By Matthew McNamara

Port Melbourne has returned to winning ways with a 3-1 victory away to Dandenong Thunder at George Andrews Reserve on Saturday evening.

Youngster Andrew Milicevic opened the scoring before Jarryd Barnes struck back for the home side, but late goals from Luka Prelevic and Lambros Honos ensured the visitors snapped their five-game winless streak.

The game opened with a series of chances to both sides.  Honos, playing in a floating number 10 role for the away side, narrowly missed his chance at scoring early when he flashed his drive over the bar.

Not to be outdone, Dandenong was creating chances of its own, as 17 year-olds Kieran Dover and Matt Millar were guilty of not finding the target at key times.

Dandenong seemed to have the ascendancy early, but it was Port Melbourne which broke the deadlock. 

Milicevic drove down the left-hand side before checking back to his right foot to deliver an in-swinging cross. 

Confusion reigned in the Dandenong penalty area as both Sakhi Zada Faisal and Rama Tavsancioglu converged on the cross. 

Thunder ‘keeper Frazer Siddall was left as a bystander as the ball whipped around the three Thunder men and travelled untouched into the back of the net.

Dandenong was continuing to push forward in its 4-3-3 formation, while Port Melbourne appeared to be playing a 4-4-1-1 with Honos and new signing Zois Galanopoulos drifting between the number 10 role. 

This allowed Dandenong to have regular overloads of numbers in the midfield with Alan Kearney and captain Alan Mulcahy both sitting in behind young gun Dover, who was allowed a free role in order to create.

With just over 20 minutes remaining, Thunder coach Dean Hennessey looked to get his side back into the game.  Millar and right back Brendan Elmazovski were replaced by Kris Kioussis and Brendan Craig respectively as Thunder moved to a more attacking 3-5-2 shape.

Within 60 seconds of the change, the home side was level when full back Barnes smashed home at the back post after being left unmarked.

Port Melbourne coach Eric Vassiliadis was clearly dismayed at his side’s poor marking but moments later was celebrating when Prelevic hit home a wobbly drive that somehow beat Siddall, who really should have done better.

Thunder threw on young workhorse Ilir Pali as it chased the game late on but was caught in the final minute of injury time when Honos, who had looked dangerous all day, neatly lobbed the ball over the advancing Siddall to ensure the visitors went home with the three points.

Port Melbourne coach Vassiliadis was pleased with his team’s performance.

“I thought our defensive structure today was outstanding, and that was helped today by young Milos (Radosic) who came back in so I’m very happy to take away the points from what is historically a very hard place to take points,” Vassiliadis said.

“We have been a victim of playing really good football and not getting a good result.  Some of the football we come up against is nothing short of depressing.”

Vassiliadis did make mention of the substandard pitch at George Andrews Reserve.

“We have come here today, as have Dandenong, and played good football, but we have done it on a substandard pitch which that in itself is a disgrace.  We are talking about the pinnacle of our competition and it’s very impossible to play good football on a pitch like this,” he said.

Dean Hennessey felt his side probably deserved something more from the game.

“The overall performance I was really pleased with to be honest, from start to finish.  I thought we dominated the game and had it on our terms pretty well all day,” Hennessey said.

“Port Melbourne worked hard and credit to them.  I felt we got into really good areas but our delivery in the final third wasn’t there for us.”

When pressed on the two goals his side conceded, Hennessey didn’t hold back in expressing his disappointment.

“It’s just criminal to concede like that…it was just a nothing ball (the first goal).  Once we got the equaliser I thought we were in the ascendency, but the second goal has just killed us and we are just disappointed as we conceded two bad goals and not got the rewards for the performance.”

MATCH DETAILS

 

Dandenong Thunder 1 (Barnes 70’) lost to Port Melbourne 3 (Milicevic 36’, Prelevic 80’, Honos 90+5’) at George Andrews Reserve [HT: 0-1]

Dandenong Thunder: Frazer Siddall (GK), Brendan Elmazovski (Brendan Craig 68’), Rama Tavsancioglu, Sakhi Zada Faisal, Jarryd Barnes, Alan Mulcahy (Ilir Pali 85’), Alan Kearney, Feston Azizi, Kieran Dover, Matthew Millar (Kris Kioussis 68’), Carl Lamb

Unused Subs: Anthony Giannopoulos, Zaim Zeneli

Yellow Cards: Lamb 28’, Mulcahy 44’

Port Melbourne: Stjepan Gal (GK), Milos Radosic, Chris Grossman, James Riccobene, Alessandro Venezia (Nicholas Krousoratis 70’), Phillip Riccobene, Amadu Koroma, Andrew Milicevic, Lambros Honos, Zois Galanopoulos (Connor Redden 86’), Luka Prelevic (Anthony Ianchello 90+4)

Unused Subs: Blaine Burrell, Alexander Connell

Yellow Cards: Venezia 44’, Honos 86’, Redden 90’+2