GREEN Gully Cavaliers are ruing their inability to seal the deal in a 2-1 grand final rematch loss to Oakleigh Cannons in the Victorian Premier League at Green Gully Reserve on Saturday.
The Cavaliers had the edge in all key statistical categories except the one that counted most – the scoreboard.
The home side fashioned the bulk of scoring opportunities, dominated in possession and appeared at ease for much of the game before a penalty and a goalkeeping error ripped up all the good work.
“The result was disappointing, but I was pleased with the performance,” Cavs coach Ian Dobson told the Weekly.
“We had a lot of possession, we looked very dangerous most of the game but we didn’t get a second goal to finish them off.
“While it was one-nil, I was confident with the way the team was playing. Then there was a soft penalty awarded by the referee and then a bad decision from the goalkeeper.”
The Cavaliers found a go-ahead goal from new recruit Osagie Ederaro in the 32nd minute.
Ederaro, a one-time Nigerian under-age international, pounced to score when Rodrigo Vargas’s header from a cross rebounded off the upright.
It was just his second game for the club, but Ederaro is making an impression on all the right people.
“He’s put in two very good performances,” Dobson said.
The Cavaliers’ lead was lost after the break when Jesse Krncevic tucked home the equaliser for the Cannons from the penalty spot.
Krncevic make it a pair in the 86th minute and, unlike last year’s grand final, the Cavs had no answer on this occasion despite the unrelenting efforts of one-time New Zealand under-19 representative Scott Robson and Chile-born Jonathan Munoz.
“I’m not overly disappointed,” Dobson said.
“I’m disappointed with the result only. We dominated the game.”
The Cavaliers, 2-2 after four games, get a chance to reassess this week in the FFV Cup.
They will field a youth-driven team against St Albans Saints in a local derby at Green Gully Reserve on Saturday.
In other FFV Cup battles, Sunshine George Cross will host top-flight Richmond Eagles, Keilor Park will visit lower-league side Hoppers Crossing, Melbourne Knights will be at home to Geelong Rangers and Western Suburbs will play Gippsland-based Falcons 2000 at a venue to be determined.
FFV RESULTS:
Premier League: Green Gully Cavaliers 1 Oakleigh Cannons 2
Women’s Premier League: South Melbourne 10 Cairnlea 1
State League 2: Keilor Park 1 Moreland City 2, Brunswick City 4 Westgate 1
State League 3: Cairnlea 0 Yarraville 0, Sydenham Park 2 Melbourne University 1
Provisional League 2: Western Eagles 0 Epping City 1
Provisional League 3: Balmoral 1 Fawkner SC 2, Bundoora United 4 Brimbank Stallions 3
Men’s Metropolitan League: Keilor Wolves 2 Tullamarine Jets 1, Greenvale United 4 Sunshine Heights Western Tigers 4
