The Victorian National Premier League season kicked off last night with Oakleigh Cannons hosting Port Melbourne Sharks.
The Sharks traveled to to Jack Edwards Reserve with seven new faces in a new look team for Eric Vassiliadis. Both teams having had solid preseason hit outs started off reasonably slow in attack with the game flowing from end to end in the early stages.
Led by stand-in captain Alan Kearney in the middle of the park, the Sharks started to find their rhythm in the latter stages of the first half as they looked out on both flanks with Jamie De Abreu and Ryan Oppermann finding space behind the Cannons defense.
New addition David Stirton managed to have the odd chance hear and there though his work rate was brilliant given the amount of space he had to work in was very limited.
Things changed in the second half with both teams starting to tire. Oppermann came off with a slight groin injury in the middle of the half, though that was more caution than anything else. Erhan Yalaz came on with immediate affect. His pace in the front third was noticeable as the Sharks looked for the opening goal.
The match was evenly poised towards the end with both teams having an array of chance, though failing to convert. Vassiliadis would be pleased to see that his new faces have settled in well , so early in the season where points are vital in setting up the season.A point for both teams in what was an evenly contested game.
Port Melbourne play Melbourne Victory at home next Friday night as SS Anderson Reserve at 8.30 PM
