SOCCER: Heart-starter win for Geelong
| August 8th, 2011
GEELONG SC snapped a six-game losing streak to move out of the State League 2 relegation zone with an impressive 2-1 win over Westgate.
The home side appeared to be on a terminal slide out of the division before the match, but turned in a performance that will give it heart for the rest of the season.
Much of the revival could be put down to the return of Matteo Goristo, who thrived in a lone striking role for and was a constant menace to the Westgate defence.
It was Goristo who grabbed what turned out to be the winner, lashing the ball in after Westgate failed to properly clear a corner.
The goal was the least that Geelong deserved after an opening period in which it dominated but only scored a single goal.
Willie Guillermo scrambled the ball home following a corner after 15 minutes, but the lead should have been greater by the break, with Goristo and Daniel Earley both missing presentable chances.
Geelong's cause was aided when Westgate was reduced to 10 men after a rude gesture to an assistant referee was punished with a red card.
But Geelong failed to take advantage immediately, having to wait well into the second half before Goristo doubled its tally.
Westgate nearly made Geelong pay for its wasted chances after bundling in a late goal, but the home side hung on for the much-needed three points. The win sees Geelong move two points clear of the relegation zone, although it faces a crunch clash against bottom side Banyule next week.
According to Geelong coach Petar Stojanovski, the team's structure was better than it had been all season.
"We have worked hard on that and finally the penny seems to have dropped with the players," he said.
"Sometimes a win can make the world of difference and the players are certainly in good spirits. Next week will be a very tough for us and we will certainly have to match them."
Southern Stars 1 North Geelong Warriors 3
NORTH Geelong hauled itself clear of the relegation play-off zone with a fine win over promotion-chasing Southern Stars.
The win, Warriors' fourth away from Elcho Park this year, edges the club to safety on goal difference.
The club's youthful set-up is peaking at the right time and will be looking to rattle off similarly impressive wins in the final rounds in order to preserve its State League 1 status.
Geelong Rangers 1 La Trobe University 2
GEELONG Rangers' hopes of remaining in State League 3 faded as they were sunk at home by La Trobe Uni.
The club has gone eight matches without a win.
Given that it is 11 points from safety, it faces the very real prospect of playing Provisional League soccer next year.
Corio 3 North City Lions 1
CORIO closed in on the Provisional League 1 promotion spots with a fine win over high-flying rival North City Lions.
Two goals from tricky winger Elton Savice and another from tireless midfielder Liam Nelson ensured Corio bounced back from two defeats in a row and narrowed the gap to second place to two points.
South Yarra 2 Surf Coast 3
NOT for the first time this season, Surf Coast staged an unlikely comeback, winning after falling 2-0 behind.
Two goals either side of half-time by second-placed South Yarra appeared to seal the game, but a Hector Nunez free kick and a Gavin Honey tap in from Billy Bunces cross levelled the scores.
With a minute to go, Ben Le Cornu proved the hero, chipping the goalkeeper from 30m to snatch the points for Surf Coast.
Plenty Valley Lions 3 Bell Park 0
BELL Park will have to worry about potential relegation for another week after unexpectedly coming unstuck against Plenty Valley Lions.
With a seven-point cushion to the relegation zone, Bell Park should be safe from demotion, but its chances weren't helped by a poor final third to the game in which the side conceded three goals.
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