Lightning start for Thunder

By Stuart Teather
DANDENONG Thunder kicked off its 2009 Victorian Premier League campaign with a 1-0 win against South Melbourne on Sunday at Bob Jane Stadium.
It was the side’s first game back in the top division after securing a promotion spot from division-one last season and the Thunder did not disappoint.
After a nervous start, both sides probed the goals in the first half, but it took a defensive mix-up from South Melbourne to hand Dandenong the opening goal for the game.
Thunder midfielder Marcus Stergiopoulos broke through the midfield and played a one-two at the edge of the box, but lost possession on the run.
The ball bounced off a defender’s shin to South Melbourne captain Rama Tavsancioglu who attempted to pass the ball back to keeper Tommi Tomich, but caught him off his line and the ball rolled into the net.
The own goal remained the only mark on the score-sheet until half time and after the break the Souths went on the attack.
The Thunder held out for the second 45 minutes in a sometimes-scrappy affair, but new coach Stuart Munro said he was pleased with the win.
“I was impressed with the way the players performed and the team in the first half was very good,” he said.
“Obviously we expected them to come at us a bit more in the second half, but we held strong.”
Despite some players joining the club from the UK only days before the first game, the Thunder looked a cohesive unit on the field and Munro said he was impressed with the start.
“We received some players in the last 10 days, so we need to get some games into these guys, but it was pleasing to get that win.
“We had some players struggling for match fit-ness towards the end and they started to drop out of the game.”
Dandenong has a quick turnaround this week, hitting the road on Friday for an away match against Munro’s old team Oakleigh at Jack Edwards Reserve
The Cannons smashed Heidelberg 4-1 last Friday in an impressive season opener.