Ballarat backs up with big win over Dandy City
By Matthew McNamara
Ballarat Red Devils have rounded off a fantastic week as they accounted for Dandenong City 3-0 at Morshead Park on Saturday evening.
Goals to Shaun Romein, Patrick Karras and Simon Murphy was enough for Ballarat to knock up their second win in the space of three days.
Ballarat took the lead in just the 17th minute through Romein.
Trigger found himself one-on-one with Dandenong City keeper Damir Salcin. Salcin denied Trigger’s effort well but as Trigger attempted to slot in the rebound he was adjudged to have been fouled in the area.
Despite the best efforts of Salcin’s outstretched right arm, Romein slotted home to give the home side the lead.
Ballarat should have been further ahead within minutes.
Both Karras and Jake Francis were guilty of missing glorious one-on-one opportunities, with Salcin the hero on both occasions.
Karras would soon make amends for his miss, this time finding the better of Salcin and slotting past him after again being slipped through in yet another one-on-one situation.
City pushed for an equaliser through Andy Jerez, his left footed drive bringing out the best of Aaron Romein, whose fingertip was enough to see the ball divert onto the crossbar and away from danger.
After the break, Dandenong’s task became even greater after left back Chris Ross was sent off for an off the ball scuffle with Swinton. The incident was missed by the referee but the assistant referee ensured Dandenong would see out the remainder of the mach with only ten men.
Dario Matkovic slotted in at left back for the visitors after a minor reshuffle, and his first contribution at left back almost resulted in a calamitous own goal. His header back to Salcin was missed by the keeper, with the ball skipping off the wet surface towards the goal line before a last ditch save by the keeper spared Matkovic’s blushes.
The Red Devils would round off a solid week in the 79th minute when Swinton unlocked the City back four with a sublime ball to release substitute Murphy who duly slipped the ball home.
MATCH DETAILS:
Ballarat Red Devils 3 (Romein 17', Karras 39', Swinton 79') defeated Dandenong City 0 at Morshead Park Stadium, Ballarat
Ballarat Red Devils: 1. Aaron Romein, 28. Callum Ferguson (4. David King 67’), 8. Joshua Romein, 21. Charles King, 23. Daniel Tinker, 17. Shaun Romein, 6. Liam Harding (11. Nelson Salvatore 46’), 35. Jake Francis (31. Simon Murphy 64’), 10. Michael Trigger, 15. Dominic Swinton, 22. Patrick Karras
Unused Subs: 40. Jason Hill, 14. Daniel Firth
Yellow Cards: Trigger 14’, Harding 27’
Dandenong City: 1. Damir Salcin, 6. John Carroll, 3. Chris Ross, 2. Brad Clarke, 12. Shaun Filipovic, 7. Keegan Zaida (20. Goran Juzeljic 73’), 9. Ashley Cattermole, 10. Sean Seavill, 11. Andy Jerez (18. Chris Sanita 46’), 8. Dario Matkovic, 4. Robbie Wynne (15. Davd Di Iorio 60’)
Unused Subs:13. Genna Tuaklic, 42. Anthony Casset
Yellow Card: Wynne 32’
Red Card: Ross 67’
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