HOME is where the hell is for Green Gully in the Victorian Premier League.
The Cavaliers coughed up a goal advantage to lose 2-1 to Hume City at Green Gully Reserve on Saturday and their abysmal home record now stands at no wins, three draws and three losses.
PICTURE GALLERY: Green Gully Cavaliers v Hume City
Cavaliers player-coach Jeff Fleming is baffled.
“Our form at home has been awful,” he told the Weekly.
“Green Gully has always been a hard ground for away teams to come to, a bit of a fortress, but it wasn’t to be today, so it was pretty disappointing.”
What makes home form so perplexing is the impressive away record — five wins, a draw and two losses.
It’s no surprise that Fleming’s face lights up when he looks ahead to the next round, an away date with Oakleigh Cannons on Friday night.
“Our away form is good, so it’s probably a good thing we’re away,” he said with a chuckle.
The Cavaliers gave the home fans something to cheer about with the first goal against Hume City.
Osagie Ederaro is dangerous in a one-on-one situation and he used nifty footwork to force City defender Steven Pace to trip him in the penalty box; Jason Hayne stepped up to the spot and fired home in the 17th minute.
The Cavaliers continued to press, but a chance to Hamid Basm to double the lead drew a blank.
City would make them pay, Pace equalising in the 28th minute on the back end of a free kick.
The Cavaliers, sound defensively for the most part and with their chances in attack, would be left to rue their inability to find a second goal as Ersin Kaya grabbed City’s winner in the 80th minute.
“I think we created enough chances to get the result, but it’s hard to take when you concede from set pieces,” Fleming said. “The first was a free kick and the second a long throw.
“It was one of those games where it didn’t matter what we did, we couldn’t find that second goal.”
Ederaro, playing on the left side of a front three, was the standout for the Cavaliers.
“He’s really playing with some confidence at the moment and running at players,” Fleming said.
“He’s quite difficult to defend against when he confident.”
In men’s state league 2, Westgate’s own home trouble surfaced again, claiming just a point in a 1-1 draw with Preston Lions on Friday night.
Sydenham Park brushed aside Altona East Phoenix 2-0, while Keilor Park beat La Trobe University by an identical scoreline.
Both local clubs are on 27 points, four behind leader Moreland City.
Cairnlea has opened up a five-point lead at the top of state league 3 after a 3-2 win at Moreland United.
Westvale was on the opposite end of that score, losing to Hume United and tumbling to fourth.
Western Eagles claimed a 2-0 victory over cellar dweller Maribyrnong Greens in state league 4, while the Brimbank Stallions moved to third in state league 5 with a 4-2 win over Melbourne Tornado.
