Buhic at his best for Doveton

By Glen Atwell
DOVETON’S dominance of the Football Federation Victoria State League Three season continued with a 3-1 victory against Morwell at Ronald Reserve on Saturday.
Super striker Leon Buhic was again the star, driving home another two goals to take his season return to five from only two matches. Glen Bristow was Doveton’s second goal scorer.
But sitting atop the State League Three ladder was not enough to please Doveton coach Sam Elmazi, who is still counting on much more improvement in the side.
“In the first four rounds we have played four weak sides,” he said. “We played a bit better on Saturday and it was great to see the strikers doing their job.
“Buhic is full of confidence. Anything that comes near him at the moment is in the back of the net,” Elmazi said.
Doveton’s first real challenge will come this Saturday when the team travels to Mahoneys Road Reserve to take on third-placed Nunawading. But Elmazi said his side was ready to ‘click’.
“I’m not too worried about the opposition. We have the players to win and win well,” he said. “But I do pity the team that plays us when we play to our full ability.
“That could be this weekend.”
Southern Suburbs v Endeavour United
WITH only nine players on the pitch and the score locked at 0-0 early in the second half, Endeavour United would have been content to draw with Southern Suburbs at Keeley Park on Saturday.
But United defender John Castel had other ideas, slamming home a match-winning goal midway through the last half to snare the three points.
The win did come at a cost, with midfielders Pedro Sequeira and Claudio Santos both suspended for one week after being booked twice by referee Catherine Hofmann.
United coach Carlos Retre described Sequeira as one of the team’s most important players.
“We’ll miss Sequeira this weekend,” he said. “It’s a big loss for us, but we are confident we have the depth to cover him.
“The refereeing was atrocious, the game was constantly stopping and starting.
“But to play the second half with nine players and still score the winner, it was a great effort.”
Endeavour United president David Reeves said the referee needed to strike a balance between controlling the game and handing out cards.
“There’s no doubting refereeing is a tough job,” he said. “But this is a very competitive league.”
United returns to Reema Reserve on Saturday to take on Mooroolbark in a game that Retre thinks will be a great test for his side.
“We don’t fear any team, but our side is gelling well and we want the points,” he said.
The seniors kick off at 3pm.