Clifton Hill v Knox City

Clifton Hill 3 Knox City 3 (Half-time 1-1)

Three times Knox City took the lead, three times Clifton Hill fought back to draw level and in the end this game was decided by a controversial 89th minute decision to disallow what looked like a fair goal to the visitors.

Having said that, a draw was a fair result. Clifton Hill had the majority of possession and Mark Jorgensen in the Knox goal was outstanding as he made one exceptional save after another. His spell as first choice keeper at the University of Carolina last year has only added to his growing reputation as a first class shot stopper. He was in action as early as the second minute making a full length save from a free kick on the edge of the area.

Knox’s first two moves resulted in crosses just evading Peter Veljovic. Then it was back to the Jorgensen show as he made a sensational double stop after Kotsiras had got free on the left hand side.

Then Hingett brought a good reflex save from Sprekos in the Clifton Hill goal and Suat’s shot from the rebound was blocked.

In the 21st minute, Knox took the lead for the first time. After a near miss in front of goal, the ball was cleared to the left wing where Swami drove the ball back across goal. The ball was hacked clear by the defence but it struck another defender and rebounded into the net.

Clifton Hill drew level in the 41st minute. A left wing cross was not dealt with effectively and the ball ran to Karkaletsis who was able to side foot the ball into an unguarded net.

Knox retook the lead a minute after the restart. A right wing throw in was flicked on at the near post by Peter Veljovic and the ball evaded everyone and hit the far post before crossing the line.

Clifton Hill was getting more of the ball and they were again foiled by Jorgensen, before Kyriopoulos volleyed narrowly over.

Knox almost extended their lead in the 67th minute when a Peter Veljovic free kick look bound for the corner of the net until Sprekos threw himself across the goal to make a finger tip save that kept his side in the game.

Three minutes later, the game was squared up when Karkaletsis played an exquisite through ball into the path of Kotsiras who made no mistake.

Seven minutes later, the visitors got their noses in front again when a long ball from Grubic cleared the defence and Suat ran on to the ball lobbed the advancing Sprekos and ran around him to side foot into the net.

After another excellent Jorgensen save, the home side equalised again in the 85th minute when a right wing corner was headed home by Romanovski. 

At this stage Knox was under extreme pressure, but looked to have won the game in the 89th minute when Edgar, well forward from his back line duties received the ball and under pressure from Sprekos took the ball close to the bye-line from where he crossed for Suat to net. It was hard to see where the Assistant got an offside decision from but the goal was ruled out.

Five minutes of extra time was played with neither side able to break the deadlock.

Clifton Hill: Sprekos, Grounds, Stojanac, Tyrikos, Katris (Vlahos – 77th), Karkaletsis, Harbinson, Kotsiras, Kyriopoulos, Romanovski, Plunkett. Subs not used:  Edwards, Menelaou, Staikouris.

Knox City: M. Jorgensen, G. Dos Santos, A. Edgar, D. Perazic, G. Moon, J. Hingert (L. Grubic – 63rd), N. Giannopoulos, H. Swami, P. Veljovic (E. Becirovic – 81st), N. Veljovic, K.Suat. Subs not used – D. Veljovic, M. Hoogendyk, K. McEvoy.