Like the West, there were no draws in NPL2 East in March. Like February, two sides really stood out this month, with Kingston City and Dandenong Thunder claiming maximum points. So it’s no surprise both sides dominate the March edition of Team of the Month, alongside a few other standouts.
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GK: Wesley Coles (Brunswick City)
The English shot-stopper has had a standout month in between the sticks for the Spartans, which has included two clean sheets in three outings, while also making a number of telling contributions. A man-of-the-match performance in the 2-1 home defeat of Dandenong City was followed up by a penalty save in the derby clash against Moreland City, which Brunswick won 1-0.
RB: Alex Schroen (Box Hill United)
Has been a standout for Pythagoras in the first two rounds of the season and has carried on that form into March, which began with a solid outing and scoring in the 2-0 win over Eastern Lions. One of his side’s better players in the defeat to Dandenong Thunder, the right-back then rounded of a good month personally with the winner in a hard-fought 3-2 victory away to Ballarat.
CB: John Carroll (Dandenong City)
The Queenslander has been at the heart of a mini-March revival for City, who were winless following the first two rounds. A clean sheet in an impressive 3-0 victory away to Goulburn saw him effectively manage the threat of Craig Carley. Did well against Werribee in the last match, too, where City recorded another well-deserved away win.
CB: Frank Serratore (Brunswick City)
The former Pascoe Vale defender has been outstanding at the heart of defence for City, who conceded a solitary goal in three matches over the course of March. Nullified any threat posed by the Nunawading attack in Round 3, before doing well to prevent a late rally from Dandenong City. Another tidy display and clean sheet against Moreland City sees the veteran walk into the starting XI.
LB: Simo Jovanovic (Kingston City)
Shifted to left-back despite spending the month marshalling the defence at Kingston in his preferred role in the centre of defence. The 21-year-old was one of his side’s best in a 3-0 victory over his former side Springvale in Round 3, before putting in a solid shift against Nunawading. A second-half send off against Melbourne City is the only sour note of his month, which has otherwise been almost faultless.
DM: Kobbie Boahene (Box Hill United)
Along with Schroen, the former Melbourne Victory Youth midfielder has been one of United’s most consistent players and was one of the best in their 2-0 triumph over the Eastern Lions. A debut senior goal in a disappointing 3-1 defeat to Dandenong Thunder followed, although he would have been pleased to have been part of a winning side in Round Five.
CM: Kristian Sarkies (Dandenong Thunder)
The former Socceroo was in the thick of the action in a dominant 4-1 win over Murray United in Round, combining well with the in-form forward duo of Osmancevic and Korcari. Another great performance in the 3-1 defeat of Box Hill saw his manager Huss Skenderovic sing his plaudits before contributing in another one-sided win over Sunshine to round off the month.
CM: Velibor Mitrovic (Kingston City)
A second straight appearance for Mitrovic, who continues on his good form from February in addition to getting more goals to his name. Scored against his former club Springvale in Round 3, before adding a brace to his name in the 3-1 win over Nunawading. Almost made it three from three against Melbourne City late on in another great month for the 24-year-old.
RF: Ashley Cattermole (Dandenong City)
Two goals in three outings and an overall positive attacking contribution sees the former Morwell Pegasus forward earn his spot in the front third over teammate Gonzalo Freddi, who was unlucky to miss out on selection himself. Cattermole has combined well with both Freddi and Chris Antoniadis, with the trio deployed in a false nine system which has yielded eight goals in three games over March.
CF: Adam Wright (Brunswick City)
The Welshman struggled in his opening two matches for the Spartans, before scoring a brace in the 5-0 demolition job over Nunawading which included a superb free-kick goal. A further strike against Dandenong City and a workman like display against Moreland sees him earn his spot up front as he hopes to continue on his good goalscoring form.
LF: Amir Osmancevic (Dandenong Thunder)
Continued on with his stunning start to life at George Andrews Reserve with two further braces against Murray United and Box Hill United. He also provided two further assists against the former, in a game which saw his partnership with Korcari blossom further, before sitting out the final fixture of the month where teammate Brandon Barnes stepped up in his absence – more on him later.
Substitutes:
Damir Salcin (Dandenong City)
A tough choice given the exploits of Kingston custodian Julien Chaumet in March. Salcin earns his spot following a clean sheet over Goulburn and two penalty saves, in addition to a number of other crucial saves over the course of the three games.
Faisal Sakhizada (Dandenong Thunder)
The Afghan international defender can consider himself very unlucky not to have been in the starting XI after an excellent month of performances. Stepped up in the absence of Colosimo against Murray and has been made it very hard for opposition forwards so far this season.
George Stamatiou (Kingston City)
The Kingston stalwart has responded to increased midfielder competition within the City ranks, providing three solid performances. He has played a crucial role between defence and attack, with his passing and pressing noticeable components of his game.
Brandon Barnes (Dandenong Thunder)
Made his debut for the Thunder in the 4-1 win over Murray, before linking up well with both Korcari and Osmancevic in the Box Hill fixture. Looked to be struggling early on against Sunshine before unleashing a stunning hat-trick and was unlucky not to add a couple more goals to his name.
David Antequera (Nunawading City)
Scrapes in the team as one of Nunawading’s standouts of the last month. His strike almost helped Nunawading cause a boilover against St Albans, if not for the late heroics of Barry Devlin. His season tally now sits at two from five games, and has been one of the regular threats for his side.