Dandenong Thunder Soccer Club

In desperate need of a pick-me-up to their sluggish title defence in 2011, the title holders produced the ideal tonic by defeating the undefeated Thunder in an exciting fast paced match. It wasn’t a case of Thunder playing badly. They huffed and puffed but just couldn’t blow the solid Gully defence down.

Gully took an early lead when Graham Hockless converted a Cameron Drake cross after just two minutes. Andy Vargas then narrowly missed doubling the lead when he found the side netting from a narrow angle, but the Green and Whites soon found themselves on the defensive for most of the first half as Thunder’s midfield led by Chris Taylor clicked into gear. Gully keeper Nikola Roganovic was the busier of the two keepers and saved a certain goal from Thunder striker Stephen Cooke in a one on one. Roganovic was again on hand to take the sting out of a Luke Sherbon shot which was cleared off the goal line in a last ditch effort by the Gully defence.

Gully was able to counter Thunder’s sustained pressure by maintaining a solid defensive structure and also produce some good passages of possession thanks to the cool-headed Jeff Fleming, Vargas and Hockless.
Thunder coach Stuart Munro introduced Liam Kearney for Matt Theodore at the start of the second half in a bid to give more width in attack. Again Thunder looked the more likely team to score but once again found Roganovic impassable this time at his near post from a Sherbon free. Skipper Veton Korcari blasted the rebound well over the bar.

Against the run of play, Gully striker Jason Hayne scored the first of his second half brace stunning the home fans with a sweetly struck 20 metre drive that flew past Thunder keeper Stuart Webster into the net in the 59th minute.

Once more the home team responded never giving up. But when Hayne headed home a Hockless cross 15 minutes later, it took the edge out of the contest and triggered a flow of fans to the exit.

Gully coach Lubo Lapsansky commented after the game, “ Probably the best performance we’ve put on the park in the last six weeks. We’ve worked really hard today. It’s a quality squad. There’s no doubt. We just needed to get our heads down and roll our sleeves up, so I’ve just asked the boys today to put in the extra 10-15 per cent. When you’re really down, there’s no other way sometimes to turn things around, just to go to the best team in the league, put in a good performance and win three points. Absolutely pleased with the performance. BOG’s all over the park today.”

A philosophical Thunder coach Munro reflected afterwards, “ Football is a funny game. Maybe we’re a victim of trying to play good football this year. We maybe overplayed a little bit today. After conceding a goal early in each half, we dominated so basically the goals make a difference. But good luck to Gully. They were very strong defensively. Very professional. I can’t believe they’ve won only one other game this year because they were so organised and strong defensively. Yet I felt we absolutely dominated the game. I can’t fault any of my players for effort. I just thought it wasn’t our day. If we have to lose a game of football, I’d rather lose it in that fashion, than lose it by playing terrible and coming in here ( dressing room) and having a go at all the players.”

Dandenong Thunder: Webster, S., Lapham, K. ( Hingert, J.35’), Rexhepi, S., Harrison, B., Tomic, A. ( Rojas, A. 69’), Taylor, C., Sherbon L., Theodore, M. ( Kearny, L. 46’), Korcari, V., Cooke, S, Gray, S.

Green Gully: Roganovic, N, Jones, D, Drake, C., Fleming, J., Hayne, J., Fisher B., Hockless, G., Sanders, M., Medjedovic, M., Vargas, A., Munoz ( Ollerton, R 92’)

Scorers: Hockless 2’, Hayne 59’, 76’

Man of the Match: Roganovic
Venue: George Andrews reserve
Crowd: 1000

Article courtesy of Goal Weekly