By Paul Pickering
SPRINGVALE City consolidated its position atop Football Federation Victoria’s State League Division Three South East with a 2-0 victory at Endeavour United on Saturday.
United launched an early assault on City’s goal in the first 15 minutes at Reema Reserve, but the home side squandered a handful of scoring opportunities as the Vales retreated onto the back foot.
Almost inevitably, the tide turned and the Vales swiftly capitalised on their first legitimate chance, with Adis Lolic heading in Ali Osmani’s cross at the back post.
As the scoreboard pressure mounted on United, the Vales began to assert their ascendancy across the ground.
Midway through the second half, Lolic and Osmani combined again to put the game beyond United’s reach.
In a reversal of their earlier link-up, Lolic delivered the inviting aerial ball for Osmani to dispatch into the back of the net.
For first-year Vales coach Goran Runje, the 1-0 halftime scoreline may have flattered his side, but the 2-0 end result was just reward for a strong finish.
“The first half was probably quite even, because they definitely had some opportunities in the first 15 minutes – but we took our opportunity,” he said.
“And, in the second half, I thought we dominated the game.”
Runje was reluctant to read too much into his side’s promising – if not surprising -start, noting how even the division has been in the first month.
The Vales have, however, conceded two goals less than any other side this season, which is reason enough for optimism.
“It shows that – as a unit – we’re working hard and minimising our mistakes,” Runje said.
Meanwhile, United coach Carlos Retre was left ruing a familiar succession of missed opportunities.
“In the first half I thought we outplayed them,” Retre reflected.
“But I think the boys lost a bit of confidence with that (first) goal, and we ran out of ideas to break them down in the second half.”
Elsewhere in Division Three, Doveton lost 4-2 at Morwell despite a first-up goal from Liberian recruit Stephen Weah, while Heatherton United drew 1-1 with Croydon City.
In State League Division One, the Southern Stars recorded an impressive 2-1 win over St Albans at Springvale’s Ross Reserve, the Springvale White Eagles beat Kingston City 1-0 at home and the Dandenong Thunder lost 3-1 to the Bulleen Royals.
Meanwhile, in Division Two South-East, South Springvale edged out the Peninsula Strikers 1-0 on the back of a first-half goal from Ilias Diniotis.
Round Six match-ups: Division One: Keilor Park at Dandenong Thunder, Southern Stars at Sunshine Georgies, Springvale White Eagles at St Albans. Division Two South-East: South Springvale at Stonnington City. Division Three South-East: Sandringham City at Heatherton United, Morwell Pegasus at Springvale City, Brandon Park at Doveton.
