By JARROD POTTER
FOUR wins in a row have pushed Dandenong City back towards the peak of NPL1 after a 4-1 demolition of FC Bendigo at home.
Not even a six-day turnaround after its 3-0 defeat of Kingston City on Monday night could stop the high-flying City strikers from devastating the FC Bendigo defence.
The home side wasted no time peppering the net at Frank Holohan Reserve, as Danijel Buhic slotted the first in the eighth minute after he was brought into the action brilliantly by a through-ball via centre-back Steven Topalovic.
FC Bendigo retaliated to level the ledger in the 27th minute as Mathew Breeze kept his side in the clash.
From there it was all Dandenong City as Topalovic earned his own goal before Dario Matkovic started his usual Endeavour Hills-based masterclass.
Matkovic added his first before the half and finished the match in flying fashion as he made sure the second attempt at a penalty was not stopped.
Dandenong City had its chances to add the fifth goal and beyond in the final 10 minutes as Shaun Filipovic and Matkovic created countless opportunities from their crosses.
Simon Storey and Topalovic at the back impressed to repel most Bendigo envoys from gaining ground while the midfield work of Nicholas Glavan and Buhic also stood out.
“All is coming from the first half of the season, I believe the pre-season and how we work and how we played the first half was a little unlucky,” Dandenong City coach Ivan Duzel said.
“I believe we were creating a lot of chances and I said to the boys the second half of the season is working for us and I’m right – four wins in a row, six games undefeated, you see the good work and it pays off at the end of the season.”
Duzel was impressed with the overall effort of the team.
Dandenong City moves up to eighth in NPL1 and faces Sunshine St George Cross on Saturday at Chaplin Reserve.
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DANDENONG Thunder only needed 10 men to move out of relegation danger with a 1-0 win over Ballarat Red Devils.The explosive speed of youngster Keiran Dover was enough to beguile the Red Devils’ defence and open up the Thunder’s account in the 62nd minute.
Dandenong’s Alan Kearney earned two yellow cards to get sent from the field and leave the Thunder down to 10 men for the remaining 25 minutes.
The victory gives Dandenong its seventh win of the season and moves it to 10th on 25 points. A blockbuster clash is scheduled for Saturday night as Dandenong Thunder host South Melbourne.
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SPRINGVALE White Eagles could not keep the Dandenong-area winning ways going as it drew 2-2 with FC Bulleen Lions. The White Eagles travel to The Grange Reserve on for Monday night soccer against Kingston City.
