Brutal contest ends in 1-1 draw
BELL Park’s clash with top side Truganina Hornets ended in a 1-1 stalemate following a hotly contested and at times brutal State League 4 encounter at the Bell Park Sports Centre on Saturday.
A converted penalty for both sides in identical fashion and almost in identical spots were the only goals in a thoroughly entertaining duel.
Bell Park went into the game minus teen superstar Anthony Pirrottina, who was on the bench suffering from a leg injury.
Also on the bench was new recruit Stjepan Gudasic, a former North Geelong NPL youth midfielder who had crossed over from Corio during the week.
In a tight opening halfhour, the game was played at high intensity, with the home side coming close with two set shots just outside the box.
40 minutes in, Truganina’s Ildle Elmi forced Park goalkeeper Alec Kitanovski into a spectacular one-handed save.
Just four minutes later, however, it was the All Whites who found themselves on the scoreboard after forward Nathan Munoz earnt a penalty, evoking a handball from his opponent.
Mijo Marinovic stepped up to the spot and sent the Hornets’ keeper the wrong way to record his sixth goal of the season.
In the second half, the home side suffered a significant drop in intensity as the Park players struggled with an obvious lack of stamina.
As fatigue crept in, lapses of concentration became more frequent and it became a matter of time before an equaliser would silence the large home crowd.
Unfortunately, that was to come in the 63rd minute after the visitors received a penalty for a Bell Park handball.
The ever-dangerous Elmi stepped up and duly converted to bring the game back to a level playing field.
That’s how it stayed until the final whistle, leaving Bell Park coach Ivan Biscan relatively satisfied with his troops’ performance.
“To be honest, after the disappointing performance last week, we asked some serious questions of the boys and I must admit they answered the call today,” Biscan said, as he trudged off the pitch.
“We’re never happy with a draw but Truganina will be within that top two or three come sea- son’s end. “And even though we are at home, we will accept it and move on to (and focus on) next week’s match.” Fifth-placed Bell Park travel to Laverton FC (sixth) this weekend in what looms as a must-win showdown.