By Marc McGowan
PARKMORE Pirates overcame the withdrawal of six players to smash the winless Sandown Cobras by 139 points in round 10 Southern Football League action at the weekend.
The Pirates led from the outset, with a five-goal-to-one opening quarter that was the launch pad to an easy victory.
Flu swept through the club during the week, resulting in the withdrawals – including star full-forward Danny Casset.
His absence was not a factor though, with Kevin McLean and Andrew McArthur picking up the slack, snagging six goals apiece to destroy the Cobra defence.
McLean stepped into the hole left by Casset, but McArthur’s effort was particularly noteworthy as he played predominantly in the midfield.
After the flu-stricken week, assistant coach Gary Connolly said he was surprised to win by such a big margin.
“Going into the game we were just happy to get the four points, so to win so easily was a big surprise,” he said.
On the Cobras’ side of things, captain Robert Kreskas tried hard with three goals and Chris Armstrong was also a good contributor.
THE struggling Doveton Eagles have gone down to Skye by 68 points, at the weekend in a performance their coach described as their worst of the year.
The Eagles remain in second-last spot on the ladder with just one victory for the season.
Playing coach Paul Davis said it was not a good day at all.
“A few of our players seemed to give up in the last quarter, which made the result look worse than it really was,” he said.
Skye piled on five goals to one in the final stanza to run out easy winners.
Davis struggled to find positives, but praised the recent efforts of young players Brett Reid and Braydon Keown, who are playing their first year in senior football.
He was also happy with full-forward Stephen Wright, who kicked three goals and has become his side’s lone target up forward.
Davis blames the massive exodus of players from last year’s squad for his team’s performance this season.
THE Dandenong Demons have roared back into finals’ contention with an upset 21-point victory over Cerberus at the weekend.
Cerberus jumped out to a 23-point lead at quarter-time, before the Demons’ seven-goal second quarter cut the margin to five points at the long break.
Dandenong only managed to cut the margin by a solitary point in the third term, before booting four goals to none in the final quarter to overrun its opponents.
Robert Westin led the Demon goalkicking once again with four goals, this time sharing the title with Robbie Mackwell, Westin kicking eight goals against Sandown the previous week.
Dandenong’s victory leaves it just half a game behind Mount Waverley for fourth spot.
Cerberus could have moved into fourth spot with a win after Mount Waverley was upset by South Mornington.
Demons’ coach Mick Hawkins said their biggest problem had been consistency, plus a few injuries in recent weeks.
“We’re only two points out of the four now, but there are a few sides vying for that spot,” he said.
Danny Maric kicked three goals for the losing side and Rawson Kirkhope was Cerberus’ best.
