By JARROD POTTER
NPL1 EAST – ROUND 11
HOWLING gales lashed Frank Holohan Soccer Complex on Saturday afternoon, but even battling the wind and Kingston City was no issue for Dandenong City to pick up its third NPL1 East win in a row.
The crowd was warmed up by a sensational piece of work from Brad Clarke – as the defender brought Dario Matkovic in to the box to open the City coffers in the 26th minute.
Clarke started the piece to bring his Dandy City brethren into the box as the defender weaved his way past Kingston’s back men before playing in Matkovic.
That’s how the score line would stay through a wind-swept and difficult afternoon, despite the best efforts of both sides.
Matkovic and Keegan Ziada continued to pepper the goals and cause headaches for Kingston keeper Fraser Maclaren.
Both defences held strong as a second goal could not be found in regulation as Dandenong City took the 1-0 win.
“It was an important win – every win is important I should say – but that one was substantial as I don’t think we played our best football,” Dandenong City coach Aaron Healey said.
“But we were good enough to get a goal in-front and good enough to keep a clean-sheet.
“We didn’t have a slow start to the season – I thought our first match of the season when we played Eastern Lions we played some decent football – then we played Victory and we’re the only team to take a point off them.
“But the boys are growing in confidence and running out games extremely well now and our fitness is exceptional and we’re just building into a solid season.”
Healey praised the efforts of Clarke – who excelled out of right-back all day.
Thunder will rue its missed opportunity to book it away from the foot of the NPL ladder after conceding a late equaliser to finish 1-1 against last placed North Geelong Warriors.
Yusuf Ahmed proved sensational once again as the 18-year-old beguiled the crowd at George Andrews Reserve to drive home his sixth goal of the season.
His 57th minute strike – after a beautiful piece of ball-handling through the Warriors’ defence – should have been enough to give the Thunder the much-needed three points, but were unable to hold out the Warriors til the final whistle.
Abdirahman Ahmed flayed wildly at Nikola Jurkovic to give North Geelong a chance to level the ledger from the penalty spot – which Matthew Townley had no trouble converting in the 75th minute.
Dandenong Thunder sits 12th – just above the relegation zone – on nine points and will hope to add to its tally with an away win over Heidelberg on Sunday afternoon from 4pm (after the Journal goes to press so check the web site).
In FFV State Leagues, South Springvale emerged triumphant from its trip to Warragul, knocking off United 2-1 via goals to Konstantinos Daskalakis and Konstantinos Stratomitros respectively. Sotuh Springvale sits fourth in FFV South East State League 1 and faces Langwarrin at home on Saturday.
