By Agron Dauti

Bentleigh Greens has come away with a narrow win over Dandenong Thunder at George Andrews Reserve, with David Stirton scoring the only goal of the clash in the 59th minute.

The visitors were able to return to winning ways after a narrow loss to Melbourne Knights in the Dockerty Cup semi-final, while the result made it three consecutive losses for the struggling Dandenong Thunder.

Dandenong came out of the blocks firing and took the fight to the visitors with some strong attacking play against its opponents but was unable to find the back of the net early.

Thunder looked to threaten the Bentleigh goal once more when Ilir Pali set off on a powerful run down the left flank, but his run was stopped by a Jamie Cummings tackle that earned the Bentleigh defender a booking in the 13th minute. 

The resulting free-kick looked promising off the boot but flew over the crossbar. 

Bentleigh’s possessive style of play was paying off for the visitors as its clean play and brilliant passing made for entertaining football, and the Thunder struggled to get onto the ball. 

However, Dandenong looked to punish the visitors for their turnovers including a chance in the 24th minute, when Kieran Dover got onto the end of a long ball in the final third, charged into the penalty area, and sidestepped his man before crossing the ball, but no one was able to get onto the end of it.

Both teams went back and forth late in the half with brilliant counter-attacking play on both sides and the match-up between Bentleigh star Ryan De Vries and Dandenong’s Kris Kioussis made for entertaining football.

The hosts were unlucky not to go ahead in the 38th minute when Dover embarked on a sparkling solo run down the left wing, setting up for Carl Lamb, but Alistair Bray managed to somehow get a hand to what looked like a certain goal. 

Bray was placed on alert just moments later when Feston Azizi made a dangerous run into the box in the 40th minute but the Bentleigh ‘keeper caught Azizi’s shot.

Stirton then had a chance to give his side the lead two minutes later but his free-kick did not impact the scoreline with the half soon ending at nil-all.

Dandnong had some good chances throughout the first half but could not find the back of the net, yet it did well to hold Bentleigh’s attack and combat its possession-based game that has frustrated many teams this season.

The second half began with Dandenong looking to score from two great chances to Azizi and Kioussis respectively but Bray’s great diving save denied Azizi’s well-struck free kick.

It wasn’t long before the visitors did some attacking of their own, with Stirton getting on the end of a De Vries free-kick.

His free header from close range in the 59^th minute gave Bentleigh the lead and was the striker's fourth goal in two matches.

Bentleigh were unlucky not to make it 2-0 in the 65th minute when Liam McCormick shot from the edge of the box, but his effort curled over the crossbar and narrowly missed the goal.

Dandenong looked increasingly dangerous as they sent numbers forward with the clock winding down, and was unfortunate not to score in the 88th minute with its best chance of the night. 

A wonderfully struck free-kick from Feston Azizi rattled the crossbar and went out for a goalkick. 

Stirton had a chance to get his second in stoppage time but just missed to the top-left of goal as the referee called time on a frantic end to the second half.

Bentleigh Greens caretaker coach John Gabrielson was pleased with the 1-0 win – his side’s second game this week. 

“Coming to Dandenong, it’s a tough place to get points, especially after our midweek cup game – the boys backed up really well and it was really pleasing to get the result,” Gabrielson said.

Dandenong coach Dean Hennessey felt his side was unlucky to come away with nothing in spite of numerous attacking chances but was delighted with his team’s performance.

“[I’m] absolutely gutted. I thought overall we were the better team on the night based on chances – I’m just so disappointed with the outcome, I think it was cruel tonight,” Hennessey said.  

“Outside of the result, I’m delighted with the way we played and what we produced today,” he added.

MATCH DETAILS

Dandenong Thunder 0 defeated by Bentleigh Greens 1 (Stirton 59’) at George Andrews Reserve [HT: 0-0]

Dandenong Thunder: Zaim Zeneli (GK), Jarryd Barnes, Brendan Elmazovski, Ramazan Tavsancioglu, Feston Azizi, Alan Kearney, Matthew Millar, Kieran Dover, Carl Lamb, Kris Koussis, Ilir Pali (Faisal Sakhi Zada 77’).

Unused subs: Frazer Siddall, Rees Duncan, Josh Caruana, Jarrod Blackbourn.

Yellow cards: Tavsancioglu 55’

Red cards: None

Bentleigh Greens: Alastair Bray, Tom Matthews, Jamie Cummings, Jack Webster, Luke Pilkington, Wayne Wallace, Davide Cardamone, Liam McCormick, Ryan De Vries, David Stirton, Andre McNamara (Christian Cavallo 85’).

Unused subs: Lajos Hun, Luke Gallo, Perry Lambropoulos, 

Yellow cards: Jamie Cummings 13’, Jack Webster 54’, Wayne Wallace 74’, Luke Pilkington 77’, Davide Cardamore 88’

Red cards: None