By JARROD POTTER
AN inaugural win in the newest soccer competition did not greet the Dandenong Thunder on Friday night, coming back after a two-goal deficit to draw with Port Melbourne 2-2.
Squaring off in its first National Premier League (NPL) clash, the Dandenong Thunder fell away early as its defence was compromised twice by Port Melbourne Sharks’ striker Kevin Braniff.
A vastly different looking Dandenong Thunder contested the remaining 70 minutes of the clash – going from lightweights to cannoning shots at the Sharks’ goal.
The floodgates opened through new Thunder striking tandem Brendan Craig (33’) and Jake Nakic (36’). Craig earned Dandenong’s first, to turn the tables on the Sharks before former Melbourne Victory youth captain Nakic opened his account with the Thunder to bring the score back to level pegging with 10 minutes left in the first half.
The second half bobbled back-and-forth as neither side could claim ascendency. Dandenong had the better chances in the dying minutes – including a fumbled attempt on the goals that was rushed for a corner by the Sharks’ defence.
In the end the deadlock couldn’t be broken and left both sides to take a point from their inaugural NPL match.
Dandenong’s young runners impressed with Ilar Pali, Kris Kioussis and Anthony Giapnnopoulos all blazing strong paths down the field.
Thunder coach Dean Hennessey said he was happy to take a point from the match after falling two goals behind early.
“When you’re two-nil down and someone says ‘look you’ll get back 2-2’ you’ll take it, grab it there and settle on that,” Hennessey said.
“Pleased with the point and think we can build on this but disappointed we didn’t grab the win.”
Hennessey thought a late careless tackle on Anthony Giannopoulos should have resulted in a penalty and thought it was strange the referee didn’t call the contact either way – whether as a penalty or a yellow card for diving.
The coach was pleased with the young Thunder’s performance and said the team is better for the initial run in the new competition.
“Couldn’t be any prouder – I thought we saw the game out and there was only one team at the end that was going to win it at the end,” Hennessey said.
“Now having been through the 90 minutes, and they had their chances as well, for me I thought we were the team that could have won.”
In NPL1 action Dandenong City could not claim its first win of the season, downed 1-2 against North Geelong at home. Keegan Ziada (10’) drilled the opening goal before a pair of long-range shots from the visitors hit their mark to take the match as Townley (14’) and Chichello (31’) pushed North Geelong ahead.
Springvale White Eagles hosted St Albans Saints on Sunday afternoon in its NPL1 season opener with the White Eagles downed 3-5 despite the best efforts of goal scorers Nenad Pavasovic (16’), Zoran Vukas (28’) and Ryan Don Paul (85’).
