Loss ends horror year

By Gavin Staindl
SOCCER justice was upheld at Bulleen’s soccer ground when Northcote beat Dandenong Thunder 4-1 in a catch-up match that also ended Thunder’s chance of playing in the Premier League finals.
The catch-up game went ahead last Wednesday night after the previous meeting between the two teams last month was abandoned in the 58th minute as a result of a light-tower failure that sent the George Andrews Reserve into darkness.
Leading 4-1 in the 58th minute when the lights went out, Northcote were dismayed when they were told they had to replay the 90-minute game from 0-0.
After numerous failed attempts at an appeal, the soccer gods finally smiled upon Northcote and the deserved 4-1 win promoted them into the top five at the expense of Dandenong.
Thunder coach Stuart Munro was hesitant to say Northcote rightfully deserved the three points, but he did believe his team was outplayed. “You could say that the result was just, but as a coach I’m not saying that,” Munro said.
“They were fitter and sharper on the night and they scored some great goals that we were slow in defending,”
The final whistle that signalled the end of the season could not have come sooner for Dandenong who is looking to put the tumultuous 2010 to rest.
On-field, Dandenong failed to sign the players they wanted pre-season and subsequently lost six of their opening eight games.
Sitting second last with relegation a serious threat, Dandenong finally got the signatures of it’s pre-season targets and the grand finalists from last year went on a seven game unbeaten streak.
Thunder’s season then fizzled in late July when they lost prominent players including Geoff Kellaway (Melbourne Victory), Jeff Bright (returned to W.A.), Jamie Reed (returned to U.K.) Luke Sherbon (returned to U.K.) and Joe Di Iorio (work commitments).
In hindsight, Dandenong only needed to win two of their final five games to qualify for finals. They won none of them.
The question was then asked of Munro, did the team under-perform because they missed out on finals, or did they excel because they avoided relegation.
“Me personally, I felt we have failed because we missed out on finals and I’m here to make finals,” Munro said.
Off-field, the club suffered greatly from a number of incidents that saw the club hauled before the Football Federation Victoria judiciary to give account.
After losing three premiership points, and ordered to pay $4,000 for spectator abuse towards an official, Dandenong was also forced to close their gates to spectators for two home games, which Munro believes denied the club well over $10,000 in income.
The FFV also forced Dandenong to pay up thousands of dollars for breaching the contract of departing player Anasta Kristo. The club was also fined again as a “token gesture” for another misconduct charge that was eventually thrown out.
In terms of learning experiences, season 2010 will not be remembered for the positives but it will be remembered nonetheless.