All too easy for Dandenong City

By Gavin Staindl
IF there was any doubting the class of Dandenong City, one only had to look at Saturday’s match to discover the truth.
Dandenong City trounced Heatherton 7-0 at Frank Holohan Reserve in the Division 2 rubber, but it was the ease in which the home team performed that left spectators stunned. Dandenong was clinical for the majority of the day but as the match drew to a close, the players found time to kick back and enjoy a laugh.
Although five rounds remain, the battle for first appears to be a foregone conclusion as Dandenong streaked to an eight-point buffer over second-placd Malvern City.
Meanwhile, Noble Park has assured it will be playing Division 2 again next year with a 2-3 win over Doncaster Rovers at Anderson Park on Friday night, while Springvale South will be hoping for a month of success after its 0-1 loss to Malvern City leaves it vulnerable to relegation.
In Division 1, a visiting North Geelong Warriors startled promotion pushers Southern Stars by banking three goals in 20 minutes to run out 3-1 winners.
Young Warrior Nathan Long scored the first in the opening 10 minutes with a chip that floated over the goalkeeper before captain Mijo Trupkovic scored two goals in five minutes to give the Warriors a 3-0 lead inside half an hour of action.
A contentious red card to a Warriors striker opened the door for a Stars revival, but apart from a late goal by Val Mitrovic, the Stars could not capitalise on the advantage.
Provisional One league-leaders Springvale City were upset by a determined Mooroolbark at Ross Reserve on Satur-day.
Despite suffering a red card, Mooroolbark was able to cling to a 2-1 lead to move to within striking distance of the top two.