Article via Bill Molloy, MFootball: http://www.mfootball.com.au/warriors-return-to-victorian-top-flight/
A brace from Matt Thorne and goals from Michael Anderson and Michael Simms has seen North Geelong Warriors complete the passage to immediate promotion from NPL2.
Warriors were the losing side in the same promotion play-off fixture last year against Melbourne Victory but this time a 4-0 win sees Micky Colina’s men rejoin the Victorian top flight.
Warriors took the lead early on after a mazing run saw Kene Eze work his way into the box before being taken down and a penalty being awarded. Matt Thorne made no mistake from the spot, dispatching the ball into the bottom corner.
After a largely anti-climactic first half, Richmond attacked with real purpose straight after the break but after making a nuisance of himself again in the box, Kene Eze won a second penalty for North Geelong. Flicking the ball over the defenders, the ball fortuitously struck the arm of one and the referee had no choice but to point to the spot.
Once again, Matt Thorne stepped up to take the penalty and made no mistake, burying the ball in the bottom left corner.
Michael Anderson was then able to put the game beyond doubt soon after, as he was on the end of a superb cross from the left side. Unmarked, Anderson was able to direct his header to perfection with a glancing header giving goalkeeper Tony Foglia no chance.
Substitute Michael Simms was able to add the icing on the cake in stoppage time to seal a historic result for North Geelong. Foglia was able to save Eze’s initial effort but Simms was on hand to drill the ball in the back of the net on the follow-up.
Meanwhile for Richmond, they find themselves back down to NPL2 in 2017 after just one season in the Victorian top flight.
