Despite an early scare, Bentleigh Greens registered a comfortable 6-1 victory over State League One outfit Diamond Valley United, who’d earlier taken a shock lead at Kingston Heath Soccer Complex.
William Dixon was the man who struck the visitors into a shock lead, as Bentleigh were caught napping on the counter by a flowing United move, which saw Anthony Hammer released on the right wing.
A low cross was dispatched clinically at the far post by Dixon to put the underdogs into a third minute lead.
It lasted all of 17 minutes as a Jack Webster double, put them into the lead, before Matt Thurtell and Chris Lucas struck a brace each to put the hosts through in convincing fashion.
Having taken the lead, the Diamond Valley goal lived a charmed life as a series of fantastic chances went begging, beginning with Liam McCormick who struck wide with the goalkeeper caught in no mans land.
McCormick and Danny Dixon missed chances with the head, while Teon Haywood was forced to clear off the line twice in quick succession to deny Lucas and then Ross Archibald.
Eventually the pressure told as Webster struck a tidy finish across the face of goals from a corner kick, hitting the upright on its way in.
The relief was palpable when he put the heavy favourites into the lead, as keeper Gavin Watson palmed Troy Ruthven’s bobbling free-kick into the path of the centre-half to stroke home his second.
Bentleigh began to lift in equal measure to the rain falling over Kingston Heath, as the modest crowd began to retreat from the sidelines.
Kamal Ibrahim was ironically forced onto the sideline, unfortunately coming off injured after an interrupted pre-season – on in his place was Thurtell on his own path to recovery from an ACL injury.
He made his presence known within seconds of his introduction as he collected a cross from Lucas, took a class touch to put the ball in front of his eyes before dispatching for 3-1 on the stroke of half time.
Alex Vlassis brought down Lucas with a clattering tackle in the early stages of the second half, which sent Bentleigh to the spot.
With the chance at the match ball, Webster stepped up, but the Englishman’s penalty was poor as he hit the support bar on the right side of goal on its way out play.
Lucas ensured the miss from 12-yards wasn’t to prove too costly as he tapped home from close range following Thurtell’s squaring ball.
Likewise, Thurtell was able to tap-home his second from similar range following an unselfish squaring ball from Dixon.
The midfield was a driving force all game for the Greens as they sliced open the defence with efficiency and ease.
They created a number of good one-on-one openings, of which three were brought back for offside with the striker odds on to score.
Lucas grabbed a six late on with the pick of the goals on the night, chipping the hapless Watson from outside the box with a special finish.
Diamond Valley United assistant manager Paul Kilpatrick admitted it was a great experience to square up with what he labels the best team in the NPL, and was pleased with some of the football he saw from his side.
“It’s just a very good test for the boys to play against the best team in the NPL,” Kilpatrick said.
“Their movement, their speed… They have quality all over the park and it was just a good experience. I just told the boys to go out and enjoy it. They were the better side by a long way but we got in behind them a few times during the game.
“I thought we played not too bad at times, but it was always going to be a win for Bentleigh, it was just a matter of how much I suppose.”
***
Bentleigh Greens 6 (Webster 20′ 34′, Thurtell 45+1′ 74′, Lucas 61′ 79′) defeated Diamond Valley United 1 (Dixon 3′) at Kingston Heath [HT: 3-1]
Bentleigh Greens: 1. Ryan SCOTT, 12. Josh BRINDELL-SOUTH, 5. Jack WEBSTER, 15. Ross ARCHIBALD, 24. Luke PILKINGTON (3. Nathan TIDMARSH 71′), 16. Troy RUTHVEN, 8. Wayne WALLACE (c, 14. Danny CHARALAMBOUS 65′), 6. Liam MCCORMICK, 7. Kamal IBRAHIM (18. Matthew THURTELL 44′), 9. Chris LUCAS, 17. Danny DIXON
Unused Substitute(s): 21. Kane PIERCE (GK), 11. Dion KIRK
Yellow Card(s): Webster 52′
Red Card(s): Nil
Diamond Valley United: 21. Gavin WATSON (GK), 6. Alex VLASSIS, 5. Teon HAYWOOD (12. William GRAZE 69′), 10. Italo ARELINO, 4. Seny DIEDHIOU, 7. Anthony HAMMER, 8. Igor BARBOSA, 14. Tommy BROADBENT (c), 17. Paul TONA (27. Madit KOL JOB 46′), 15. Celik ZENELOVSKI (16. Chris MCCREA 59′), 9. William DIXON
Unused Substitute(s): 2. Boom YEONG, 11. Vlad GORBIK
Yellow Card(s): Dixon 28′, Broadbent 33′, Arcelino 38′, Vlassis 51′
Red Card(s): Nil