Melbourne Knights endured yet another heartbreaking loss conceding in the last minute of the game to fall 2-1 to the Bentleigh Greens on Friday night at Knights Stadium
Eric Vassiliadis made two changes to his starting eleven with Patrick Gerhardt making his first start for the club alongside new mid-season signing Anthony Duzel.
Bentleigh looked to dictate the tempo of the contest from the outset, holding possession for large periods of the opening half and preventing the Knights from creating any meaningful attacks.
The Greens increased the pressure on the half hour mark with a series of corners. The first saw Webster’s effort blocked by Surey on the line, before Brennan’s follow up was deflected onto the crossbar.
The visitors would deservedly take the lead just five minutes later, when another corner wasn’t properly dealt with by the Knights defence and was punished by a fine half volley from Luke Pilkington.
Fraser Chalmers came to the rescue midway through the second half, with an impressive double save and a close range parry to keep the home side in the contest.
Despite being in control for much of the game, an eight minute poor patch for the visitors gave the Knights an ideal opportunity to win the game.
Bentleigh Captain Jack Webster was adjudged to have used his hand in the penalty area, allowing Tom Cahill to power home the resulting penalty. Thinks only got from bad to worse for the Greens skipper who minutes later brought down Elvis Kamsoba to receive his marching orders.
Not for the first time this season the Knights could not capitalise on their numerical advantage, and were punished in heartbreaking fashion as Kieran Dover tapped home the winner with virtually the last kick of the game.
In a damning statistic the Knights have now conceded half their goals in the last 15 minutes of fixtures, with the latest defeat leaving the club hovering dangerously close to the relegation zone.
Next week is now set up as a huge clash for the Knights, making the Monday night trip into the south-east to face Kingston City in a relegation 6 pointer.
Melbourne Knights: 1.Fraser CHALMERS, 2.Luke JURCIC, 4. Ben SUREY, 6.Milan BATUR, 12.Anthony DEZIC, 13.Tom CAHILL, 15.Danny DIXON (45.Adrian TARDIO 67′), 17.Patrick GERHARDT (5.Damien MISKULIN 58′), 19.Anthony DUZEL, 23.Timmy PURCELL, 27.Elvis KAMSOBA.
Not Used: 20.Gabriel MATTI, 32.Marcelo DE LA PLAZA SANCHEZ.
Goals: Tom CAHILL 72′
Bentleigh Greens: 1.Ryan SCOTT, 5.Jack WEBSTER, 6.Troy RUTHVEN, 8.Andy BRENNAN, 9.Ben LIFTON (7.Kieran DOVER 78′), 10.Tyson HOLMES, 15.Ross ARCHIBALD, 18.Matthew THURTELL (17.Dimitri HATZIMOURATIS 69′), 19.Nick GLAVAN, 24.Luke PILKINGTON, 26.Lampros HONOS (14.Marco JANKOVIC 81′).
Not Used: 20.Jordan WILKES, 23.Trent CLULOW.
Red Card: Jack WEBSTER 80′
Goals: Luke PILKINGTON 36′, Kieran DOVER 93′