GIPPSLAND FALCONS 0 BRISBANE STRIKERS 1 (Grierson 90)

If ever a match seemed doomed to grind out to a goalless draw, it was this game between Gippsland Falcons and Brisbane Strikers at Morwell on Saturday night. The first half was a dour struggle between two competent defences, and the second half was just plain dull. In fact, at times in the second half it seemed that the only people more bored than the crowd were the players themselves. But then, the game was sensationally turned upside down in the last thirty seconds of the match, when the Strikers committed daylight robbery to come away with the three points that keeps alive their finals aspirations.

After Brisbane tested out Falcons keeper Bojo Jevdjevic early with a shot from Stefanutto, play tended to be centred around the midfield, with most attacking moves breaking down as soon as they entered the penalty area. Brisbane had more of the general play, with Nick Meredith and John McKain forcing the ball forward at every opportunity, but Gippsland looked the more dangerous. Robbie Puca put a chip shot just wide, then Mehmet Durakovic drew a fine save from Strikers keeper Clint Bolton with a shot from 25 metres. The resulting corner was met by Durakovic with a volley that looked goal bound until it crashed into Chay Hews. With the very next attack, Gippsland's Andy Vargas volleyed a half clearance only to see Bolton save at the second attempt.

Gradually, as the half wore on, the Strikers' midfield began to turn possession into goal-scoring opportunities. A shot from Peter Grierson was saved well by Jevdjevic low down to his left. Just on the half hour, Foster rose above a group of Falcons defenders to head strongly down to the near corner of the goal, only to see his effort cannon of the post. Meredith was getting a lot of possession on the left wing, and his perseverance nearly paid off when he burst through the Falcons' defence, but Jevdjevic came off his line quickly to smother the shot. In the closing minutes of the first half, Foster deflected a shot from Meredith towards the corner of the goal, and Jevdjevic threw himself full length to save.

McKain was given a yellow card early in the second half after a foul on Gippsland's Naum Sekulovski., and then Strikers' captain Stuart McLaren was booked for showing his studs in a tackle. In an effort to break the deadlock, Brisbane substituted Matt Bell for Glenn Gwynne, and Gippsland brought on Sandy Robertson for Andy Vargas, but the second half had very few highlights. Bolton showed why he's rated so highly by pulling of a sensational save after John Hutchinson had weaved his way through the Strikers' defence and looked certain to score with a shot from right beside the penalty spot.

The match had cried out for a goal to spark some action, but with 90 minutes gone everyone was just killing time waiting for the final whistle. One last forward thrust by the Strikers saw a speculative cross land in front of goal. Falcons' Robbie Puca appeared to be pulled down, and as the Falcons players hesitated the weak clearance fell to Peter Grierson on the edge of the penalty area. With icy nerves, Grierson controlled the ball and then calmly placed it into the corner of the goal. With half the Falcons players appealing for a foul, and the Falcons keeper racing down the field claiming that Meredith had handled the ball, Referee Jeremy Blaney had no doubts and pointed to the centre spot.

There is no doubt that the respective goalkeepers starred in this match, and it's difficult to choose between them. Bolton pulled of one miraculous save, and constantly marshalled the Strikers' defence when Gippsland threatened to break through. Jevdjevic kept the Falcons in the game with a number of good saves, and had no chance of stopping the winner. Nick Meredith worked very hard for the Strikers, and in the first half was clearly the most creative player on either team, although he faded a little in the second half.

However, my man of the match had to be Mehmet Durakovic at the heart of the Gippsland defence. His ability to read the play is uncanny, and he seemed to have the ball on a string. Despite a niggling injury, he tidied up behind the Falcons lines without a single mistake that I saw, and twice went close to scoring in the first half. Gippsland's vastly improved defensive record this season is due in no small part to the confidence that Durakovic inspires in his fellow defenders.

Overall, this was an unimpressive display by both teams, but the lucky three points may be just the boost that the Strikers need to carry them into the finals.

Brisbane Strikers

Bolton, Gwynne (Bell 57), Stefanutto, Foster, Srhoj, Hews, McLaren, North, Grierson, Meredith, McKain [not used Ditton, Webber].

Yellow cards: McLaren (66), McKain (48)

Gippsland Falcons

Jevdjevic, Fak, Gotis, Durakovic, MacNicol, Vargas (Robertson 70), Bell, Puca, Hutchinson, Marcina, Sekulovski, [not used Savage, Mandic].

Referee: Jeremy Blaney

Best Players:

Mehmet Durakovic (Gippsland)

Nick Meredith (Brisbane)

Bojo Jevdjevic (Gippsland)