By JARROD POTTER
DANDENONG Thunder will head into the fifth round of the Dockerty Cup with a 2-1 win over Heidelberg United.
Goals from Alan Kearney and Keiran Dover pushed the Thunder ahead, but a last ditch goal from Heidelberg kept the dying minutes interesting for Dean Hennessey and his men.
A rebound goal from a penalty shot gave stand-in captain Kearney the first goal for the Thunder before Anthony Giannopoulos and Matt Miller combined to find Dover on the back post to slot in the second.
Heidelberg retaliated late to bring the margin back to one, forcing Dandenong to knuckle down defensively in the closing stages of the match, but the Warriors couldn’t get it past the Thunder again to push the home side into the fifth round of the cup.
“Any competition the club goes in we’re going to go out and try to win every single game,” Thunder coach Dean Hennessey said.
“The cup has been really kind to Dandenong over the last two years – winning it with Chris Taylor in 2012 and coming second last year – so it’s an important add-on to the season.”
Dandenong’s link-up play impressed Hennessey as the ball flew from out wide to the box as the team plan demanded.
“We created a lot of good movement and we went in at half time at 0-0 and thought we were on top,” Hennessey said.
“They had a couple of half chances and it was evident we were the better team in the first half.
“Talked at half time about the things we could improve and especially when we got to wide areas if we could get boys in the box.
“Alan got brought down for the penalty as we had four or five in the box.”
Hennessey thought Dandenong controlled the tempo all night and were unlucky not to be at least a couple of goals ahead at the half, as strong chances weren’t converted onto the scoresheet.
As injuries and player unavailability have caused headaches for the club, Hennessey was proud of his younger brigade getting the job done consistently so far this season.
“What I’m really pleased about… I had a look at our line-up and the average age was 21.09-years-old,” Hennessey said.
“Our team was 21-years-old and what we’ve got are a lot of players injured and not available, so everyone in the 20-man-squad is getting utilised and we’re gaining confidence and gelling as a new team.”
Dandenong Thunder resumes its NPL Victoria league schedule this Saturday night with a clash against Hennessey’s former charges – the Green Gully Cavaliers.
“Looking forward to Saturday – obviously quite an important game and first home league game and we hope for everyone to get along and watch,” Hennessey said.
“It’s an experienced Green Gully side – and I’d know as I coached them last year – but I’m excited for the match and I hope the players are too.”
In the first of the Albanian club’s double-header on Saturday night at George Andrews Reserve, North Sunshine Eagles won 5-4 on penalties after coming back from a 1-2 deficit to draw the match 2-2 at the end of regulation, while NPL1 team Dandenong City lost on Wednesday night on penalties to Preston Lions.
Dandenong Thunder’s affiliate community club Dandenong South SC will debut in Football Federation Victoria’s State League 5 competition on Saturday, facing cross-town rivals Springvale City SC at Fotheringham Reserve from 3pm.
