In Round 12 of the NPL Victoria 2 season, Moreland Zebras and North Geelong Warriors played out a scoreless draw at CB Smith Reserve.
Matthew Townley made his 100th league appearance for North Geelong, the side making one change to its starting lineup from the previous week, with Anthony Banovac coming in for the suspended Matthew Thorne.
The opening stanza was predominantly a midfield battle, with neither side able to hold extended periods of dominance.
The best chance of the half fell to Kene Eze, who saw his close range headed effort bounce of the upright after the Zebras failed to convincingly clear a long throw.
Ante Kožul came on for Eze at half time to make his debut for North Geelong, having signed for the club earlier in the week.
In the second half, the Warriors sat deeper, contempt with holding onto the point with a squad decimated by injuries, suspensions and other player unavailabilities.
The resolute North Geelong defensive unit stood firm to the task time and time again as Moreland simply could not find a way through.
Head coach Micky Čolina sent on young James Hidić very late on in the second half, who also made his debut for the club.
It was then the two debutants who combined to almost win the game for North Geelong in the dying seconds. Kožul slalomed past two defenders, poking a cross to Hidić who scuffed his shot from close range with the goalmouth beckoning.
Seemingly distracted by the chance, Zebras went forward almost immediately afterwards and almost grabbed a winner of their own.
The high intensity match finished scoreless, seeing the Warriors go eleven matches unbeaten in all competitions and not having conceded a goal in over 450 minutes of football.
The U20s encounter, the second-placed Zebras welcomed the third-placed Warriors with that match also finishing scoreless.
North Geelong’s next match is against Ballarat Red Devils, with the regional encounter taking place at Elcho Park on Saturday the 21st of May with the youth team kicking off at 12.30pm followed by the senior clash at 3.00pm.
