Dandenong’s Ante Milicic celebrates one of his two goals with fellow scorer Wayne Gordon in their 3-0 away win over Berwick City. 51073 Picture: Stewart Chambers
By Gavin Staindl
IT WAS almost a sense of deja vu for Heatherton United after clawing back a 0-2 deficit and mounting a last-minute stand to hold off Doncaster 3-2 at Anderson Park.
Last week the Division Two club came from two goals down against the Casey Comets to lead 3-2 only to lose by a goal in injury time.
Even facing a fast-finishing Doncaster, Heatherton coach Miro Kupinic sensed this time his young side was up to the challenge of holding the 3-2 lead.
“When we scored that third goal you could sense that we were going to win,” he said.
“We have a never-say-die attitude and from that moment we just concentrated on getting numbers behind the ball.”
As Heatherton threw numbers into defence, the Rovers pressed and nearly came up with the equaliser 10 minutes before full-time but an outstretched Yehya Dimassi pulled off a leaping save to his left to deny the home team any last-minute heroics.
The Rovers went up 2-0 and in control early but a converted half-volley on the edge of the box by Heatherton captain Zlatko Buljubasic sparked a revival that was followed up by another volley from Meldin Klehic to level the scores.
Kupinic reiterated the points from his half-time speech last week that if there is a belief that they can win, then they can win.
The speech once again struck a chord with the players and crowd favourite Ryan Don Paul responded with a neat flick at the top of the box that elevated above the keeper, giving the visitors a well-deserved win.
Ante Milicic booted two goals for Dandenong City as it easily accounted for Berwick City 3-0 at Jack Thomas Reserve.
The Southern Stars played out a 2-2 tie with Morwell Pegasus making it the third draw in a row for the Stars who narrowly hold on to first position in Division Two, by one game.
Division One leaders, the Springvale White Eagles, are also feeling the heat of sitting on top of the ladder with their third loss in a row coming at the hands of the Fawkner Blues.
The 0-2 loss is the White Eagles’ third loss in a row and after ending their string of nine continuous wins three weeks ago the White Eagles have managed only the one goal.
Division Three front-runners South Springvale is also experiencing a mid-season slump, losing its second match in a row to Waverley 3-1 at Carlson Avenue Reserve.
In the other Division Three matches, Noble Park drew with Peninsula Strikers 3-3 and South Springvale played out a scoreless draw with Nunawading.
