Final Home Stand: Gully Host In-Form Preston in Must-Win Clash
It’s come down to this. For Green Gully, the equation is as simple as it is unforgiving.
Win, or wave goodbye to any lingering hope of finals football.
With two games left and a four-point gap to sixth-placed Hume City, Friday night’s meeting with Preston Lions at Green Gully Reserve is nothing short of season-defining.
And in fitting fashion, the script has all the drama you could want for a final home game. An opponent in irresistible form. A returning fan favourite. A crowd that will need to be in full voice under the lights in Keilor Downs.
Tickets for this one are available online only – there will be no door sales on the night, so make sure you’ve secured your spot well in advance.
Preston arrive with their tails up, having reeled off four straight wins since a 4-0 humbling by Oakleigh Cannons in late June.
In that run, they’ve scored 12 unanswered goals, sweeping aside Port Melbourne, Melbourne Knights, Melbourne Victory, and most recently St Albans Saints without breaking stride.
Mid-season recruit Luke Francis has been a handful up front, netting three times in five matches, while Jonas Markovski has rediscovered the scoring touch that earned him a Golden Boot at Altona Magic, finding the net in three of his last four.
Add to that the return of Luc Jeggo to Green Gully Reserve for the first time since his departure, and the subplot writes itself.
For Gully, recent weeks have been a case of resilience without the killer blow. Points have been earned, but wins have proved elusive, and time is now the one opponent they can’t keep at bay.
Brandon Cuminao and Jacob Eliopoulos earned Team of the Week selections for their performances in our 1-1 draw against South Melbourne, and their class at the back will need to be matched up front as we look for a killer blow against the Lions.
Still, there’s belief. At home, with the season on the line, and a proud record to defend in front of their own, David Chick’s side will know that one big performance can keep the dream alive heading into the final round.
Kick-off is 7:30pm Friday. The stage is set. The stakes couldn’t be clearer. This is the night to be there, in green and white, making sure the boys feel every bit of the backing they’ll need to topple the Lions.
