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Michael Anderson (a promising young striker from Green Gully who is from Geelong). The Warriors also welcome back the versatile and enthusiastic players in Mark and Alan Paleka.

Fawkner Blues were far too superior for the young North Geelong Warriors side, winning 2-0, despite being reduced to 10 men for 60 minutes of the match.

The biggest cheer came when our 11 warriors walked out onto the pitch for the first time in 2011 with newly appointed coach Ante Skoko by their side.

Round 1 (Match Report – U21): Langwarrin 2 vs North 1

An entertaining start to the season at Lawton Park Reserve saw last year’s top 2 teams battle it out for the first 3 points of the campaign. The game was played at a great pace, with end to end action for 90 minutes.  The young Warriors took the lead through William Nack. However Langy would not be denied and in the second half they come out hungry looking for the equaliser. They were rewarded for the efforts with a well worked goal. With the final whistle approaching, a draw looked like the most likely result, however, Langwarrin proved to be the hungrier of the two teams and scored in what was literally the last kick of the game. A very disappointing score, where in fairness a draw seemed the very least the Warriors deserved.

Photos Courtesy: Kerry Hanns

After three away games in a row and a first win in the last round against Sunshine, North Geelong can look forward to the next 4 weeks at home, starting with Round 4 against Preston.

Round 3 (Match Report – Seniors): Sunshine George Cross 1 vs North 2

Courtesy: Goal Weekly

North Geelong Warriors recorded their first win of the season when they overcame Sunshine George Cross 2-1 at Chaplin Reserve.

The first half was low key with the home team slightly the more dominant without ever threatening Daniel Zilic in the Warrior’s goal.

It was North Geelong that came closest to scoring with the Georgie defenders having to scramble clear a shot that struck the cross-bar just before the break.

Sunshine’s full back Heo Wookbum was fortunate to stay on the park following a late tackle that referee James Nicolopoulos deemed unworthy of a second bookable offence. Sunshine George Cross Coach Fab Soncin didn’t take any chances and replaced the nuggetty fullback at the half time break.

North Geelong made amends for their narrow miss prior to the break, by taking the lead in the 46 minute with a goal by Reardo Luka. The Georgie defence gave the ball away on three occasions in the lead up to the goal that inspired the visitors.

It was 2 nil 10 minutes later, when the home team’s defence was caught square and Michael Boyar curled his shot high into the corner of the net. It could have been 3-0 but for a great save by Mario Roza, as he prevented a certain goal from Michael Boyar who was through on goal.

The Georgies arose from their slumber and took control in the last 30 minutes.

Goal scoring chances were still hard to come by with the North Geelong defenders not giving the Cross forwards any space.

North was fortunate not to concede a penalty kick after 60 minutes when Andrew Bourakis was pushed in the back as he tried to head the ball towards goal. Sunshine kept on attacking and was back in the game after 76 minutes when Con Anthopoulos steered a Barry Devlin cross past Zilic to set up a grand stand finish.

North was denied a third goal by a brilliant Mario Roza save when Reardo Luka let fly from 25 metres.

At the other end the Georgies corner count mounted, but the much desired goal for the home team would not come.

It was the North Geelong players who were jubilant to hear the final whistle with the Warriors recording their first win of the season.

U21’s:  Sunshine George Cross 2 vs North 2

The long awaited opening home game of the 2011 season disappointed the North Geelong Warriors faithful, with the home team crashing 4-1 to the rampant Preston Lions.

Round 4 (Match Report – U21’s): North Geelong 5 v Preston 0

In contrast to the seniors match the younger brigade of the Warriors had a field day including three spectacular goals, one from Nick Anderson and two from Callum Ferguson, including a volley he’ll never forget.

The team gels well and performs to a high level at all times. It’s that intensity that needs to carry over though when the young guys get their grip on a position in the first team in order to maintain the high levels of performance required.

The squad is maturing well and by sticking together over the past couple of years they have gathered respect from onlookers, most noticeably several local coaches from other clubs.