Bolton saves Sydney as Thompson buries Fury
Sydney FC goalkeeper Clint Bolton pulled off some injury time heroics to deny Central Coast Mariners twice including from the penalty spot in a scoreless draw at Bluetongue Stadium in Gosford on Saturday. Up in Townsville, Melbourne Victory secured a hard fought 1-0 win over North Queensland.
Adam Kwasnik had the chance to win it after Mariners midfielder John Hutchinson was fouled in the 90th minute. Sung-Hwan Byun and Simon Colosimo fouled Hutchinson before Bolton denied Kwasnik with a diving save to his right.
The goalkeeper was required again with only seconds remaining when he saved a low shot from Dylan Macallister.
In a game of few clear cut chances, Bolton-s opposite Danny Vukovic also produced an amazing save to deny a point blank shot by John Aloisi in the 76th minute.
Sydney had most of the play in the first half but could not find the back of the net, while the Mariners, despite coming into the match in the second stanza, rarely troubled Bolton.
Mariners defender Nigel Boogaard headed over from a corner after only two minutes but after that Sydney dominated possession and field position.
Alex Brosque had a low shot well saved by Central Coast goalkeeper Danny Vukovic in the fifth minute and several other half chances were also created by Sydney.
Sydney's two best chances of the first half came just before the break with Karol Kisel and big defender Stephan Keller both having great chances to open the scoring.
Kisel struck a powerful shot just over the bar in the 38th minute and three minutes later Keller had perhaps the best chance of the first half, heading over the bar after a Sydney corner.
The Mariners came into the game more then in the second half but both sides still failed to impress in front of the goals.
The final 15 minutes were without doubt the most exciting of the match with both sides pushing forward in a desperate bid to open the scoring, starting with Aloisi-s chance.
But it was injury time that produced all the main drama, with Bolton-s save; then a chance for Sydney to steal the match with a Terry McFlynn shot, which was immediately followed by Bolton-s excellent save to deny Macallister right on full time.
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In Townsville, an Archie Thompson goal on the stroke of half time has sealed a first win for Melbourne Victory against a vastly-improved North Queensland Fury.
Thompson slotted his first goal of the season in the final moments of the first half after a pin-point long ball from Adrian Leijer, who only arrived in the Townsville on the day of the game after a long flight from England. Thompson took the ball with one touch and then slotted expertly past Paul Henderson.
Substitute Dyron Daal had the best chance to level it up for the home side in the 89th minute when he was left one-on-one with Glen Moss, the victory keeper doing well to save at point blank range.
It was a telling moment in the game as the Fury looked the better of the two for most of the second half in particular, creating multiple opportunities but it was the Victory who had the polish and pounced when given the chance.
North Queensland was looking to save face after last week-s dismal showing against Gold Coast and threw plenty of players forward early.
Shane Stefanutto pulled the trigger in the first minute from left of the goal box only to be denied by a diving save.
Melbourne struggled to find momentum in the face of physical defence which allowed limited space and time in attack.
But it only takes one moment and Leijer-s long ball caught the Fury defence square and Thompson steamed onto the ball and made no mistake into the bottom corner of the net.
Robbie Middleby then received a sickening accidental kick in the face from a team mate Karl Dodd was forced to miss the remainder of the game.
North Queensland continued to enjoy the bulk of the possession after the break.
Royston Griffiths was continually finding himself in threatening positions and should have equalised midway through the half but looped his header over the bar with Moss stranded.
With Fury pushing numbers forward they were always in danger of being exposed and twice Thompson should have made the points secure for Victory, but Henderson proved too good on both occasions at point blank range.
The last say of the game went to Daal and he could have proven to be Fury-s hero, but hit his shot too close to Moss who parried down and gathered at the second attempt.
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