Dandenong shutsSouths in the cellar

By Stuart Teather
DANDENONG City overcame a persistent South Springvale line-up 4-2 in their State League Two South East clash at Frank Holohan Soccer Reserve on Saturday.
The bottom-of-the-table Souths were desperate for a win to spark their season to life but it would not come against the Endeavour Hills-based Dandenong City, with the home side starting the game off with a bang.
Ljuban Palinic secured the early breakthrough, beating Springvale South’s keeper in an aerial duel to head home the opening goal.
City made it 2-0 before half-time when Kevin Townson headed through a goal from a throw-in, leaving the home side in a commanding position.
A third goal from a curling Ivan Gelemanovic free kick outside the box appeared to put the result beyond doubt, but South Springvale had other ideas.
Arthur Koloskopis found a way through City’s defence and rocketed a ball past the keeper to record his side’s opening goal, and when Simon Groom converted a penalty not long after, the Souths were back in the clash.
But it was Dandenong’s day, and when Stipo Andrijasevic was brought down in the box on a fast break, Zoran Tudor converted the subsequent penalty, restoring a two-goal buffer from the home team. The game was a battle of the new coaches, with Dandenong City’s Ivan Duzel in his third game since taking over from Toby Paterson, and Gary Pearce leading the Souths for the first time after Ulysses Kokkinos handed in his resignation after the previous game.
In other results, Heatherton United stayed in touch with the top sides after a 2-2 draw with Diamond Valley United, while in State League Three South East Noble Park United defeated Waverley 2-1, and Springvale City got up 1-0 against Southern Suburbs.
In State League One action, Springvale White Eagles drew 1-1 with Clifton Hill and Southern Stars were thumped 4-1 by Western Suburbs.