By JARROD POTTER
NPL VICTORIA – ROUND 15
YOU can’t keep a good side down for long and Melbourne City Youth discovered on Saturday it’s even harder to do that to a great side.
In a battle of East and West’s top seeds, Dandenong Thunder hosting City was set to be season-defining for the George Andrews Reserve boys … and Saturday night proved no different.
In its toughest tussle yet, the Thunder had to chase in the rain and do it without a couple of its usual starters.
Socceroo Simon Colosimo (hamstring tightness) was conservatively rested and striker Amir Osmancevic was released during the week, leaving youngsters Patrick Avice, Antonio Barbaro and Andrew Duong starting on the park.
It left the Thunder with its most inexperienced side of the year on the park for arguably its biggest match and it wasn’t paying off early as the Dandy boys showed too much style and not enough substance. Careless passes, misplaced trickery and a general lack of polish found the Thunder exposed at the back and City capitalised, slotting a penalty to take advantage.
Turning to its midfield maestro, Kristian Sarkies (42’) produced the Thunder goal of the year on the cusp of half-time. After Brandon Barnes was brought down just outside the box, Sarkies unleashed some of his finest spot kick work. He curled it over the wall and past outstretched gloves of City’s keeper to rustle the top left corner of the net and reignite the ladder leaders.
The second half proved much of the same as Barnes (52’) took little time to slot his first for the night and number 27 for the season. The icing on the cake came from Daniel Bennett (83’) as Thunder endured the best City had to offer, with a depleted line-up, and still walked away with the three points.
“It’s always the case when you play good opposition,” Thunder coach Huss Skenderovic said. “I really enjoyed the game, but you’re going to get those moments when you’ll concede like that.
“Against the run of play you give a penalty, but it shows the character of the team … . we bounce back because we’re very resilient.”
The younger Thunder squad members showed they’re not making up numbers and Skenderovic was thrilled with the efforts of Barbaro, Avice and young keeper Fraser Maclaren in particular.
“That’s why we’ve got a great balance between experience and the younger players – we’ve got that core balance and that’s part of our success,” Skenderovic said. “Antonio (Barbaro) was fantastic – come in and commanded the back line alongside Safa and it shows the environment and what he’s learned from Simon (Colosimo) and Safa and he’s putting it to good use.
“Patty did very well and also Fraser’s (Maclaren) performance – he’s only 21 and made some really crucial saves there and has done very well.”
With a seven-point buffer on second placed Kingston City, Thunder’s season is going from strength to strength before its away clash against Whittlesea Ranges.
Thunder has also brought Samuel Catherine across from NPL side Richmond FC as its first signing in the NPL transfer window.
Life at the front was great for Springvale White Eagles, thumping Moreland City 3-0 on the back of a brace off Vojislav Milojevic (19’ and 32’) as well as second half match-sealer from Milan Jovanovic (61’).
Dandenong City – who faced St Albans on Sunday after the Journal went to print – hosts Bendigo City this Saturday while Springvale White Eagles travel up to Ballarat.
In the state leagues, South Springvale thumped Casey Comets 3-0 on the back of Nikolaos Galas brace and one from the skipper Ilya Grin. Noble Park United had a 1-1 draw with Heatherton United, Doveton SC fell 1-2 to Doncaster Rovers, while winners in 4 and 5 South were Harrisfield Hurricanes, Hampton Park United, Keysborough, White Star Dandenong and Dandenong Warriors.
