By JARROD POTTER
NPL1 EAST – Round 21
DANDENONG City will rue what could have been as a win slipped away in the growing shadows.
Dandenong City dictated the tempo all afternoon against FC Bulleen Lions – with Chris Antoniadis slotting the opener in the 17th minute.
That would be the highlight of a frustrating day for City as the next hour was spattered with missed chances, defensive scrambles and a lack of cohesion across the lines.
Despite the best efforts of their faster footballers Sean Seavill, Keegan Ziada and Antoniados up front, City’s peppering of the Lions’ goal didn’t amount to anything tangible as chance after chance was squandered to put the result beyond doubt.
Goalkeeper Damir Salcin made a few heroic saves as the Lions roared into life for the last 15 minutes in particular, but couldn’t keep out the last.
Will Abbott weaved his way easily through the City defence, forcing Salcin to come out from goals to attack, but he was bypassed by the Lion, who smashed home the equaliser to save face for Bulleen and take the solitary point.
City coach Aaron Healey thought that 10 minute lapse at the death was not indicative of his side’s resolve.
“Against a team who is top of the table in the other league (NPL1 West), I thought we were the better team and probably could’ve got the three points if we did the job for 90 minutes,” Healey said.
“I thought we were the better team for 80-85 minutes and what happens when you’re 1-nil up is they throw numbers forward and try to get an equaliser.”
Healey praised the efforts on and off the park from new recruit Antoniados – who drives from Epping to Endeavour Hills and back every training – and also thought it was pleasing to get Dario Matkovic and Seavill running around once more.
City sits sixth in NPL1 East and faces Box Hill United this weekend for a chance to spring up the ladder.
Springvale White Eagles were defeated 1-2 by Brunswick City.
NPL – Round 22
The road ahead is paved with difficulty for Dandenong Thunder if it hopes to stay in the Victorian top flight.
Not even the slippery conditions on Friday night could aid the Thunder halting Avondale FC’s charge as the visitors slammed on three goals to all but seal Dandenong’s relegation fate.
Things only got worse for Dandenong as Fitim Ibrahimi was red-carded for a careless tackle and sent from the field to leave the Thunder with 10-men for the last 20 minutes.
Avondale capitalised to bank another goal and register Dandenong’s eighth loss on the trot.
Sitting last place on 11 points, Dandenong Thunder needs at least four points and results to fall their way to stay in the top flight next season.
Its final four matches – potentially in the NPL – will start this weekend when the Thunder faces Northcote City away on Saturday afternoon.
