Image: Milan Ninovic
The Springvale White Eagles have caused a boilover in NPL2 East following a 2-1 derby victory over Dandenong Thunder in a tense encounter at White Eagles Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
A quiet opening half saw chances few and far between, with Thunder goal-machine Brandon Barnes coming closest to opening the scoring – his shot forced Lajos Oliveira into an outstretched save down on the stroke of half-time as the two sides went into the break all square.
The second half burst into life minutes following the restart when Springvale winger Vojislav Milojevic was hauled down by Nick Modaffari on the edge of the area as the referee pointed to the spot.
Midfielder Cody Martindale stepped up from the spot and smacked his effort straight down the centre, with the powerful hit going underneath Fraser Maclaren and into the back of the net.
Thunder went in search of an immediate response, with a Simon Colosimo flick-on following into the path of Englishman Josh Bragg, who failed to make the desired contact to steer the ball toward goal.
However it were the hosts that should have found the target minutes afterwards when the pacey Milojevic set up Damir Stoilovic, who failed to take advantage of a golden opportunity to double his side’s lead by skewing his shot just wide of the post when one-one-one with Maclaren.
Rodrigo Vargas flashed a header off target for the visitors intensifying their efforts in search for a reply, with Bragg’s curling shot from 20 metres parried wide for a corner by Oliveira.
Barnes then teed up speedster John Kuol, whose fierce attempt went just over the bar, while the 2016 NPL2 Player of the Year tested Oliveira once more with a powerful half-volley from range.
The White Eagles then doubled their lead when Martindale drifted in from the left and played through half-time substitute Tapiwanashe Munyanyiwa, who finished emphatically past Maclaren before pulling out an exuberant celebration dance.
However, a Thunder comeback was back on the cards minutes later when a cross into the area found Bragg. His close-range shot forced Oliveira into a fantastic reflex save, only for the ball to ricochet off the back of Milojevic and over the goal line.
Compatriots Bragg and Barnes combined once more only for a stubborn Oliveira to deny the marksman again, with another Barnes chance going off target as the visitors frantically searched for an equaliser in the final few minutes of the game.
A searching header into the White Eagles penalty box then found Kuol, turning and having his shot well blocked by an enlarged Oliveira, who seemed desperate to hold onto his side’s lead.
The final chance of an intriguing afternoon fell to Springvale as a free-kick from Nebojsa Pejic was met by the head of Stoilovic, who failed to trouble Maclaren.
Proceedings then came to an end in the follow-up as the hosts celebrated a memorable win over their local rivals.
***
In the day’s other games, Dandenong City bounced back from last week’s derby trashing to Dandenong Thunder with a comprehensive 5-0 victory over Richmond at Frank Holohan Soccer Complex.
Midfielder Shaun Filipovic got the ball rolling for the hosts in the 13th minute when he met a delivery into the box with his back to goal before turning and firing past Brandon Osipov in Richmond’s goal.
One became two in the 38th minute when Filipovic was up-ended in the penalty area, with former Melbourne City midfielder Nick Kalmar scoring a Panenka on his Hajduk home debut.
Filipovic further strengthened his case for man-of-the-match honours when his cross into the box found the head of former Richmond defender Enes Sivic, who nodded in his first goal for the club.
Englishman James Kelly sealed the victory with two well-taken strikes from outside the area later on to follow on from his consolation strike against Thunder last week.
Ljubo Milicevic made his long-awaited debut for the club by coming on as a second-half substitute, while Mate Dugandzic recovered from injury to take to the field in the final few minutes of the match.
Stuart Munro’s men face off against Melbourne City Youth next week, with Joe Palatsides’ depleted outfit managing to secure a second consecutive 2-2 draw against Murray United.
***
Archie Thompson was named on the bench for the border side which took the lead mid-way through the first half. Another former A-League striker in Chad Bugeja netted his first goal for United.
City defender Lucas Portelli equalised within two minutes of the restart following a Gerrie Sylaidos cross into the box, only for Zac Walker to restore the visitors’ advantage two minutes afterwards.
Thompson entered the game in the 57th minute, with his former Socceroo teammate and Murray club ambassador Josh Kennedy in attendance – as was suspended City star Tim Cahill.
The home side levelled the scoring on 78 minutes when a neat one-two on the break from Connor Metcalfe and debutant Stefan Colakovski saw the former set up Sylaidos, who finished superbly outside the box in an entertaining and hard-fought encounter at the City Football Academy in Bundoora.
THE moment 🙌🏼 @10Archie makes his @murrayunitedfc debut. Looking forward to a big crowd in Wodonga on Saturday! #PS4NPLVIC @FourFourTwoOz pic.twitter.com/2NAsfSVx1L
— Marcus Copsey (@copsey2468) February 12, 2017
***
Elsewhere on Saturday afternoon, local rivals Box Hill United and Eastern Lions played out a goalless draw at Wembley Park with both sides beginning their campaigns with two successive draws.
The visitors were once more left to rue a failed penalty attempt as Philip Ajao’s spot-kick was beaten away by Keegan Coulter, who kept his second consecutive clean sheet of the season.
The home side also had a number of opportunities of their own to take the lead only to be wasteful in front of goal as they prepare to face off against the Goulburn Valley Suns next weekend.
***
In the week’s final game, Nunawading City hosted the Suns at Mahoneys Reserve on Sunday afternoon but not before unveiling a spectacular mural of Ange Postecoglou alongside Dutchman Johan Cruyff and Pep Guardiola, with the Socceroos boss in attendance.
On the field, Scottish import Liam Baxter made it two goals in two games after opening the scoring in the eighth minute for Nick Kalafatis’ Shepparton-based side.
However, Baxter turned from hero to villain later on in the first as the import received his marching orders from the referee after collecting a yellow card for a second bookable offence.
The hosts were able to take immediate advantage of their numerical advantage and levelled the scoring in the 38th minute through former Newcastle Jets midfielder Mitch Cooper.
Despite having opportunities to take the lead in the second half, the Suns were stubborn in defence and held onto a point against an improving Nunawading, who will look to maintain their unbeaten start to the season when they travel to take on Dandenong Thunder next Saturday evening.
Ladder leaders Springvale White Eagles have an away trip to Richmond on Friday night, while Archie Thompson is expected to make his home debut for Murray against the Eastern Lions.