By Stuart Teather
DANDENONG got back on the winner’s bandwagon on Saturday night with a convincing 2-0 win against reigning Victorian Premier League champion Altona Magic at Paisley Park.
It is hard to believe but Dandenong has not recorded a win since 16 May, when it knocked off Heidelberg 3-0.
Since then, the Thunder have played two draws, had a break over the Queen’s Birthday and had a game postponed after the floodlights at George Andrews Reserve failed, and coach Stuart Munro said it was good to get that winning feeling back.
“It was an important game for us,” he said.
“That’s twice we’ve played them this year and twice we’ve beaten them, and to do that this year in our first year back in the Premier League is tremendous.”
Marcus Stergiopoulos got the game going mid-way through the first half, converting a penalty after Veton Korcari was pushed inside the box.
Dandenong continued to push and was rewarded again before half-time, when Sam Bailey scored what Munro called “a cracker”, firing a rocket into the top corner of the net just before the whistle.
“We started the game very well, the first half was as good as we’ve played all season,” Munro said.
The second half was more even with Altona throwing men forward to try and beat Dandenong’s defence, but it was to little avail as the visitors held strong.
Munro named former Magic player Levent Osman as the Thunder’s best, praising his work in the defensive half.
“For some reason going back to play against his old club, it just seemed every time they looked like they were going to strike at any point he would just come up with the ball and stop them.”
The win was even better for Dandenong as the side did it without the in-form Hamlet Armenian, who was out with a knee injury.
Munro said the injury was not serious, and added that he hoped to have Armenian back for this week’s clash against Hume City at Broadmeadows Valley Park on Saturday.
