Late Goal Sees Knights Fall To The Sharks

Melbourne Knights Media

Abusy week came to a close for Melbourne Knights with a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Port Melbourne at Knights Stadium on Friday night. A late Chris Duggan strike saw the Sharks snatch all three points late on as NPL Victoria Round 18 action handed Knights their third defeat of 2023. An arm wrestle of a �irst half yielded few opportunities for either side with Knights coming closest through a Mitch Hore shot from the top of the box that whistled past the post, while Port produced their best chance of the opening stanza via a goalmouth scramble on the end of a Dan Edwards corner kick. Chris Old�ield’s 250th top-�light appearance in Victorian football was marred by injury with the shot-stopper forced off at half time after picking up a knock in the opening stanza. The injury did afford the opportunity for Jakeb Wiseman, who joined Knights from NPL Capital Football out�it O’Connor Knights to make his competitive debut between the sticks at Somers Street. Perhaps Knights best opening of the second period came in the 51st minute when an Anthony Đuzel free-kick fell to Corey Sewell at the back post, before the

fullback dragged his halfvolley wide of the target under heavy pressure from the Sharks defence. With the match looking destined for a draw, substitute Chris Duggan popped up to acrobatically volley home a Luca Tevere cross at the back post and snatch victory for the visitors. Knights remain in fourth position with a four-point buffer over �ifth placed Port Melbourne following Friday’s match as Ben Cahn’s side continue in their pursuit of a �irst NPL Victoria �inals appearance since 2015. Next up for Knights is a trip to Paisley Park next Saturday to face Altona Magic in Round 19 action with kick 0ff scheduled for 18:15.

West Canberra Wanderers suffered late heartbreak as a double from substitute Noah Vanderpol helped Canberra Croatia to a 4-2 win at Melrose Synthetic, a result that allows the Australia Cup Round of 32 representatives to keep in touch with the top four and a potential �inals place. There was a sense of relief as the League Champions broke down a stubborn Wanderers defence with �ive minutes to play as Lukman Ahmed-Shaibu found Vanderpol in front of goal and the young forward steered home. Vanderpol sealed the result three minutes later, sitting down Kristian Nel in the home goal to con�idently strike home the fourth, but Wanderers will be aggrieved they weren’t able to hold onto the point that looked within their grasp after Joshua Young had powered home a 56th minute header.

That added to Harry Truman’s expertly taken �irst equaliser, the Wanderers striker �inishing well to cancel out Daniel Barac’s header. An Ahmed-Shaibu freekick in �irst-half stoppage time edged Croatia ahead, but Wanderers were back on terms before Vanderpol saved the day.

At the Riverside Stadium it was a penalty that settled the destination of the points as Micheal Adams con�idently sent goalkeeper Joran Thurtell the wrong way as O’Connor Knights claimed an important 1-0 win over the Monaro Panthers.Adams was the bene�iciary after Aisosa Ihegie was upended inside the penalty area at the end of a lung-bursting, and typically penetrative run, there being little doubt that a spot-kick would be the outcome. highlighted by investment in the latest Digital Press and Wide Format technology, enabling them to provide customers with the highest quality product at extremely competitive prices with the fastest turnaround times.

Knights were reduced to ten-men for the last half-hour as centre-back Connor Bill was dismissed for a second bookable offence, but Monaro struggled to break down a disciplined and well organised Knights out�it.

Roko Strika hit the post with a header for the Panthers following a Gabe Cole corner, whilst Thurtell was forced to make a decent save from close range as Adams and Niko Kresic tip-toed their way through the Panthers defence, but in the end it was Adams dead-eyed accuracy that was the difference.

This Sunday 25th of June Canberra Croatia are at home where they will host Monaro Panthers with kick of scheduled for 15:00 whereas O’Connor Knights will travel to AIS Grass Field 2 where they will face Gungahlin United also at 15:00.

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