Image courtesy: Anita Milas
By Cameron Briscoe
Dandenong Thunder has held off a fast finishing South Melbourne to claim a tense and hard fought 3-2 victory at Kingston Heath Soccer Complex.
It was a dream start for the Thunder that set up their success, as their two key forwards Jamie Reed and Scott Bulloch were on fire from the first whistle, sharing two goals between them within the first ten minutes.
The first, coming in only the seventh minute was set up by Reed, whose pinpoint chip into the centre of their box from the left wing fell perfectly for Bulloch, who then drilled home an easy goal after finding space in amongst South’s defenders.
Three minutes later, Thunder fans were then treated to another fantastic goal in almost identical circumstances, as this time Bulloch repaid his teammate Reed with a brilliant cross after he was left all alone in the box and was able to drill home their teams second in three minutes.
The start was disappointing for South Melbourne, and the lack of accountability within their defence, together with their unwillingness to pressure the ball carrier cost them dearly, and their confidence took a major hit early on.
Whilst South struggled early, the Thunder were buoyed by their start, and continued to dominate across the ground as their team pushed to extend their lead after the dream opening ten minutes.
Looking for answers, South made an early substitution, as Fernando De Morales replaced Joseph Yousef in the 16th minute. This change seemed to spur South Melbourne on, as they began to lift their work rate and fight to get back in the game.
Whilst some close shots on goal by Rhodri Payne and Joe Keenan looked menacing, as the half came to a close, South went unrewarded as they fought to get back into the contest.
Suddenly, as the half was drawing to an end, South were given an opportunity to fight back as Luke Sherbon from Dandenong Thunders was shown a red card for an illegal tackle on Daniel Vasilevski.
This moment was pivotal in the game and acted to swing the momentum in South’s favour immediately as the second half began. South Melbourne, sensing the weakness, went on attack, lifting their intensity and hunger across the ground.
Dandenong, now down to 10 men, were under siege and it was not long after the half that South Melbourne was gifted their first goal.
As the 60th minute ticked over, a poor clearance from Dandenong keeper Stuart Webster was cut off by Kyle Joryeff who had no problem capitalizing on the mistake and slotted in an easy goal for the home team.
In similar fashion to Dandenong, South Melbourne sensing the ascendancy pushed on, and within three minutes, they were back in the game and lifting after Steven O’Dor slotted home a brilliant corner to tie up the game.
With the game in the balance, Dandenong went on the attack in a desperate attempt to wrestle back control, and in an action packed ten minutes, the game changed once more, as the hero O’dor fouled within his own box, earned himself a yellow card and gifting Jamie Reed an easy penalty goal in the 66th minute.
As the game entered its final stages, the intensity lifted from both sides. South Melbourne desperately pushed their one man advantage with repeated attacks and a tense Thunder outfit held on for dear life as their opposition kept coming.
In the dying minutes, a red card to Rama Tavsancioglu for an overly aggressive tackle spelled an end to South’s spirited come back, and Dandenong were able to hold on for a crucial victory as the season comes closer to its end.
South Melbourne now finds itself in dangerous territory after two disappointing losses in a row. The team must lift late in the season if it is to avoid relegation, something that is unfamiliar to the historical club.
Dandenong Thunder: Stuart WEBSTER(GK), Lavent OSMAN, Shane REXHEPI, Aron WILFORD, Luke SHERBON, Ben STAROSTA, Jeffrey BRIGHT, Ryan DAVIDSON, Geoffrey KELLAWAY, Scott BULLOCH, Jamie REED (Veton, KORCAREVSKI, 85’).
Unused Subs: Daniel VEASHAM, Afrim AVDULAI, Ibraim IBRAIMI, Maruis STERGIOPOULOS
Goals: Scott BULLOCH (10’), Jamie Reed (7’, 66’pen)
Yellow Cards: Lavent OSMAN, Scott BULLOCH
Red Cards: Luke SHERBON
South Melbourne: Peter ZOIS (GK), Rhodri PANYE, Steven O’DOR, Kyle JORYEFF Daniel VASILEVSKI (Marinos GASPARIS, 78’), Rama TAVSANCIOGLU, Joe KEENAN, Fernando DE MORAES (Joseph YOUSEF, 15’), James STEFANOU (Hamid BASMA, 74’), Carl RECCHIA, Sebastian PETROVIC.
Unused Subs: Eddie CETKIN, Stefaan SARDELIC.
Goals: Kyle JORYEFF (60’), Steven O’DOR (64’)
Yellow Cards: Steven O’DOR, Carl RECCHIA, Rama TAVSANCIOGLU
Red Cards: Rama TAVSANCIOGLU
Last updated: Monday June 28, 2010 9:11PM
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