Melbourne City’s Youth will be on the road for their third straight week on Saturday, travelling to Wembley Park as they take on Box Hill United in round three of the NPL2 Season.
City suffered defeat at the hands of the Eastern Lions in their round 2 fixture, going down 1-0 to the Lions at their home of Gardiner’s Creek Reserve.
Playing without first choice goalkeeper James Delianov, City’s backs were put further against the wall in the 35th minute of the contest; reduced to ten men when Delianov’s back-up Liam Kennedy picked up his second yellow card in three minutes and was sent off.
Playing the entire second half with a one-man disadvantage, City’s resistance would eventually break, going down a goal down in the 75th minute thanks to a long-range effort from the Lion’s Shaun Kenny.
Unable to find an equalizer, City’s youth would record their first defeat of the season and fall to sixth position on the NPL2 Eastern Conference table.
This week’s opponents Box Hill United find themselves rooted to the bottom of the NPL2 Eastern Conference after two rounds.
A 2-0 defeat at the hands of newly promoted Langwarrin SC in round one was last week followed up by a 3-1 defeat at the hands of local rivals Nunawading City FC.
Despite opening the scoring through Caleb Ludlow in the 12th minute of play, Box Hill would go on to cop three second half goals from Devon Bonne, Tahj Minniecon and Borbor Sam to remain the only team in the NPL2 Eastern Conference without a win.
City last met Box Hill in the final round of the 2017 NPL2 season, with City thumping Box Hill 5-0 to ensure that they finished the 2017 campaign in third position on the NPL2 Eastern Conference table.
City’s U20s are, as per usual, scheduled to play a 12.45pm curtain raiser before the senior match. Peter Kratky’s side will be looking to bounce back from last week, where they suffered a rare 3-1 defeat at the hands of the Eastern Lions’ U20 side.
City’s two junior sides had much brighter results than their senior and U20 counterparts last weekend; Simon Zappia’s U15s grabbing a 4-2 win and Davey van’t Schip’s U18s recording a 5-0 blowout victory in what was the two sides first ever competitive matches.
The U15s and U18s will this take on FC Bulleen Lions at Parade College this Sunday, hosting their first ever matches. The U15s match is set for a 10.00am kick-off, with the U18s set to follow at 11.30am.
Photo: Dion Fountas Photography
Match Details
National Premier Leagues Victoria – NPL2 – Round 2
Box Hull United SC v Melbourne City FC
Saturday, 3 March 2018
Venue: Wembley Park, Box Hill, Melbourne
Kick-off: U20s – 12.45pm, Seniors – 3.15pm
