Whittlesea Ranges pipped at the postSoccer 9 Oct 12 @ 08:00am by Patrick Lane
WHITTLESEA Ranges will stay in State League 2 after falling to Box Hill United.

The bigger-bodied United was too strong at Kingston Heath on Saturday, winning the all-on-the-line playoff match, 2-1.

It means Box Hill United will to Division 1, snatching the Ranges' position in the state's second highest flight.

The Ranges led early when Daniel Giogha pounced on a Box Hill error in the 26th minute, but an own goal on the hour mark levelled things.

In the end it fell to the referee's whistle, and it chirped to the horror of Whittlesea fans as Box Hill was awarded a late penalty.

Petr Kratky went to the spot and made no mistake, cannoning the ball home to the bottom corner as Ranges' hearts sunk.

Whittlesea was up against it from the start, it must be said, with a raft of first team regulars unavailable.

Robert Dolevski was missing, Chris Lee has osetitis pubis, Simon Lamanda has an ankle complaint and even captain Adam Garristo was ruled out, with gastro.

"The boys did really well. We went in with a really inexperienced squad of young, talented boys from the area," director Serge Costanzo said. "It is what it is. At the end of the day we are very proud of the boys we had on the park."

Costanzo said while the group was inconsolable after the match, the club was keen to laud the players' efforts under duress.

"From a club's perspective. We were overawed. The boys on the ground really did the club proud."

Box Hill United downs Moreland CitySoccer 3 Oct 12 @ 12:11pm by staff writers
TweetA GREAT game for neutrals but a heart-stopper for Box Hill United and Moreland City fans as a penalty shoot-out was required to separate the two teams.

Box Hill got off to a flying start with Nick Kokolakis hitting the crossbar after 11' and having one of his shots cleared by the Moreland defence 3 minutes later after a goal mouth scramble.

Moreland City took control of the midfield and the game after that.

In the second half it appeared the Hillmen had decided not to let this golden opportunity for promotion pass them by like last year.

Petr Kratky could have opened the scoring in the 46' but the Moreland keeper saved with his feet. With 51' gone Kratky's goal bound free kick was saved by the outstanding Moreland Keeper once again.

Moreland created a good chance with 70' gone but Tomas Kovar bravely dived and grabbed the ball off the forwards feet.

The chances continued for Box Hill and the game seemed over 5 minutes from time when Moreland scored, but the goal was disallowed for offside.

Both sides seemed nervous in the first term of extra time and perhaps more concerned with not conceding rather than scoring.

Substitution Ari Karanicolas took full advantage of a Kratky flick on and volleyed the ball in the top corner giving Box Hill the advantage, but Moreland was not done with and another substitution, Simon Groom, neatly tucked the ball away 6 minutes from time.

Karanicolas should have done better with a few seconds to go when his chip went just wide, sending the match to a penalty shoot out.

Captain Matthew Collier was the only one that missed from the spot but it didn't matter as Adam Orme's powerful kick hit the cross bar. It was all even after 6 kicks and Phil Hawkins gave the advantage to Box Hill after taking the 7th Kick.

Tomas Kovar became the hero after saving Moreland City's seventh spot kick. Box Hill will take on the Whittlesea Ranges for a place in State League One next season.

It will be revenge for Box Hill as Whittlesea Ranges knocked them out of the Playoffs last season with a 1-0 victory.