By Rusty Woodger (@rustywoodger)

Dandenong Thunder has clawed itself away from the relegation zone after holding on for a 1-0 victory over Ballarat Red Devils on Saturday.

A fortunate rebound off Kieran Dover’s boot was all it took for a 10-man Dandenong side to claim its first three points in over two months.

In a fixture billed as a “must-win” for two outfits desperate to avoid relegation, the match began in tense fashion with heavy challenges flying in from both sides. 

Ballarat’s Liam Harding earned himself a yellow card inside 10 minutes, and soon the referee was halting play to calm tensions.

Dandenong almost took an early lead when Feston Azizi’s header looked destined for the back of the net, but Red Devils ‘keeper Aaron Romein produced a spectacular outstretched save to turn the ball around the post.

It was soon Ballarat’s turn to fashion a chance at goal, with lovely build-up play from Sean Harding resulting in a Nelson Salvatore strike that flew just shy of the crossbar.

Both sides went into the break scoreless, and returned in the second half playing at a noticeably higher intensity.

But it was not long before the home crowd was left stunned when an attempted clearance from Ballarat’s defence deflected off Dover’s outstretched boot and agonisingly into the back of the net. 

The Thunder’s jubilation was short-lived, however, when Alan Kearney was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence. 

The red card meant Dandenong would have to defend its lead a player short for the final 25 minutes.

But with its season on the line, Ballarat failed to punish the Thunder, with the home side’s build-up play let down by poor final balls into the area.

The difference in emotions between the two sides upon the final whistle could not be more obvious, with Dandenong’s players rejoicing in celebration as the Red Devils slumped to the pitch.

After the final whistle, Dandenong coach Dean Hennessey could hardly wipe the smile off his face, describing his side’s win as an “unbelievable” feeling.

“I thought we were really resolute,” Hennessey said.

“It was a real team effort today. There’s not one person, for me, who stood out. And to a man everyone did a really good job – a disciplined job.”

Despite the victory taking Dandenong eight points away from the relegation zone, Hennessey said his side was not safe just yet.

“I’ve been in this league for a long time and it’s never really changed,” he said.

“Once you think you’ve arrived somewhere, it has an uncanny knack of slapping you back down quickly.”

A dejected Ballarat boss James Robinson again lamented his side’s inability to capitalise on its chances, but cited the fact the Red Devils have played two less matches than sides above it.

“We’re still in the mix, there’s no doubt about that,” Robinson said.

“But today was crucial. We were playing someone who’s right above us and it’s all good and well saying you’ve got games (in hand) but you’ve got to start taking your chances and put them away.”

Next Saturday, Dandenong faces a tough test at home to ladder-leader South Melbourne, while Ballarat will attempt to turn its fortunes around when it heads to Hume City on Sunday.

MATCH DETAILS

BALLARAT RED DEVILS 0 defeated by DANDENONG THUNDER 1 (Dover 62’) at Morshead Park Stadium [HT: 0-0]

BALLARAT RED DEVILS: 1. Aaron ROMEIN, 16. Charles KING, 18. Daniel O’DONNELL, 4. David KING, 3. Daniel TINKER, 28. Sean HARDING (15. Dominic SWINTON 60’), 17. Shaun ROMEIN, 6. Liam HARDING (13. Michael TRIGGER 88’), 11. Nelson SALVATORE, 31. Simon MURPHY, 7. Deng AGUEK (10. Paul HARVEY 57’)

UNUSED SUB(S): 40. Jordan FRANKEN, 25. Steven THOMSON

YELLOW CARD(S): L HARDING (9’), TRIGGER (90’)

RED CARD(S): None

DANDENONG THUNDER: 21. Zaim ZENELI, 12. Brendan ELMAZOVSKI, 4. Ramazan TAVSANCIOGLU, 5. Faisal SAKHI ZADA, 16. Alan KEARNEY, 8. Matthew MILLAR, 10. Feston AZIZI, 3. Ilir PALI, 2. Jarryd Barnes, 7. Kieran DOVER (15. Rees DUNCAN 78’), 6. Alan MULCAHY (23. Dillon JAKUPI 81’)

UNUSED SUB(S): 9. Josh CARUANA, 1. Frazer SIDDALL, 11. Mehdi SAWARI

YELLOW CARD(S): DOVER (31’), KEARNEY (42’, 65’) MULCAHY (65’)

RED CARD(S): None