Even against an oponent reduced to 10 men, North Geelong couldn’t get the points it needed to get clear of the relegation zone.
Finding themselves 0-2 down with half an hour to play, full back Charlie Fleming provided the Warriors with a glimmer of hope after pulling a goal back in the 68th minute.
Ryan Opperman leaps over Bentleigh Greens keeper Bon Scott Picture: Mark Wilson
Shortly afterwards, the visitors were reduced to ten men after Mario Barcia was shown his second yellow card.
It was a spiteful contest, with the stakes high as both cellar dwellers were seeking only their third win of the season each.
Referee Lazaros Pantelidis had a field day handing out a dozen cautions throughout the day, as both sides fought desperately for the three points and a way out of the dreaded relegation zone.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, it was the Greens who managed to holdout until the end and return to Melbourne with all three points.
Tomi Gavran was rocked y the loss. Picture: Mark Wilson
The loss left North Geelong coach Tomi Gavran completely devastated.
“(It was) devastating to lose today,” he said.
“We prepared well, had a clear game plan and for the most part we executed it well. But we let ourselves down with some errors which were costly and we just couldn’t convert our numerous chances.
“The (overall) performance was good, we were the better team but we come away with nothing. So we need to move on quickly.”
On Tuesday, the Warriors will be in action again when they host St Albans Saints in round 7 of the Australia Cup at Elcho Park under floodlights.
Anthony Banovac and Mario Barcia Picture: Mark Wilson
The Saints remain the only NPL team the Warriors have managed to defeat at home this season.
“We now need to refocus and look ahead to Tuesday’s cup game,” said Gavran.
“We’ll make some changes, get minutes into some boys that need it and blood some youngsters again. I’m looking forward to yet another battle.”
Tuesday night’s Australia Cup tie at Elcho Park kicks off at 7:30pm and will be streamed live on NPL-TV.
GEELONG SC, meanwhile, will also be in action on Tuesday when they travel to Club Italia in Sunshine North to take on State League 1 side Brimbank Stallions in the knockout Australia Cup tie.
Lionel Masudi Picture: Mark Wilson
The Lions warmed up for the clash with a narrow but valuable 2-1 win over Goulburn Valley Suns in round 10 of NPL3 Victoria at Stead Park on Saturday night.
Lionel Masudi scored Geelong’s opener in the first half while a wonder strike by Jesse Barber in the second period provided the winner for the Lions after the scores had been locked at 1-1 at the half time break.
The win sees the Lions jump two spots on the competition standings to eighth.
Next weekend, the Lions travel to ninth-placed Beaumaris to mark the official half way mark of the NPL3 Victoria season.