Hume City down hapless Saints

On a cold Sunday afternoon Hume City continued its march up the VPL standings with a 4-1 victory over bottom-placed St. Albans Saints who are winless after 12 rounds.

Although they came away with a comfortable victory the home side had a disappointing start to the match, as in the 11th minute defender Phillip Riccobene handled the ball in the 16 yard box gifting the visitors a penalty and a chance to open the scoring.

Daniel Visevic stepped up and converted the penalty, however Hume goalkeeper Ljupce Acevski will lament the opportunity as the ball just squeezed under his body. Following the goal chances were hard to come by as both sides struggled to control the tempo of the match and gave the ball away too many times.

The hosts had a golden opportunity to get back on level terms as a beautiful cross from the right found Dilizia in the box who ‘s powerful volley could only come off the bar. Immediately down the other end the Saints were pushing hard in an attempt to extend their lead, however the Hume defence held their ground well in order to prevent a two goal deficit.

Hume City finally came to life as they scored two goals in the space of five minutes through Dilizia and Cardozo respectively. Firstly, in the 33rd minute Andy Vlahos delivered a precise corner which Delizia rose highest to head home and level the contest. Four minutes later it was Hume on the attack yet again as Michael Bosevski delivered a low cross from the right into the 16 yard box, to which Cardozo reacted fastest to tap in an easy goal.

With a minute remaining in the half Hume had a chance to double their lead however Bosevski’s powerful strike was brilliantly saved by an acrobatic Pavlovic.

After a great finish to the first half many expected it to continue right from the get go in the second half, but it wasn’t to be as both sides (especially the visitors) failing to create any chances and even struggling to string a couple of passes together.

The only chance early in the half fell to Ross Thompson who had tried an ambitious effort on goal, however it was well wide of Pavlovic’s goal. For Saints their only real chance of the half came from a set-piece to which Mark Paleka attempted a header in which he failed to clearly connect with the ball.

The home side all but wrapped up the 3 points in the 72nd minute as a Andy Vlahos cross found Thompson in the 16-yard box who completely mis-kicked the ball giving 17 year old Atilla Ofli an opportunity to striker the ball in the top right hand corner leaving Pavlovic with no chance.

The goal sealed the points for the home side although there was time for one more goal in injury time as Cardozo completed the damage with his second tap in of the afternoon. The defeat leaves St.Albans winless and only on three points. It doesn’t get any easier for the Saints as they face Dandenong Thunder next week while Hume City play away to Richmond.


Hume - Lupce Acevski, Phillip Riccobene, Serdar Pir, Fab Diliza, Isyan Erdogan, Michael Bosevski, Richie Cardozo,Andy Vlahos, Atilla Ofli, Ross Thompson, Steven Weir.

St.Albans – Steven Panovic, Alan Paleka, Michael Grgic, Tomislav Uskok, Liam Cannell, Stefan Piorkowski, Mark Paleka, Josip Loncaric, Daniel Visevic, Goran Joseljic.