By Lucas Pavlidis (@LucasPavlidis)

Port Melbourne and Dandenong Thunder shared the spoils after a scintillating 2-2 draw at SS Anderson Reserve on Friday night.

A brace from Northern Irishman Kevin Braniff saw Port Melbourne surge to a 2-0 lead, before Thunder struck twice via Jake Nakic and Brendan Craig to claw its way back and grab a point on the road.

The home side had dominated possession in the opening exchanges, forcing Thunder back into its own half before being rewarded with the opening goal.

A floated free kick found the shin of striker Braniff, who bundled it into the net.

Eric Vassiliadis’ side continued to apply pressure on the visitors and was rewarded with a second goal halfway through the first half.

Braniff bagged his brace after finishing calmly just inside the 18-yard box, completing a neat counter attack.

Thunder fought hard to get itself back into the match, however, and found a quick reply through Brendan Craig.

Just minutes later, Dandenong was level when Jake Nakic scored on his return to his old side.

Port Melbourne goalkeeper Adam Hrehoresin failed to clear the danger of an attack, only able to clear the ball along the ground to the feet of Nakic who duly obliged, striking home from just outside the box.

An action-packed second half followed after the break, with both teams coming close with goal-bound efforts cleared off the line in the dying stages of the game.

Thunder was also denied a late penalty which would have surely granted it a stunning come-from-behind win if converted.

Anthony Giannopoulos was bought down after a mazy run into Port Melbourne’s box, to which the referee only shook his head.

Thunder coach Dean Hennessey was adamant the decision went the wrong way for his side, but was pleased with the fitness of his players.

“I thought it was a penalty just from the contact,” Hennessey said.

“We’d set a certain goal how many games and how many minutes each player would play, and we almost got there with everybody apart from the lads who were injured.

“We played three games last week. Saturday, Wednesday and Saturday, and a lot of the lads have played 90 minutes. I couldn’t be any prouder, I thought we saw the game out and for me there was only one team going to win it at the end.”

Port Melbourne coach Eric Vassiliadis was proud of his side, despite the disappointment of squandering its early 2-0 lead.

“They (Port Melbourne) were a young team, we haven’t had a long time to work with them,” Vassiliadis said.

“We scored the way we wanted to score in terms of the way we play, and we gave away cheap goals which is disappointing.

“Very proud that we’ve got a foundation to build on and it gave us some green shoots on where we want to be as a football club.”

Port Melbourne faces last year’s Victorian Premier League preliminary finalist South Melbourne at home in Round 2, while Dandenong Thunder hosts Green Gully.

MATCH DETAILS

FT: Port Melbourne 2 (Braniff 22’, 31’) drew Dandenong Thunder 2 (Craig 33, Nakic 36’) at SS Anderson Reserve (HT: 2-2)

Port Melbourne: 1. Hrehoresin (GK), 6. Grossman (C), 7. Koroma, 4. Lazaridis (15. Nigro 76’) 10. Prelevic, 14. Ibrahim, 3. Riccobene, 9. Braniff, 18. Kweifio-Okai (11. Krousouratis 64’),27. Milicevic, 5. Tzoulis

Unused subs: Paz, Branco, Stoumpos

Yellow cards: Grossman 84’

Red cards: Nil

Dandenong Thunder: 1. Siddall (GK), 3. Pali, 4. Tavsancioglu, 6. Mulcahy (C), 7. Dover (Giannopoulos 76’), 8. Miller, 11. Kioussis, 12. Elmazovski (5. Sakhi Zada 72’) 18. Craig, 14. King, 23. Nakic

Unused subs: Cominiti, Blackbourn, Zeneli (GK)

Yellow cards: Craig 1’, Nakic 87’

Red cards: Nil