Bentleigh's George Stavridis tackles Dandenong Thunder's goal scorer, Jamie Reed. Image courtesy: John Punshon.
By Kristian Silva
Andy O'Dell couldn't turn the Bentleigh Greens' poor form around in his first game in charge of the club, as Jamie Reed inspired Dandenong Thunder to a 2-0 win at Kingston Heath Soccer Complex last night.
A win would have given the Greens some breathing space on the table, but with five matches to go and fixtures against Heidelberg, HumeCity and Richmond, Bentleigh needs to improve quickly if they are to avoid a relegation scrap with the bottom sides.
Dandenong’s star import Reed continues to be one of the stories of the season since his loan switch from Welsh side Bangor City, scoring both goals early in the first half to deliver the Thunder their fifth league win in a row.
It was clear Andy O’Dell would be adopting a cautious approach, choosing to employ Damir Lokvancic as a lone striker and leaving Johnny Sapazovski on the bench.
However, things did not go to plan for the home side.
It took just five minutes for Reed to get on the score sheet. Scott Bulloch’s long-range shot was well saved by Damir Salcin who dived low to his left, but the Bentleigh keeper could do nothing to prevent Reed from pouncing on the rebound and tapping in from the edge of the six-yard box.
Some dreadful marking from the Greens cost them a second goal after 18 minutes. Left completely unmarked in the centre of the box, Reed was on hand to comfortably head home Bulloch’s corner kick.
Sapazovski was brought on after the goal for Sam De Vito, who failed to run off a knock he picked up in the opening minutes.
The change sparked Bentleigh into action with Alex Rojas trying his luck from distance and almost finding the net, with his low shot whizzing inches past the upright.
Then, a beautiful passage of play saw Lokvancic put Sapazovski through on goal with a stylishly flicked pass. Dandenong goalkeeper Stuart Webster did well to stop the substitute’s shot but must have felt relieved when Sapazovski’s follow-up attempt struck the post.
But Bentleigh were unable to carry the momentum into the second half, as Dandenong started strongly after the restart.
Geoffrey Kellaway’s strike from the right-hand side of the box flew wide, and soon after, Ryan Davidson’s looping header clipped the bar.
Thunder coach Stuart Munro chose to substitute Reed eight minutes into the half, with the star striker showing signs of the hamstring soreness he experienced during last weekend’s clash against Altona Magic.
The Greens also had injury concerns. Dean Piemonte - one of the Bentleigh’s better performers - pulled up badly after a long sprint down the left wing and had to be replaced by Vasilos Natsioulas.
Despite not scoring, Damir Lokvancic was having a very good game and it was a real surprise when he was brought off with 15 minutes to play.
The pace of Dandenong’s Kellaway was causing major concerns for the home side, and the winger forced Damir Salcin into a spectacular diving save after he cut past Jack Webster and unleashed a powerful left-footed shot.
The closing stages produced few scoring opportunities as the Thunder held on for a well-deserved victory.
After winning the last five league games, and their match against the National Training Centre, Dandenong Thunder coach Stuart Munro said his team is full of confidence.
“How far we can go and how long we can keep winning, I really don’t know. I know it’s an old cliché but we treat every game as it comes along and so far it’s been holding us in good stead.”
Munro also said Thunder fans have no need to worry about the fitness of Jamie Reed or Scott Bulloch, who both came off in the second half with hamstring soreness.
“We’ve had a few stiff bodies at training because of the weather and the heavy grounds. Both Jamie and Scotty Bulloch pulled up a bit sore but they’re not injuries as such, just aches and pains so they’ll be ok.”
A win against Northcote City at George Andrews Reserve next Saturday will put the Thunder in a good position to clinch a finals spot in the closing rounds.
For Bentleigh, this is their fifth loss in the last six games and their new coach Andy O’Dell will have a real task on his hands to turn their form around. They face another in-form team, Heidelberg United, next Sunday at Olympic Village.
Bentleigh Greens: Damir SALCIN (Gk), George STAVRIDIS, Jack WEBSTER, Craig SMART, Sam DE VITO (Johnny SAPAZOVSKI 18’), Con ANTHOPOULOS, Alex ROJAS, Nicholas SCHWAL, Dean PIEMONTE (Vasilos NATSIOULAS 57’), Adam FADLJEVIC, Damir LOKVANCIC (Bradley SCOTT 75’).
Unused Subs: Clifford HENRY (Gk), Kurt CRNIC.
Yellow Cards: WEBSTER, SMART, SCHWAL.
Dandenong Thunder: Stuart WEBSTER (Gk), Levent OSMAN, Jeffrey BRIGHT, Aron WILFORD, Shane REXHEPI, Ben STAROSTA, Ryan DAVIDSON, Scott BULLOCH (Afrim AVDULAI 82’), Geoffrey KELLAWAY, Ibraim IBRAIMI (Noel BANSHEN 63’), Jamie REED (Veton KORCAREVSKI 54’).
Unused Subs: Daniel NEESHAM (Gk), Dennis UKALOVSKI.
Goals: REED (5’, 18’).
Yellow Cards: DAVIDSON.
Last updated: Saturday July 17, 2010 5:04PM
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