The Cannons went ahead against the run of play on the half hour courtesy of a fine strike from midfielder Bill Damianos.

But Gully continued to produce a number of chances and were awarded a penalty on the hour mark.

Fullback Steven Burton converted from the spot to level the scores.

Oakleigh striker Michael Curcija responded immediately, poking home his first goal of the season to give the Cannons the lead.

They held off the Cavaliers in the final half hour.

The home side went in with an unchanged starting 11 after a fine 3-0 win at Richmond in round two.

Oakleigh made one change from the team that overcame Northcote City 2-1 at home, promoting central defender Neven Antic to the starting side with striker Ricky Diaco dropping to the bench.

The travelling side produced the best chance early, despite Green Gully's dominance in the middle of the park.

Midfielder Cameron Watson put last week's hero Jerry Karpeh through and, despite rounding keeper Ken Gerohristodoulou, he was chased down and the ball was cleared.

It was Green Gully who should have gone ahead soon after.

First, a corner from Andy Vargas was cleared off the line before Burton had the game's best chance.

A loose ball fell to the left back inside the box but he only managed to hand Scott Agustin the easiest of saves from four yards.

The impressive work of Graham Hockless in midfield went without reward when his strike hit the upright on 28 minutes.

After another poor Cannons clearance, Hockless' right foot strike from the edge of the area hit the post and ricocheted away from danger.

Yet, against the run of play, Oakleigh went ahead through the experienced Damianos.

Karpeh brought down a raking cross with his chest and Damianos' timely run saw him strike a first time shot past Gerohristodoulou and into the roof of the net on the half hour.

The lead could have been doubled less than 10 minutes later.

The ever-prominent Watson found himself inside the area and his shot to the near post was turned away for a corner.

It took Green Gully less than a minute of the second half to create another chance.

Hockless' corner found Cameron Drake but the defender headed a gilt-edged chance wide.

The important midfielder and new Gully recruit then found himself in a goal scoring position.

After Nicholas Robinson headed on, Hockless' powerful strike from the corner of the area failed to hit the target.

It then began to look as though Oakleigh would find the sealer.

First, Bonnie Obradovic shot wide from outside the area after a cross from the relatively quiet Curcija.

The lead should have been doubled in the next two minutes.

Gerohristodoulou denied Watson again and Karpeh lost the ball at his feet as Gully's defence opened up in search of an equaliser.

The equaliser came as Gully captain Jeffrey Fleming intercepted Watson's poor pass and was brought down by John Fitzgerald on the corner of the box.

Despite the Cannons players protesting the infringement occurred outside, Burton stepped up and sent Agustin the wrong way to make it 1-1.

As the crowd expected Oakleigh to fold, they hit back almost immediately.

Striker Karpeh won another foul in the attacking third and Curcija got to the in-swinging ball ahead of Gerohristodoulou, meeting Watson's dangerous delivery and poking home into an empty net.

The Cannons defended their lead and went home with all three points.

For the second home game this season, Green Gully was left empty-handed despite creating ample opportunities.