Yabio strike separates sister clubs Dandy City and St Albans

By RORY FLANAGAN (@rory_flanagan)

Photo TIM CARR

Although a monstrous 38 goals across seven NPL1 games were scored on Saturday, the sister club showdown between Dandenong City and St. Albans Saints only contributed a solitary strike. 

In a cagey encounter, the visitors came with a defensive, rigid game plan and executed it brilliantly, grinding out a 1-0 win thanks to Teddy Yabio's second half strike. 
 
With president and Richmond star Ivan Maric in attendance, the Saints produce the type of physicality that would be at home on a footy field, collecting four yellow cards and avoiding a fair few more. 
 
On the rare occasion that Dandy managed to break through the St Albans defence, the experienced Stuart Webster was on hand to thwart the hosts with a string of impressive saves, the highlight of those a close-range double stop late in the first half. 
 
In the second half, Aaron Healy rung the changes by replacing Caruana with Di Iorio, and throwing Rojas on for Filipovic. 
 
At the 77th minute mark the visitors snatched the lead after Teddy Yabio thumped home an angled strike past a furious Damir Salcin. 
 
In this same fixture last year, City opened their newly-renovated grandstand with a thrilling comeback win in the final five minutes thanks to a Dario Matkovic double. 
 
There was no such joy this time, as Alex Rojas skewed his late diving header off target. 
 
Holding out for the 1-0 win, St Albans were left to enjoy the hospitality of both clubs' major sponsor, promised to the victor as an incentive before the game. 
 
Match details
 
Dandenong City 0 defeated by St Albans Saints 1 (Yabio 77') at Frank Holohan Soccer Complex, Endeavour Hills
 
Dandenong City:
Damir Salcin, Brad Clarke, Chris Ross, John Carroll, Keegan Ziada, Dario Matkovic, Ashley Cattermole, Andy Jerez (Chris Antoniadis 81'), Shaun Filipovic (Alex Rojas 69'), Chris Sanita, Josh Caruana (David Di Iorio 63')
 
Unused: Robbie Wynne, Anthony Casset
Yellow cards: Matkovic 27'
 
St Albans: Stuart Webster, Ryan McGuffie (Ante Kozul 77'), Nana-Yew Otuo-Acheampong, Nick Sarbin (Tomi Trbuhovic 71'), Tedros Yabio, Trent Waterson, Ross Harvey, Barry Devlin, Daniel Sweeney (Konrad Dobraszkiewicz 65'), Nick Scerri, Ben Shaper. 
 
Unused: John Scollo, Anthony Boras 
Yellow cards: Acheampong 14', Scerri 52', Dobraszkiewicz 78', Trbuhovic 90+1'



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