By Agron Dauti

South Melbourne has walked away from George Andrews Reserve with a narrow 1-0 victory over Dandenong Thunder on Saturday night.

Jamie Reed’s goal in the 59th minute was enough to separate the sides during a back and forth contest which went right down to the wire.

South Melbourne began the half in usual fashion, with the league leader controlling play early and making it difficult for the home side to get out of its own half and impact the South defence.

After a number of attacks, the visitors came close to taking the lead in the 16th minute when Nick Epifano dispossessed Dandenong’s Ilir Pali in the box and shot from close range, but Zaim Zeneli easily saved Epifano’s effort.

With South Melbourne looking like the much more dominant side early, its attacking prowess was on display when it threatened the Thunder defence in the 19th minute, but James Musa’s headed effort was cleared off the goalkeeper’s line.

The hosts found it hard to break into South Melbourne’s defensive third but had a chance in the 37th minute when Feston Azizi found himself through on goal after racing down the right flank and slipping his defender, but his shot went straight at goalkeeper Chris Maynard.

With the half winding down, Dandenong looked to come alive, playing with confidence and not backing down.

Maynard was put on alert when Azizi’s 43rd-minute effort was blocked but rolled across the face of goal and out – the South Melbourne contingent breathing a sigh of relief.

After an entertaining back and forth half that ended in a stalemate, the visitors came out of the break firing with Reed almost giving South the lead in the 46th minute with a blazing shot from outside the box that fell wide.

South Melbourne threatened from a set piece once again in the 55th minute when the ball fell to a waiting Musa, but his powerful volley flew over the crossbar.

Dandenong would pay for not marking Reed when the former Thunder man got on the end of a Brad Norton cross to turn the ball in at the near post and give South Melbourne a 1-0 lead in the 59th minute.

Dandenong looked to move forward and equalise with the game heating up but South Melbourne would not back down, making it difficult for the young Thunder side to work the ball into the penalty area.

Kieran Dover almost gave the home side something to cheer about in the 81st minute when he raced into the penalty area, sidestepped his man and shot for goal, but his on-target shot was cut out by some alert South Melbourne defending.

With a point up for grabs and time ticking away, Azizi stepped up to the mark to try and score the equaliser but his 89th-minute set piece effort curled inches over the crossbar.

The win was South Melbourne’s 19th of the season and puts it 10 points clear of second-placed Oakleigh, which has two games in hand and visits Werribee City on Sunday.

South Melbourne coach Chris Taylor was delighted to chalk up another win for the season, especially with the title race heating up.

“It’s obviously the business end of the season so the most important thing is to get three points and we got that so [I’m] delighted,” Taylor said.

Dandenong Thunder coach Dean Hennessey was disappointed not to come away with the result but was pleased with the performances of his players in pushing the league leader all the way.

“I thought our performance was really good … [the players] are disappointed, we certainly should have got a point,” Hennessey said.

In Round 24 action, Dandenong visits Pascoe Vale on Friday night and will be searching for a win to steer clear of relegation, while South Melbourne hosts Northcote City.

MATCH DETAILS

Dandenong Thunder 0 defeated by South Melbourne 1 (Reed 59’) at George Andrews Reserve [HT: 0-0]

Dandenong Thunder: 21. Zaim Zeneli (GK), 2. Jarryd Barnes, 12. Brendan Elmazovski, 4. Ramazan Tavsancioglu, 5. Faisal Sakhi Zada, 7. Kieran Dover, 8. Matthew Millar, 9. Feston Azizi, 3. Ilir Pali (20. Dillon Jakupi 78’), 23. Josh Caruana, 15. Rees Duncan (11. Kris Kioussis 59’)

Unused subs: 1. Frazer Siddall (GK), 17. Jarrod Blackbourn, 18. Yianni Toumanidis

Yellow cards: Dover 57’

Red cards: None.

South Melbourne: 21. Chris Maynard (GK), 2. Tim Mala, 4. Michael Eagar, 14. James Musa, 11. Brad Norton, 12. Iqbal Jawadi, 10. Tyson Holmes (25. Shaun Timmins 89’), 9. Milos Lujic, 77. Steve Hatzikostas, 7. Nick Epifano (27. Leigh Minopoulos 79’), 17. Jamie Reed (8. Mathew Theodore 90+)

Unused subs: 18. Dion Kirk, 1. Jason Saldaris (GK)

Yellow cards: Epifano 62’

Red cards: None.

Pictured: South Melbourne's Brad Norton (Image credit: Cindy Nitsos)