By JARROD POTTER
CASEY AREA SOCCER
AN up-and-down week greeted Dandenong City.
With a heartbreaking 1-3 loss to Melbourne Knights in the FFA Cup Victorian qualifiers sixth round on Tuesday night, City reversed the equation to knock over Murray United 3-1 at home in front of the faithful.
On the back of some second-half heroics from Halil Gur (61’) and Argentinian Gonzalo Freddi (84’ and 87’), City proved far too much for the visitors to handle as Aaron Healey’s men continue their charge up the NPL 2 East ladder – sitting fourth currently behind Dandenong Thunder, Kingston City and Box Hill United. Dandenong City plays St Albans away this weekend.
A last ditch strike from Orlando Mejias saved the day for Berwick City, letting the Lions latch onto a 1-1 draw with South Springvale. Dismantling Aris, who has been on a four-game winning streak up until this week, proved difficult for the 10th ranked City. George Fakos kicked things off for Aris; slotting the first goal of the match and forcing Berwick City to retaliate or go down trying. But in came Mejias in the 89th minute to turn the tables and rob the visitors of three points. Berwick City heads out to Langwarrin on Saturday.
Casey Comets couldn’t break the deadlock against Mornington, with both sides left to take a point apiece from the 0-0 encounter at Comets Stadium.
Life in State League 2 was better for Doveton SC – knocking over Sandringham 2-0 thanks to some forward theatrics from Aziz Bayeh (24’ and 74’).
Endeavour Hills Fire was no match for Keysborough, downed 0-2, Hampton Park United Sparrows had a 1-1 draw with Noble Park while Endeavour United also matched that score line against Springvale City.
Casey Panthers faced another shellacking, this time against East Bentleigh Strikers to the tune of 0-10. Darren Henderson had six for the hosts who took apart the lowly Panthers emphatically.
WNPL Southern United’s senior women were barely knocked off by high-flying Heidelberg United 3-4.Tiffany Eliadis (27’ and 65’) was exceptional early, helping the hosts stick in the battle 1-1 at the main break. But the problems stuck late for Southern. Eliadis and Jessica Beddows (61’) stole the lead, but Heidelberg found the back of the net twice in the last 15 minutes – including a last-minute thriller from Belinda Pannella (90’) off the bench to take the win. Southern hosts Geelong Galaxy at Mornington on Sunday.
In the Women’s State Leagues, Berwick City knocked over Richmond 2-1 – via Kelsey Minton (14’) and Ellie Priest (25’) easing past the visitors early on – and Casey Comets had an emphatic 3-0 triumph over Skye United thanks to Olivia Gregory’s brace. Dandenong City women defeated Kingston City 3-2 while Casey Panthers drew 1-1 with Beaumaris.
