North Geelong ran out comprehensive winners against Bendigo City on Saturday evening at Epsom Huntly Recreation Reserve, winning by seven goals to two in Round 7 of the NPL2 Victoria season.
Hamish Flavell made his first league appearance of the season for North Geelong, stepping in for Daniel Žilić, who was rested.
North showed its class early on in the encounter; with summer English recruit Matthew Thorne dispatching a free kick on the edge of the penalty area into the top left corner with aplomb.
Around the ten-minute mark, North Geelong doubled its lead. Nicholas Jurčić went on a fine solo run, having been played in by Vito Cichello, subsequently squaring the ball to Kene Eze who finished off a fine move.
Michael Anderson and Jurčić would then grab goals of their own to make it a resounding 4-0 at the 30-minute mark.
There was more damage to be dealt before the half time whistle blew, though. When Kene Eze was brought down in the penalty area, up stepped Vito Cichello and converted for his first goal for North since the 2014 season.
Thorne would make it six just minutes before the interval when the impressive Bendigo shot stopper made a rare error, spilling a corner to the feet of the lethal attacker.
In the second half, the tempo of the encounter dropped off dramatically with the match becoming more of a midfield battle, rather than a one sided battering. Bendigo moved the ball around with far more ease and began to create opportunities of its own.
David Younan and George Mcheilah would score for City either side of a Matthew Townley goal with the match ending 2-7 to the visitors.
In the U20s encounter, North Geelong came away with the chocolates, winning by seven goals to one. The goalscorers were James Hidić (4), Jak Banks (2) and Jesse Krašić.
Next week, North Geelong welcomes top-of-the-table Whittlesea Ranges to Elcho Park in what promises to be a tantalising encounter between two in-form sides.
North Geelong Squad: Flavell; Long, Lewis, Townley, Pugh; Simms (Koca 45’), Cichello, Thorne; Jurcic (Argyros 65’), Eze, Anderson (Saglam 55’)
Unused: Žilić
