colina’s side did not initially wilt, drawing level 12 minutes later.

Similar to the Pascoe Vale winner in May, Nicholas Jurcic’s perfectly weighted cross found Andrew Doig at the back post.

Instead of heading towards goal, the midfielder deftly nodded down to Josh Pugh, whose first-time effort was drilled in.

At that stage the Warriors arguably would have taken a point, but Jordan Templin restored the lead for Bulleen in the 76th minute.

Although the ball did appear to strike Templin’s hand in a duel with Ivan Grgic on his way to goal, a static North Geelong midfield when possession was recycled led to the opening.

It was much of the same when Luke Gallo secured the win for Bulleen in the 83rd minute in a passage riddled with singular efforts from the visitors.

At eight points from safety before this round, depending on tonight’s result between Melbourne Knights and Kingston City, the loss could nudge North Geelong to nine points from 11th.

A loss for the Knights could see the margin to the relegation playoff spot remain at seven points.