ALL WHITES ALL RIGHT
BELL Park defeated in-form North Melbourne Athletic 2-1 on Saturday, but it took a 90th-minute goal from Josh Berta to decide the enthralling State League 4 encounter.
“It was a difficult game and a tough opponent, but we came away with the goods,” an elated Bell Park coach Ivan Biscan said after the Round 11 game at the Bell Park Sports Centre in Batesford.
“In the end it was sheer hard work and determination that got us the win.
“I told the boys they had to work hard and play hard for each other and that’s exactly what they did. That (attitude) brought us home the result we needed.”
The win has catapulted the previously third-placed All Whites into joint top spot after both first-placed Sebastopol Vikings and second-placed Point Cook dropped points against Western Eagles and Altona North respectively.
Park’s leading scorer Mijo Marinovic netted his eighth goal of the season courtesy of a penalty in the 37th minute.
His striking partner, Daniel Grozdanovski, attracted a couple of players on the left, he then drifted into space in the middle and fed Frank Modica off to the right, whose powerful shot ricocheted off a defender’s hand earning a penalty in the process.
Marinovic stepped up to the spot and converted with a minimum of fuss to give the home side a well-deserved lead.
It took until the 70th minute for Athletic to find the equaliser, following a long ball that was played into the penalty box.
All Whites’ goalkeeper Alec Kitanvski was nudged in an aerial duel, forcing him to spill the ball and a goalmouth scramble saw the ball poked over the line to bring it back to 1-1.
As the match was headed for a stalemate, intense pressure was applied by the All Whites, which saw a vital turnover.
Matthew Hagebols found space on the left, which allowed him to cross into the goal area and a challenge in front of the Athletic keeper resulted in Josh Berta pouncing on a loose ball and slamming home the winner, amid delirious scenes on the pitch and in the grandstand.
Ivan Biscan’s men now turn their attention to next Saturday night’s local derby against Golden Plains in neighbouring Bannockburn.