By JARROD POTTER
Football Federation Victoria – National Premier Leagues
CANNONFIRE demolished the Dandenong Thunder as Oakleigh smashed in six goals-to-nil on Friday night.
In one of the bigger losses so far in the NPL Victoria set-up, Dandenong was left to lick its numerous wounds as Oakleigh savagely struck half-a-dozen headaches into the Thunder net.
Without striker Jake Nakic – out with a hamstring injury – Thunder coach Dean Hennessey was forced to tinker with the line-up and go small and young up forward with Matt Millar and Keiran Dover.
It wasn’t the Thunder forward line that needed the extra support though as Dandenong’s defence perforated early.
Goran Zoric weaved his magic down the right wing to slot two quick goals inside the first 20 minutes. The Thunder’s passing will come under serious scrutiny as possession was gifted to Oakleigh seemingly at the Cannons’ will.
A 0-2 half-time deficit seemed bad enough, but it only got worse for the Thunder as Dean Piemonte started his rampage when he was subbed on in the second half.
The Thunder was reduced to 10 men in the second half as David King was given a red card for a last-man take down of Oakleigh’s Dusan Bosnjak.
Rama Tavsancioglu was the only Thunder player to score on the night, but unfortunately for the experienced defender it was into Dandenong’s net, as a deflection own-goal pushed the lead out further for the Cannons.
Piemonte slotted a hat-trick after half-time included a pair in the dying 10 minutes to cap off an impressive effort off the pine to further pile on the misery for Dandenong.
“It’s a very, very disappointing result,” Hennessey said.
“Obviously we’re a proud club and we never want to get beaten six-nil by anybody, but I’ve just said to the boys, we’ve got off to a good start this season and we can’t let this undo us.”We could’ve got beaten one-nil and still got nothing.
“Okay, we got beaten six-nil and it doesn’t help the goal difference, but it’s a defeat and we’ve got to learn from that we have to make sure it hurts.
“Utilise this experience and that it really hurts… lot of young lads in that dressing room and sometimes it goes wrong and the only way you learn is by lessons… we were given a lesson tonight!”
The Thunder faces Doveton SC in the State Knockout Cup Round 5 clash on Wednesday night before heading off to face Northcote in Round 7 NPL action.
In other results, Springvale White Eagles claimed its second win with a 3-1 triumph over Brunswick City as Dejan Erakovic and Jamie De Smit (2 goals) scored the match winners while Dandenong City was bested 1-3 by Kingston FC following a goal from John Carroll.
