Geelong crush Rangers in CoGG Cup

Jasko Ikanovic (9) tries to force his way through the Rangers defence

Geelong crush Rangers in CoGG Cup

By Roy Hay

Geelong ran up four goals without reply against Geelong Rangers on Wednesday night at Stead Park in the City of Greater Geelong Cup.

Geelong got an early breakthrough when a handball in the Rangers area in the 8^th minute resulted in a penalty kick, which James Agius buried.

Geelong kept threatening to add to its lead and in 24 minutes, Agius, Jasko Ikanovic and Michael Nikolovski carved through the Dark Blues defence with Nikolovski getting the final shot on target.

On the half-hour, Mathias Gorisito then lifted a ball expertly over the top for Ikanovic to beat Shaun Finn for the third time.

Ikanovic found himself in space again in the 51^st minute, though he was more than 25 metres from goal. A quick swing of the boot and it was four-nil to the home team and a berth in the grand final looms.

Enes Eren and Ryan Calder tried hard to get some momentum up front for Rangers and David Ellis fought well to try to stem the Geelong tide, but Dale Harris is going to have his work cut out to lift Rangers in this tournament.

In the second match Surfcoast had its third drawn game and the second without scoring, this time against Bell Park.

The match was much more even than the first, but neither side could keep the ball down when they got within shooting distance.

The floodlights failed briefly, but when they came back on the game continued to its conclusion with several more near things but no more goals.

Hector Nunez orchestrated the Surfcoast moves but Billy Bunce and Ben Le Cornu could not capitalise.

For Bell Park, Gary Burton, keeper Mathew Damjanovic and Justin Cortorillo stood out.

Geelong moves into second place on the ladder and the prospect of a North Geelong versus Geelong grand final looms likely.

Next Wednesday Corio plays Geelong Rangers at 7 pm followed by Surfcoast against North Geelong.

Geelong players and officials insist that James Agius scored four times against Corio on Wednesday night, so the goal credited to Matthew Nikolic in earlier reports should be transferred to Agius.