By Paul Pickering
After being locked at 1-1 at halftime, a mesmerising run from English import Collin Quirk was the inspiration for the Stars early in the second half at Noble Park’s Reema Reserve.
The gifted Liverpudlian beat six Kingston defenders before slamming home the go-ahead goal with his non-preferred left boot.
For Stars’ coach Dean Hennessy, who coached Kingston City in the Premier League last year, Quirk’s solo run was the defining moment of the match.
“That changed the game, because you could see it really deflated them,” Hennessy said.
After enduring a difficult season with Kingston – resulting in relegation – last year, it was a bitter-sweat victory for Hennessy.
“Obviously we’re all delighted and it was a good result, but it was still sad for me to see them fall apart like they did in the second half,” he explained.
But Hennessy has been buoyed by his team’s ability to embrace several new recruits in the first month of the season.
Indeed, it was Turkish youngster Rasim Sezgi who got the Stars rolling on Saturday, scoring his second goal in three games to establish a 1-0 advantage early on.
And after Kingston’s Jimmy Latinopoulos netted the equaliser, Quirk’s goal – and a second later in the half – paved the way for Thiery Boi, Berkan Sakaci and Sercan Goganay to enter the scorer’s book in quick succession.
“Everything did seem to go right for us (in the second half),” Hennessy reflected.
“But I’m always telling them that you make your own luck.
“If all things go well, we’re very difficult to play against, and Kingston found that on Saturday.”
The Stars – sitting in second spot on the Division One table – will now face the Springvale White Eagles in a local derby at the Serbian Sports Centre on Sunday night.
In stark contrast to the Stars, Springvale had a nightmarish evening at Westgate on Saturday, losing 4-0.
Meanwhile, Dandenong Thunder registered its first win of the season, thrashing FC Clifton Hill 5-2 at George Andrews Reserve – with Veton Korcarevski netting a double.
In Division Two South-East, South Springvale held off the Waverley Wanderes 3-2.
And in Division Three South-East, Doveton continued its winning ways in a 3-1 result against Southern Suburbs, Springvale City beat Sandringham City 2-1 and Heatherton United lost to Brandon Park 4-1.
Round Four match-ups: Div 1: Kingston City at Dandenong Thunder, Soutnern Stars at Springvale White Eagles. Div 2 South-East: Port Melbourne at South Springvale. Div 3 South-East: Doveton at Springvale City, Boroondara at Heatherton United.
