Eagles score – at last

By Gavin Staindl
THE Springvale White Eagles have secured their first point on home soil with a 1-1 draw against Melbourne Knights at White Eagles Stadium on Sunday.
After opening home game losses to VTC and South Melbourne, the Premier League side finally secured a point in its home stadium, albeit just one.
In a dominant first half, Springvale peppered the goals with balls into the box that continually tested the Knights’ defence.
But it was only in the 42nd minute, when Gordan Mrdic latched onto a loose ball in the six-yard box, that Springvale was rewarded for its persistence.
In front of an adoring crowd, Springvale went into the half-time break with a crucial 1-0 lead. After the break the rain continued to tumble turning the game into a scrappy and physical encounter.
Whether it was the unwelcomed weather conditions or a tougher Melbourne opponent, the White Eagles lost momentum in the second half and it was only a matter of time before Melbourne scored the equaliser.
The equaliser finally came in the 67th minute when Melbourne’s Jean Dubois capatialised on 20 minutes of dominant soccer.
The 1-1 draw moves Springvale off the bottom of the ladder and above the two-team relegation zone.
The Dandenong Thunder remains the only Premier League side to have won all games after it beat Hume City 2-1 at George Andrews Reserve.
In the Thunder’s toughest game to date this season, Stephen Cook put Dandenong up 1-0 before a dodgy penalty call allowed Hume’s Ross Thompson to equalise.
With time running out, Dandenong coach Stuart Munro made two last-ditch substitutions, bringing on the in-form Liam Kearney and Nathan Knox who both had a hand in the winning goal five minutes outside of full time.