By JARROD POTTER
DANDENONG kept its finals hopes alive with a 3-1 win over Oakleigh Cannons on Friday night.
Undone early by an early goal from Cannons’ striker Dusan Bosnjak, the Thunder bounced back quickly.
Brendan Elmazovski finished the job he couldn’t complete earlier – spraying the first serious strike of the match in the fourth minute – when he drilled an unmarked strike from outside the box off a corner to level the score.
Dandenong best seized the wild and woolly conditions – with Sean McIlroy latching onto a textbook through-ball from Eric Frazier to push the Thunder ahead in the 29th minute.
Dandenong finished the job with their new striker Frazier cannoning one past Oakleigh keeper Lewis Italiano in the 68th minute.
The two centre backs – captain Shane Rexhepi and Craig Elvin – showed why they have premiership medallions around their necks from last season.
The pair were rock-solid following the Cannons early goal – not letting any Oakleigh initiative take root. Stephen Topalovic is the only concern to come out of the match, going down with a groin strain mid-way through in the first half.
The win gives Dandenong 23 points, a two-point buffer in eighth over ninth placed Oakleigh, and the Thunder can consolidate their position at Pascoe Vale on Friday night.
In other results, Dandenong City stayed atop State League 2 SE with a 3-2 win over Mornington, Springvale White Eagles won 2-1 away at Langwarrin and Noble Park United smashed Doveton SC 3-1.
