At Green Gully Reserve, Green Gully SC notched an impressive 4-2 victory over Oakleigh Cannons. The win showcased their attacking prowess and continued their unbeaten run under coach Ramon Falzon. Despite the long odds in their push for a finals berth, the win injects fresh momentum into their campaign.
From the outset, Green Gully looked determined to capitalise on Oakleigh’s recent form struggles. The match started brightly for Gully, and they quickly found the back of the net. In the 15th minute, Josh Hope initiated the scoring after Adolph Koudakpo skillfuly knocked down a well-delivered ball into the box, setting up Hope to sweep it past the goalkeeper.
The intensity didn’t waver as Green Gully strategically doubled their advantage in the 21st minute through a dynamic play orchestrated by Jamie Latham. His reverse pass found Koudakpo, who continued his fine form by outpacing the defence and delicately chipping the ball over the onrushing keeper, demonstrating both precision and poise, impressing the audience with their well-executed game plan.
As the first half neared its conclusion, Latham transitioned from provider to scorer. Matthew Crooks, making a marauding run from right-back, delivered a perfect cross that Latham met with a timely finish, putting Gully up by three goals and effectively controlling the game by halftime.
The second half saw more of the same dominance from Gully. In the 69th minute, Koudakpo, ever the threat on the right flank, delivered a sharp cutback for Hope, who notched his second goal of the game, underscoring his crucial role in Gully’s offensive setup.
However, Oakleigh showed signs of life late in the game. In the 78th minute, Kingsley Sinclair found the net for the Cannons, scoring from a set-piece that caught the Gully defence momentarily off guard. Oakleigh’s resurgence continued with Pierce Waring, a former Gully player, striking a powerful long-range effort in the 85th minute to reduce the deficit to 4-2. Waring’s goal against his old club added a personal narrative to the encounter but did little to deter Gully’s victory.
Despite Oakleigh’s late push, Green Gully stood strong, showcasing their resilience and determination to secure the win. This performance not only avenged their earlier season defeat but also highlighted their potential to compete against top teams in the league, inspiring confidence in their fans and team management.
