By JARROD POTTER
NPL VICTORIA 2 EAST – ROUND 17
Back on the winner’s list with a bang, Dandenong Thunder booted in a 4-0 triumph over the Ballarat Red Devils.
After a couple of “should have been” misses – a chip from Brandon Barnes and a cracking run down the left from Daniel Bennett and a point-blank Veton Korcari effort that was amazingly saved – the Thunder finally tuned in and started pumping out its greatest hits.
Barnes (25’) had no such troubles getting the scoreboard going at the midway point of the half; his 29th goal of the year – a Barnes’ classic from a one-on-one opportunity put into the lower left – opened the floodgates for the hosts.
Immense pressure at the back led to the second – an own goal from the Red Devils – soon after and the half-time 2-0 margin would be doubled by the renewed work of the Thunder centremen.
It was a night at the front for the Thunder, with Barnes, Korcari and Bennett peppering the net, but the next would come from the captain Brendon Elmazovski (71’). The skipper got on the end of some beautiful passing from Antonio Barbaro and Veton Korcari to thump in the third. Coming across from Richmond in the transfer window, Sam Catherine (93’) capped off his first outing at his new home ground with a last second goal to usher in early celebrations.
The Thunder and Kingston City are locked in a two-horse race for league victory – and direct promotion to NPL – as the ladder leading Thunder heads across to North Geelong this weekend.
Dandenong City held off a power-packed North Geelong 2-1 to keep its hopes of promotion alive. The third-placed City travelled strongly to the other side of town as Amir Osmancevic (32’) and Josh Frame (74’) booted the side clear.
Springvale White Eagles made it three-from-three for the local NPL legion, knocking over Werribee City 2-1 on the back of quick goals to Damir Stoilovic (18’) and Erdem Ozcagli (23’).
Springvale White Eagles are away at West powerhouse Melbourne City while Dandenong City features in one of the matches of the round when it hosts Moreland Zebras.
In the state leagues, Doveton SC had a comfortable 2-0 win over Noble Park United, through Lachlan Mcminimee (51’) and Senahid Tokalic (85’), while South Springvale’s winning ways ground to a halt with a 0-3 loss to Malvern City. Keysborough drew with Hampton Park United, Harrisfield defeated Lyndale 2-0, Dandenong South won a 4-3 shootout with Noble Park, Endeavour United knocked over neighbouring Endeavour Hills Fire 2-1 and Sandown Lions drew with Pakenham United.
