Green Gully Held to a Draw in Hard-Fought Clash with Hume City
Green Gully picked up their second consecutive point of the 2025 NPL Victoria season, battling to a 1-1 draw with Hume City at Green Gully Reserve.
In a match filled with intensity and opportunities, both sides had their chances to claim victory but were ultimately forced to settle for a share of the spoils.
The game started with a moment of controversy as Green Gully had a strong penalty shout in the eighth minute when Paul Hodges was tripped in the box, but the referee waved play on.
Just three minutes later, Hume City capitalised on a corner to take an early lead via an Harry Ascroft geader.
Green Gully responded effectively to the setback, earning a series of corners around the 15th minute as they intensified the pressure.
Hallam was lively throughout the first half, producing a brilliant solo effort in the 22nd minute. He turned his marker in his own half and played a one-two with Hodges before racing towards the goal.
From a tight angle, however, he could only find the side netting.
Further chances followed, with Josh Hope making a dangerous run down the left in the 29th minute, nearly rounding his defender before attempting to cut the ball back, only for the move to be crowded out. Hallam remained at the centre of the action, appearing to be fouled just outside the box in the 31st minute, but once again, the referee remained unmoved.
Minutes later, his wriggling footwork in the box led to a shot attempt that was well blocked, with Gully going close from the ensuing corner.
The breakthrough finally came in the 41st minute. Hallam’s relentless pressing forced the Hume goalkeeper into a mistake, with the shot-stopper fouling the Gully winger as he nicked the ball away. A penalty was awarded, and Aamir Abdallah made no mistake from the spot, sending the keeper the wrong way to level the scores heading into halftime.
The second half saw Green Gully come out with renewed intent. Hallam was again the dangerman, wriggling through the Hume defence in the 51st minute and getting a toe on the ball under pressure, only for the keeper to deny him. The rebound fell to Abdallah, but his shot was well blocked.
Gully continued to press, and another chance followed just minutes later as Hallam recovered a long cross and worked the ball back into the box for Abdallah, who just couldn’t get there in time. In the 56th minute, a golden opportunity fell to Hope after a well-worked move down the right, but he couldn’t direct his effort on target.
Abdallah’s deliveries from set-pieces caused problems for Hume, with a dangerous free kick in the 59th minute leading to a scramble in the box, but Maurice Nugent couldn’t direct the loose ball into the net. Lochhead had a shot from range in the 63rd minute after a driving run from Abdallah, while substitute Gianluca Iannucci curled an effort broad in the 73rd minute as Gully pushed for a winner.
As stoppage time approached, Hume City put Green Gully under pressure with a series of dangerous attacks, forcing some uncomfortable moments for the home defence. However, Gully held firm to ensure they walked away with a point.
While David Chick’s side will be disappointed not to have converted their dominance into a win, the performance showed plenty of promise. The team will now look ahead to their next challenge, aiming to turn these strong performances into three points.
