Southern Stars goalkeeper Michael Sivulja kept a clean sheet in his side’s 2-0 win at FC Clifton Hill on Saturday. Picture: Stewart Chambers. 18717By Paul Pickering
A WEEK after being embarrassed by the bottom side, Heatherton United has announced itself as a legitimate contender in Football Federation Victoria’s State League Division Three South-East.
United surged to a stunning 5-0 win over North Caulfield at Springvale’s Bosnia and Herzogovina Centre on Sunday to move within two points of second place on a congested divisional table.
The win was headlined by a rare hat-trick of penalty goals from United midfielder Edin Ahmetovic, who capitalised on some undisciplined defending from North Caulfield in the second half.
Earlier, Heatherton’s Elvedin Klancevic netted a double either side of the half-time break to give his team a handy buffer.
Ahmetovic, the division’s leading goal-scorer with six, went on to punish North Caulfield from the penalty spot, lashing in an impressive triple to demoralise the visitors.
United coach Senad Volader could not have been more pleased with the way his team responded to a disappointing 4-1 loss at Endeavour United the previous week.
“They played like champions,” Volader said.
“To win 5-0 was above my expectations, but I wasn’t surprised with how the kids played.”
With Heatherton United’s senior coach Mucho Pestalic deciding to return to Europe to pursue his coaching career in Bosnia, Volader has taken on the dual role of president and coach.
He gave some of his experienced players a spray after the Endeavour United loss, but was delighted with their efforts on Sunday.
“Against Endeavour United, the players that we count on to take care of the game let us down,” he said. “But those players were excellent on Sunday.”
After being relegated from Division Two last season, Heatherton United is sitting in sixth spot ahead of this weekend’s anticipated local derby against fourth-placed Springvale City.
“When we play against each other there’s always something extra – it’ll be a good game,” Volader said.
Springvale City dropped its third consecutive match on Saturday, surrendering its home turf to Brandon Park 2-0. After being surprising ladder leaders a month ago, City has faltered and will be keen to reignite its 2008 campaign at the Bosnia and Herzogovina Centre this weekend.
Meanwhile, Doveton returned to the winners’ list with a 1-0 victory over Croydon City on Saturday, with Hugo Reyes scoring in the second half to end a nightmare stretch for the Doves.
In State League Division One, the Springvale White Eagles recorded a stunning 2-0 away win against the in-form Bentleigh Greens.
Goals in each half to Kruno Stanisic and Chris Reid led the White Eagles to their most impressive performance of the season.
In dealing Bentleigh its first loss of the year, Springvale also paved the way for local rivals the Southern Stars to reclaim second spot after a 2-0 win against FC Clifton Hill. The Stars cruised home with a second half double from Sercan Doganay to remain within arm’s length of the ladder-leading Sunshine Georgies.
This Saturday, the Stars will meet the Dandenong Thunder, which played out a 0-0 draw with Westgate at George Andrews Reserve.
In State League Division Two South-East, South Springvale was comprehensively outplayed by Chelsea in its 3-0 loss at Warner Reserve.
Round Nine match-ups: State League Division One: Dandenong Thunder at Southern Stars, FC Clifton Hill at Springvale White Eagles. State League Division Two South-East: Northcote City at South Springvale. State League Division Three South-East: Springvale City at Heatherton United, Doveton at Sandringham City.
