LOSS LEAVES LIONS NEEDING MIRACLE
GEELONG looks doomed to spend next season in the new NPL third-tiered Victorian Premier League 2 division after going down 1-0 to Northcote City in a catch-up game at Stead Park on Saturday night.
Currently sitting eighth on the NPL2 Western Division table, the Lions will need a minor miracle to overcome the three-point deficit behind sixth-placed Brunswick City, which boasts a significantly su
Corio SC’s State League 2 catch-up round match against Mill Park was again postponed due to the waterlogged state of the Findon Reserve pitch.
The fixture will need to be rescheduled for a midweek timeslot in the coming weeks and most likely will be contested at a neutral venue.
As a result of Fitzroy City’s 4-0 demolition of Geelong Rangers, and Epping City’s 4-1 win over Altona City, Corio slips from second to fourth spot on the standings, with a game in hand — as does thirdplaced Epping City.
The Eagles next face a crucial clash away to fifth-placed Albion Rovers, and will keep one eye on the equally vital showdown between competition leader Hoppers Crossing and Epping City. perior goal difference to the Lions.
The top six teams will qualify for the newly revamped VPL1 division, while the bottom four — which currently includes Geelong — will move down to VPL2.
Played in cold, wet and windy conditions, the contest was a largely dour affair with scores locked at 0-0 at the halftime break.
The only goal of the game came in the 73rd minute following a patient build-up by Northcote, which started with an interception in its own defensive half.
The sequence ended up the other end with Callum Freeman sweetly guiding a volleyed effort past Geelong keeper David Booth.
Deflated Geelong coach Dom Barba said the Lions had made it difficult for themselves. “The club is the most important consideration at this time and we will all do the right thing by the club that will see it be successful,” he said.
“Put simply, all of us have not sacrificed ourselves enough for the greater good of the club. That is why we are in the position that we are in.”
Barba said the team now had just four games in which to achieve the club’s objectives.
“The character of everyone in these last four weeks will be dictated by their behaviour, attitude and approach to winning for this club,” he said. “Unfortunately, now it’s no longer in our hands.”
Barba’s words were echoed by the club’s football operations manager, Steve Ginoski.
“It was a very disappointing result. We simply weren’t good enough or hungry enough today,” he said. “In saying that, Northcote didn’t create anything apart from the goal. Their keeper made a couple of brilliant saves, but at the end of the day we didn’t ask enough questions of Northcote.”
The Lions face another difficult tie at home on Saturday, when they host sixth-placed Goulburn Valley Suns.