By Nick Creely
NPL 2 – EAST REVIEW (ROUND 2)
Dandenong City has bounced back from its disappointing clash with the Thunder, thumping a hapless Richmond City 5-0 in a slick performance at the Frank Halohan Soccer Complex on Saturday afternoon.
Not able to get their game up and going against their cross-town rivals last Friday night in front of a packed local crowd, the City were in search for their vintage form, and looked on from the outset.
The City rolled out a fresh face to the senior side, with Jayden Unmack impressing in his debut, while Ljubo Milicevic made his return.
After 17 minutes of City dominance, Shaun Kilipovic found the back of the net to give his side a 1-0 advantage.
But for the next 27 minutes neither side could find a way through the defense, before City were awarded a crucial penalty – Kilmar converted, giving City a commanding 2-0 lead before the break.
The City was then merciless, showing the crowd why they are considered one of the heavyweights for this year’s premiership.
In the 62nd minute, a slick set-up by Kilipovic gave Enes Sivic a simple goal, before only moments later, last week’s goal-scorer James Kelly found the net and gave the City an ominous 4-0 lead.
And then to rub salt into the already painful wounds of Richmond, Kelly once again saluted the crowd for his second goal, third of the season, and fifth for the dominant City.
It ends a harrowing week after a horrible loss to their greatest rivals to kick off the season, but the quality and depth of the City roster shone through.
Meanwhile, Dandenong Thunder has gone down 2-1 to their great rival Springvale White Eagles, in an action-packed blockbuster at White Eagles Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
After the Thunder produced a near perfect performance to kick off their season, they encountered an entirely different beast, and a side that has given them some almighty matches in the past.
Both local teams now head into Round 3 with 1-1 records – Dandenong City hosts Melbourne City at home next week in what will be an interesting clash, while the Thunder hosts Nunawading City at George Andrews Reserve, with a big crowd expected in their second home-game of the season.
In a week in which the A-League expansion talk continues to grow legs in the Dandenong area, the pressure was on once again for the region’s elite sides to continue to push their case – and they delivered in spades.
The quality of players within the area is highly impressive, and both Dandenong teams will feel well placed to continue their form next round, and hopefully find themselves in a position to be promoted to the top-tier in the near future.
