Hodges Heroics Hand Gully Anzac Day Win Over South Melbourne
Green Gully marked their return to Green Gully Reserve in style, grinding out a determined 1-0 victory over old rivals South Melbourne on Anzac Day.
It was a night where character and quality combined for the Cavaliers, as Paul Hodges announced himself with a stunning winner and Liam Driscoll produced a goalkeeping masterclass to keep a clean sheet.
South Melbourne, desperate to spark their season into life, started brightly and looked the more threatening in the first half. Andy Brennan and George Mells both forced sharp saves from Driscoll, while Robert Harding tested the Gully custodian with a fierce drive late in the half. However, Gully’s resilience showed, as they weathered the storm to head into the break level.
Whatever was said at halftime had the desired effect. Within four minutes of the restart, Hodges produced a moment of brilliance. Picking up the ball outside the box, the midfielder shifted onto his right foot and unleashed an unstoppable strike into the top corner, giving South keeper Javier Lopez no chance and sending the home fans into raptures.
Gully almost doubled their advantage moments later through Aamir Abdallah, whose powerful effort was well saved by Lopez. South responded by hitting the woodwork via Jack Pope, but it would prove as close as they would come.
As the match wore on, Gully defended with discipline and nerve. A chaotic late scramble in the box saw South desperately appeal for a penalty, but the referee was unmoved. At the other end, Abdallah remained a constant threat, forcing another smart save as Gully searched for a second goal to kill the contest.
When the final whistle blew after seven minutes of added time, it sealed a massive three points for David Chick’s side. The win extends Gully’s unbeaten run to three games and sees them continue to climb the NPL Victoria ladder, now firmly in touch with the top six.
With Hodges finding form, Driscoll proving a rock between the sticks, and the squad showing growing belief, the Cavaliers are building momentum at just the right time of the season.
