Good result from draws

By Gavin Staindl
BOTH local Victorian Premier League soccer sides have used their respective drawn games on the weekend to boost their standing in the VPL.
Dandenong Thunder’s 0-0 with Heidelberg was the first time this season Dandenong hasn’t won a match, but the one point gives it sole ownership of first place on the Premier League ladder while Springvale’s 3-3 draw against St Albans keeps it from dropping to last.
Springvale led twice during the match at Churchill Reserve but for the second week in a row, the White Eagles gave up a lead and had to settle with a draw.
Goran Zoric and Zoran Vukas gave the White Eagles the lead twice within the opening 15 minutes only to have the Saints respond both times.
The home side then hit out to a lead the 65th minute but White Eagles substitute Rados Tomic forced the equaliser one minute out from injury time.
Springvale and St Albans were the beneficiaries of last year’s Division One promotions but at the moment, the duo fill the two spots headed back to the State League ranks.
On the flip side of the ladder, Dandenong Thunder took sole possession on top of the VPL ladder after its one point edged it past last week’s losers, Oakleigh Cannons.
As a result of the Cannons loss, the Thunder becomes the only team to have not lost a game this season, a streak that has lasted five rounds.
But Dandenong can count itself lucky as it scraped a draw against Heidelberg at George Andrews Reserve.
The three points could have swung to either team as both sides mounted quality attacks heading into the final minutes.
The Thunder was without their rejuvenated captain Veton Korcai, who was out with a groin injury. Liam Kearney was brought into the side.
As he has all year, Kearney made an impact when given his chance but he was subbed in the 67th minute for Nathan Knox, whose leading header to Stephen Cook nearly broke the deadlock late in the day.
Dandenong also had to pull defenders Steven Gray and Ben Harrison out of the match because of injury.
Despite the loss of Dandenong’s two prime defenders, the home side was still able to keep a clean sheet.
“All-in-all I was quite pleased with the clean sheet … and happy to get one point,” Thunder coach Stuart Munro said.
“A draw was a fair result, I think,” he said.
It is not known yet whether Korcari, Gray or Harrison will make the trip to John Cain Memorial for Saturday night’s match against Northcote.