By Julian Buckeridge (@MrJulianB)

Bentleigh Greens continued its undefeated start to the season with a 3-1 win over Dandenong Thunder at Kingston Heath Soccer Complex on Friday night.

Matthew Millar’s goal put Dandenong in front just after halftime, before a brace from David Stirton and Luc Jeggo’s late strike handed Bentleigh a convincing victory.

With both sides coming into the game undefeated, it was the visitors who started brightly with a succession of corners that eventually led to a reaction save from Stuart Webster.

It did not take long for Bentleigh to assert a measure of control, however, and it almost found the lead when Brent McGrath swooped on Frazer Siddall’s poor touch in the box, but Alan Mulcahy was on hand to quell the opportunity.

Bentleigh continued to press, with Jamie De Abreu exploiting space on the right wing to pepper dangerous crosses into the box.

Luc Jeggo almost played McGrath through with a teasing ball in the 27th minute, before rifling a 33rd-minute shot just over the crossbar as the Greens continued to search for the ascendancy.

Dean Hennessey looked to regroup at the break and sent on Millar to replace Jake Nakic. It had an immediate effect as the Rising Star of the Month darted his way into the box in the 47th minute and slid the ball past Webster to give the visitors the lead.

Bentleigh, though, produced a swift response two minutes later when Jeggo’s powerful effort forced Siddall to save only as far as Stirton, who tapped home to make it 1-1.

The hosts had their tails up and almost found a second when a brilliant run by McGrath saw him goal bound, yet Siddall was quick off his line to close the opportunity down before saving McGrath’s follow-up effort.

It was 2-1 soon after, however, when Wallace’s through ball split the Dandenong defence and found Stirton – with a serious hint of offside – who coolly slotted in his second from 12 yards.

Mulcahy went close for Thunder in the 80th minute when his bullet from range flew the wrong side of the post, but Bentleigh still looked the more likely to score.

It required Siddall to keep Dandenong in the game, initially at full stretch to deny a headed effort, and then superbly turning away Wayne Wallace’s first-time strike after Luke O’Dea played him through.

But he could do little about Luc Jeggo’s goal on 86 minutes, with the midfielder firing the ball into the bottom corner of the net to wrap up the three points for Bentleigh.

Bentleigh manager John Anastasiadis was clearly pleased with the victory.

“We probably had a couple more chances that we should have scored but I thought overall it was probably the best, if not one of the best, performances we’ve had at home since I’ve been here,” Anastasiadis said.

“The young boys are excellent at this stage. What they showed today is what they’re capable of. I always knew if you give kids a chance and you believe in them, they will produce.”

Thunder coach Dean Hennessey was disappointed but pragmatic about his side’s performance.

“We were really good first half without setting the world alight. We’ve then changed a couple of things and scored a goal, and now we need to be compact for the next five to ten minutes, let them come to us, be compact, make it hard for them to play... But they equalise within two minutes, so all of the advantage went away,” Hennessey said.

“It’s a difficult place to come. But at the end of the day, we’ve gotten beaten. It’s the first time we’ve gotten beaten. We’ll be noble in our defeat and accept it just wasn’t for us today.”]

MATCH DETAILS

Bentleigh Greens 3 (David Stirton 49’, 59’, Luc Jeggo 86’) defeated Dandenong Thunder 1 (Matthew Millar 47’) at Kingston Heath Soccer Complex [HT: 0-0]

Bentleigh Greens: 1. Stuart WEBSTER (GK), 2. Tom MATTHEWS, 3. James CUMMING, 5. Jack WEBSTER, 7. Jamie DE ABREU (9. Luke O’DEA 66’), 8. Wayne WALLACE (C), 10. David STIRTON, 11. Brent MCGRATH, 17. Luc JEGGO, 24. Luke PILKINGTON, 77. Steve HATZIKOSTAS

Unused Subs: 14. Anthony PROIA, 16. Ross ARCHIBALD, 19. Liam MCCORMICK, 21. Alastair BRAY (GK)

Yellow Cards: 17. Luc JEGGO (28’)

Red Cards: None

Dandenong Thunder: 1. Frazer SIDDALL (GK), 4. Ramazan TAVSANCIOGLU, 5. Sakhi Zada FAISAL, 6. Alan MULCAHY (C), 7. Kieran DOVER, 11. Kristopher KIOUSSIS, 12. Brendan ELMAZOVSKI, 16. Alan KEARNEY, 17. Marcus SCHROEN (15. Ryan BURNS 68’), 18. Brendan CRAIG, 23. Jake NAKIC (8. Matthew MILLAR 46’)

Unused Subs: 21. Zaim ZENELI, 13. Anthony GIANNOPOULOS, 14. David KING

Yellow Cards: 23. Jake NAKIC (45’), 11. Kristopher KIOUSSIS (61’)

Red Cards: None

Image credit: Suban Medini