By Lance Jenkinson
Melbourne Knights have paid a heavy price for a sloppy start in a 4-3 loss to Avondale in National Premier League.
The Knights were made to rue the opening 34 minutes of Saturday afternoon’s game at the Reggio Calabria Club in which they conceded three unanswered goals, leaving them outside the top six on the back of two straight losses.
The gallant Knights should be commended for fighting out the game and providing a scare to one of the premiership-contending teams.
Had they not gone down to 10 men after Tomislav Uskok was handed a red card for an altercation with Avondale striker Liam Boland, perhaps they could have earned a point out of the game.
Knights captain Marijan Cvitkovic inspired his side’s comeback with two goals.
But just when the Knights were getting a sniff, Boland stepped up for Avondale with his second goal.
Kaine Sheppard also scored a double for Avondale.
Before Uskok was sent off, he scored the Knights’ third goal.
The Knights are three points outside the top six and have an inferior goal difference to the two sides above them.
They will have a chance to go level on points with fifth-placed Port Melbourne Sharks when the sides meet in a blockbuster at Knights Stadium on Friday night.
Meanwhile, Green Gully’s finals hopes are finished.
A change of coach was not enough for the Cavaliers, with Stephen Downes’ first match in charge finishing in a 3-2 loss to South Melbourne.
The Cavs will be keen to bounce back on the road against Heidelberg United on Sunday in a bid to avoid getting dragged into the relegation mix.
In NPL women’s, Calder United and South Melbourne played out a 1-1 draw in a top-of-the-ladder clash at Keilor Park Recreation Reserve.
Calder got off to a flying start when Catherine Zimmerman put her side ahead in the eighth minute. South Melbourne found an equaliser in the second half through Alexandra Gummer.
Calder is four points behind ladder-leading South, but has a game in hand.
