Pascoe Vale registered their first win of the season in emphatic style at Hosken Reserve on Saturday by accounting for an experienced Preston outfit 6-0.
Jason Principato kicked off the procession with a strike after only 2 minutes, followed by a stunning brace from ex-Lion Bale Micovski. Vale's captain Zlate Matlioski made it four before the break after following up his own penalty, then Joseph Youssef and Daniel Tribuzio provided the icing with a goal each in the second half.
Pascoe Vale presented the free-flowing football that eluded them in round 1 last week, and it did not take long before they went ahead through Principato.
Not long after and Micovski made it 2. After receiving the ball at the top of the box, he twisted and turned til he found the room to send off a left foot curling shot which came off the left upright and into the back of the net. Micovski, a born and bred Preston player did not proceed to celebrate his first goal against his former club, although a few minutes later he had every reason to.
Luca Santilli, who up until this stage was causing all sorts of problems for the Preston defence, picked up the ball in midfield, weighed up his options before releasing Micovski 1-on-1, who with the coolest of finishes made it three, this time proceeding to the corner flag with a fist pump.
3 minutes before the break and the captain made it four. After beating his man, Youssef found his way into the penalty area only to be fouled by a rash challenge from a Preston defender. The cool-headed Matlioski had his initial penalty attempt saved, but he followed up to ensure Pascoe Vale took an unassailable lead into half time.
A flustered Preston side filled with some of their club veterans rallied in the second half, creating several opportunities that were able to be thwarted by the Vale's defence. Mid-way through the second half and it was five. Some lovely lead up work on the left hand side saw Micovski float a ball to the back post where Youssef was waiting. A combination of balance, technique and power saw a right-foot volley rifle into the back of the net from 12 yards, a strike that is destined to be talked about in the club rooms for some time.
Vale's coach George Karkaletsis swung the changes in the second half, giving game time to impressive midfielder Resit Culculoglu, winger Andrew Le Page, and a man who has been scoring goals at the state's highest level for many years, Saso Becvinovski.
The lights came on, the rain set in, but it was not to stop the home side from a sixth and final goal. Preston's failure to clear the ball from a goal mouth scramble resulted in ex-captain and club stalwart Daniel Tribuzio slamming home from close range. Goals do not come often for the central defender, and did he let his fans know.
The result was a welcoming one after defeat to Sunshine Georgies last week, and stores confidence in the camp going into a crunch match with Whittlesea at Epping Stadium next Saturday.
Earlier in the day the Under 21's accounted for Preston 2-1 in a spiteful encounter which saw two red cards awarded to the visitors. The Vale's youth side is now two wins from two starts.
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