A win for the Eagles was important for the away side to further cement their position in the upper regions of the table, while a win for South was vital in allowing for the Blues to exit the relegation area.

With a vocal home contingent behind them, South continued to pour on the early pressure and came within inches of scoring in the 11th minute.

A well worked move saw Ricky Diaco stream down the field before playing a diagonal ball into the path of Gianni De Nittis.

The youngster hit a horizontal ball to Fernando, who hit his shot wide of the target.

The home side was now completely dominating play and continued to pepper the Richmond goal.

In the 14th minute, a speculative long-range drive by Sam Poutakidis found the target, but failed to get past the prying arms of Richmond goalkeeper Stuart Webster.

Richmond dodged yet another bullet in the 20th minute, after a well-worked move ended with the ball at Fernando's feet just on the edge of the area.

The Brazilian hit a superb low drive past the outstretched Webster, but the ball struck the inside of the far post and stayed out.

South arguably had the best chance to take the lead in the 29th minute, when a superb interception by Zoric in his own half saw the hard-working winger claim possession, dart past a host of Richmond defenders and find himself in the box.

Instead of taking the shot himself, Zoric opted to lay the ball off to the open Fernando.
With only Webster to beat, Fernando made the wrong decision in trying to chip the oncoming keeper, which ended up flying over the bar for a goal kick.

South opened the scoring in the 47th minute, when a sweeping move culminated in the ball finding the feet of the elusive De Nittis up front.

Although he scuffed his initial shot, De Nittis recaptured possession and slotted the ball underneath the oncoming Webster to open the scoring for the home side.

With the South defence completely shutting down the Richmond attacking third, the home side continued to push forward and had several chances to finish the game off.

Richmond missed a great chance to equalise in the 82nd minute.

An inch-perfect cross from the left hand flank was met in the air by Richard Cardozo, who hit his powerful header wide of the target and out for a goal kick, ensuring that the three points remained at Lakeside.

In an important round next weekend, Richmond will try to bounce back against Oakleigh in a huge Friday night fixture.

South will look to build on their result when it travels to Epping Stadium on Sunday to take on the Whittlesea Zebras in a much-anticipated Mothers Day encounter.