Knox City captain Nick Veljovic returned from injury to score twice and further dent the Peninsula Strikers' hopes of avoiding relegation from Football Federation Victoria's State League division 2 south-east.

Knox had most of the play in the first half but few real chances.

Against the run of play, the Strikers nearly scored, denied only by Anthony Edgar's goal-line stop.

Tony Saunders then went close for Knox with a trademark glancing header from a diagonal run across goal. Jack Hingert's volley looked goal-bound until Strikers keeper Adam Asanovski clawed the ball away at the near post.

Knox stepped up a gear in the second half and their pressure was rewarded in the 56th minute, albeit in slightly fortuitous circumstances. Asanovski failed to gather a cross and it bounced off him towards the goal only for defender Ventieri to handle the ball on the goal line. A penalty and a red card for Ventieri followed.

Nick Veljovic's spot kick was precise and gave Asanovski no chance.

The lead should have been increased as Knox pressured the 10 remaining Strikers.

Asanovski's feet somehow found one from Hingert, then

Veljovic's fierce drive from 20 metres was not too far over the bar.

Saunders was also close with a far post header before the lead was doubled and the game taken away from the Strikers in the 75th minute.

Saunders played a perfect ball over the top of the defence to release Hingert, who advanced to the bye-line before cutting the ball back into the path of Veljovic, whose finish was clinical.

In division 1, Langwarrin went down 0-1 to Kingston City.

In the Reserves, the second-placed Peninsula Strikers beat Knox City 2-1.

The Strikers took the lead with a fine goal in the first half.

Gary Bakker got Knox back on level terms midway through the second period, only for the visitors to score again shortly afterwards.