A third consecutive draw for Seniors
Monday, 20 April 2009

Southern Suburbs went into the game versus Croydon looking for their first win after two consecutive draws however the game finished 1-1 with South dropping 2 points.

Played on a great surface Southern Suburbs started the game brilliantly and carved out the first real chances in the game with Andrew Strepelias shooting at the keeper in the first few minutes. Panos Nickas then made a good run into the box before being fouled although any penalty claims were waived away by the referee. SS then created a great chance when a Giannakopoulos flick on found Strepelias who turned his man only for the keeper to save his goal bound shot with his legs. Strike partner Robbie Nicovski then got into the act with his deft chip just missing the target. At the other end Croydon created their first good chance with Billy Vasilopoulos making a great save to his right before another Croydon chance soon after was wasted when the Croydon striker shot over the bar from close range. South responded with a Rossios corner that was flicked on by Strepelias across the face of goal just missing the head of Colin Rodopoulos at the back post.

Early in the second half a quick counter attack saw Nicovski put Giannakopoulos through and pass to Strepelias who again turned his man and curled a left foot shot towards the top corner to only narrowly miss the target. Soon after a Nickas cross found Strepelias in the box who saw his goal bound shot cleared by a Croydon defender. Despite these opportunities it was Croydon who opened the scoring when a botched defensive clearance "skewed" into the path of the Croydon striker who fired home a well hit shot into the side netting to make it 1-0.

South stepped it up and a Nick Rossios free kick found Strepelias at the back post however his volley went straight to the keeper. In one of the best moves of the game defender Nick Yosifidis brought the ball out of defence and played it out wide to Tzoumanekas whose incisive pass found Strepelias who then played a "one two" with Nicovski putting him through into the box where his shot was then handled by the Croydon defender and South was awarded a penalty. Andrew Strepelias stepped up and smashed it home to make it 1-1.

At the other end Croydon had a free kick tipped wide by Vasilopoulos before South went in search of a winner with a Strepelias cross almost finding Nicovski in the box before Tzoumanekas blazed over the bar soon after. With the last kick of the game Strepelias beat his man to the by line however his cross was too close to the keeper as the final whistle sounded. All in all a thoroughly entertaining game played in the right spirit. Video highlights of the game can be viewed at footballchaos.com by clicking here .

The Reserves lost 5-1 with George Achilleos grabbing South's only goal and his third for the season.

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