By Jason Turner (@jaseangelo)

Dandenong City has defeated Whittlesea Ranges 7-4 in an epic NPL 1 goal-fest at Epping Stadium on Friday night.

The visitors were up 3-0 early, before the Ranges pulled two back before the break.

Momentum was with Whittlesea soon after it equalised early in the second half, before Dandenong grabbed the lead the back and took off with a strong win.

Dario Matkovic starred with a hat-trick, while he was well supported by Damien Miskulin, who scored a brace.

Dandenong settled earlier than Whittlesea, taking the lead on 21 minutes.

Shaun Filipovic’s remarkable drifting shot from over 30m out - close to the touchline - couldn’t be kept out by Gregory Lascaris.

And within a blink of an eye, the lead was extended when a lovely pinpoint free kick from Matkovi curled into the top corner.

Minutes later, the result appeared sealed when Matkovic’s cross was spilled right into the path of Miskulin.

Dandenong’s success had largely resulted from longer diagonal balls and to counter that, Whittlesea gave its opponents less time on the ball to great effect.

That pressing, coupled with some unforgivable mistakes, ignited hopes of an unlikely Whittlesea comeback.

Daniel Peluso pulled one back when he won possession from Dandenong ‘keeper Marko Stevanja, who hesitated after receiving a back pass.

After Daniel Sotiropoulos knocked in Kliment Dimitrieski’s parried free kick minutes from the break, the game was a contest again.

Going into the break, Whittlesea could have been all square after Matthew Iuliano was brought down by Dandenong’s Stevanja, but the penalty appeals were turned down.

Momentum had shifted and Whittlesea was level minutes into the second period with Sotiropoulos sealing his brace.

The pendulum swung back again however when Matkovic struck his second goal, finding himself free to place the ball across Lascaris.

Before Whittlesea could respond, Dandenong was gifted another when a slip from Rami Mustafoski gave City possession, with Miskulin finishing off the move.

The hosts’ hopes of a second coming were boosted when Dimitrieski scored from the penalty spot.

It was shortlived, however, after an own goal from John Reale and Matkovic’s third sealed secured a City victory.

After two consecutive losses, Dandenong City coach Ivan Duzel praised his side’s “fantastic” performance.

“They (Dandenong players) showed the character that they’re a quality side and I believe they deserved to win,” Duzel said.

Duzel also paid credit to his club’s leading goalscorer Matkovic.

“Dario (Matkovic) is getting better and better week by week. He wants to play, he wants to score the goals, he carries the players and he’s looking for the ball all the time,” he said.

Whittlesea coach Vinko Buljubasic said his young side had shown character to get back into the contest but blamed “schoolboy errors” for conceding seven goals.

“They have to learn from it. Some of the players aren’t up for it, unfortunately,” Buljubasic said.

“I can’t fault the players’ effort, they’re just inexperienced.”

MATCH DETAILS

Whittlesea Ranges 4 (Peluso 32’, Sotiropoulos 37’ 46’, Dimitrieski 67’) defeated by Dandenong City 7 (Filipovic 21’, Matkovic 23’ 53’ 75’, Miskulin 28’ 55’, Reale OG 70’) at Epping Stadium [HT: 2-3]

Whittlesea Ranges: 1. Gregory LASCARIS (GK), 6. Andrew TAYLOR, 23. Daniel SOTIROPOULOS, 15. John REALE, 13. Adem MUSTADANAGIC (19. Matthew KONDEVSKI 65’), 14. Daniel PELUSO, 9. Kliment DIMITRIESKI, 24. Rami MUSTAFOSKI (3. Berkan YURDAKUL 74’), 16. Mile RISTOV  (17. Girolamo COSTANZA 77’), 18. Nicholas SARBIN, 10. Matthew IULIANO.

Unused subs: 27. Jarrod HILL, 25. Daniel GIOGHA

Yellow cards: Taylor 46’

Red cards: Nil

Dandenong City: 1. Marko STEVANJA (GK), 6. John CARROLL 9. Damien MISKULIN, 19. Nicholas GLAVAN, 12. Shaun FILIPOVIC (23. Goran JOZELJIC 74’), 4. Steven TOPALOVIC, 8. Dario MATKOVIC, 5. Alex ROJAS (15. Nico JURCIC 82’), 17. Karim EL HILALI (14. Anthony MIJAC 82’), 10. Sean SEAVILL, 3. Simon STOREY

Unused subs: 31. Kirby ZIADA, 11. Joseph SIEH

Yellow cards: Nil

Red cards: Nil