Knox City v Heatherton

Knox City 2 Heatherton United 2 (Half-time 2-0)

Knox City threw away a 2 goal half time advantage to drop two points to the bottom placed side Heatherton Utd on Saturday at Egan Lee Reserve.

Knox dominated most of the first half and the lead could have been greater at the break as a golden opportunity was spurned in the final minute of the half. Instead, the home side conceded an early goal in the second half and from then on had a battle against a revitalised side which finally snatched a point in the 90th minute.

The home side got the best possible start in the 10th minute when Grubic was fouled in the box and Suat scored from the spot at the second attempt. Cugovcan saved the first effort but was adjudged to have encroached from his line and the referee ordered the kick to be re-taken.

Heatherton hit back and created four chances in the next ten minutes. Karamehmedovic had a goal bound shot charged down by two defenders and then he squandered a free header. Twice Ash got clear down the right but the forwards were unable to convert his excellent crosses.

Knox doubled its advantage in the 21st minute when a flowing move involving four players saw the ball reach Swami on the left hand edge of the penalty area. He drove the ball diagonally across the keeper into the far corner of the net.

The rest of the half was all Knox. Hingert was having a field day down the right flank as his close ball control and pace gave the Heatherton defence a torrid time. In the 44th minute, Hingert found Nick Veljovic in space and his dangerous cross was turned over from close range by Grubic.

Five minutes into the second half, the visitors were handed a life line. Swami dwelt on the ball when he should have cleared. Instead of being upfield, Knox gave away a free kick in the ensuing challenge for the ball. Suzuki’s free kick to the far post found Buljubasic who netted from close range.

Saunders went close on two occasions for Knox before he looked to have made the game safe in the 72nd minute. Nick Veljovic released him with an intelligent through ball and the striker cleverly dinked the ball over the advancing keeper into the net, only for the assistant referee to rule the pass offside.

With Knox struggling to contain the Heatherton attack, it conceded the equaliser in the last minute of normal time when a cross field pass found Buljubasic in space and he had time to beat Jorgensen at the near post to gain his side a point that looked most unlikely at half time.

Knox City: M. Jorgensen, M. Coates, A. Edgar, D. Perazic, H. Swami (D. Veljovic -77th), J. Hingert, N. Giannopoulos A. Saunders, N. Veljovic, K. Suat, L. Grubic (G. Moon -68th) . Subs not used – P. Veljovic, K. McEvoy.

Heatherton Utd: T. Cugovcan, M. Kinski, A. Kuljuh, S. Nuhanovic, N. Skenderovic, Z. Buljubasic, M. Heco, D. Karamehmedovic (H. Skenderevic – 66th), J. Ash (V. Kariuki – 66th), S. Suzuki, R. Heco. Subs not used: V. Pezerovic, E. Mutapcic.