Image
Camera IconImage Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Melville City denied incredible fight back win by late goal

Ben SmithMelville Gazette

MELVILLE City was denied an incredible come-from-behind victory by a late wonder strike in a 4-4 draw with high-flying Joondalup City at Iluka Reserve.

The hosts sprinted out of the blocks and forced Harry Hoskins into an own goal inside the opening 10 minutes.

But Melville hit back soon after when Cameron McLaren beat the offside trap and slid the ball past the opposition goalkeeper.

PerthNow Digital Edition.
Your local paper, whenever you want it.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

Joondalup looked dangerous going forward, but only added to their lead on the cusp of half time, when Melville captain Matt Donlevy conceded a penalty that was duly fired home.

Melville’s hopes of getting a result seemingly vanished when Joondalup scored from a stunning bicycle kick within minutes of the restart.

The visitors looked dead and buried until Mark Lucas’s free kick clattered off the post and Hoskins managed to poke home the rebound to give them a lifeline.

Barely 60 seconds later the scores were level when Lucas fed Simon El Chami and the striker coolly slotted past the keeper.

The quick-fire double turned the game on its head, as momentum swung Melville’s way and it went in search of a winner.

Lucas looked to have completed a miraculous victory when he ghosted into the box and turned home from close range.

Unfortunately, the visitors were denied all three points late on, when a thunderous strike from 25m out left goalkeeper Daniel Agudelo with no chance.

In the earlier games, Melville’s Under-18s and Reserve sides won their top-of-the-table clashes with their Joondalup counterparts 5-3 and 2-1 respectively.