Boxhill Utd V Knox City 14/5/2011
Final scores: Box Hill Utd 4 - Knox City FC 0 (Loss)
On the famous slope at Wembly Park on Saturday Knox and Box Hill shadow boxed for the first half but in the second half Box Hill showed that they mean business this season to run out worthy winners.
Box Hill played down the slope in the first half against a Knox side that had Nick Veljovic in defence returning to the club from Springvale White Eagles, Phil Hawkins returning from injury and Kris McEvoy in goal for the first time this season.
With Craig Kerr unfortunately out with a muscle injury the teams midfield missed his steadying influence.
Most attacks that caused the Knox defence trouble in the first half seemed to come down the Box Hill right flank and for the first twenty minutes of the game Knox were untroubled in clearing the ball until Anthony Magnacca rose for a header from a free kick from the right to just miss. In the 26th minute though another cross from the Box Hill right wing to the far post was headed back across goal to Nick Kokalakis who prodded home from close range with the Knox defence failing to adequately mark the Box Hill forwards..
Gavin Moon and Ben Rowbotham were working hard in midfield for Knox but there were few chances created by the forwards Phil Ajao and Shayann Missaghi. The young Box Hill goalkeeper Alex Pavlidis did find himself in trouble on one occasion in a one on one situation but with assistance from his defenders Box Hill cleared their lines.
The teams went to the half time break with Box Hill leading 1 – 0
Whatever coach Anthony Edgar said to the Knox team at half time did not result in a better performance especially with the team coming down the slope.
The Box Hill team got stronger and stronger and kept the Knox forwards under control while the Box Hill forwards were creating more chances. Knox were not helped by poor passes resulting from pressure from a good team effort from Box Hill.
Box Hill scored two goals early in the second half to seal the victory. In the 51st minute a move down the Box Hill right to Magnacca again who moved inside and past Nick Veljovic to shoot past Kris McEvoy in the Knox goal just inside the far post for his second goal.
Then in the next minute Box Hill scored again when Matt Waters scored from close range to make it 3 – 0.
Knox continued to fight hard but were unable to make much of an impression.
Box Hill finished the scoring when a Knox pass went astray and Jungho Kim was untroubled to finish. This leaves Knox with a problem that will have to be addressed quickly with the team now sitting on the bottom of the league table with four points from six games but with the competition even in the league there is plenty of time to rectify the deficiencies.
Reserves Final scores: Box Hill Utd 1 - Knox City FC 0 (Loss)
The reserves also did not have an enjoyable day as they went down 1 – 0. With the Knox players slipping and sliding on the Box Hill pitch a long shot beat Chris Marshall in the Knox goal for a result that did seem a little harsh. Nevertheless the performance of young Marco Marino in the sweeper position was encouraging. The team started the day as league leaders but finshed the day in second position.
Next week the Club is at home to Eastern Lions who visit Egan Lee lying in second position having had a very good start to the season.