By RORY FLANAGAN (@RoryFlanagan)

 

A depleted Dandenong City suffered back to back home losses after falling to Richmond on Saturday afternoon.

Missing the likes of Dario Matkovic and Sean Seavill, with Alex Rojas forced off with a calf strain early in the match, City relied on their Under 20 youngsters against a physical Richmond outfit who claimed the points thanks to goals from Liam Flynn and Josh Knight. 

Aaron Healey's boys played an extremely organised defensive line, frequently catching Hamlet Armenian and Tom Cahill offside throughout the afternoon. 

Amongst a plethora of half chances, Dandy finally conceded on the stroke of half time when Cahill ran at the defence and slipped a ball across goal where Flynn came storming in from the left flank to thump past Damir Salcin. 

The City keeper had a stunning game, regularly denying Cahill and some vicious strikes from Josh Knight. 

One effort that had the on-song Salcin beaten was a stunning free kick from

Cahill that cannoned down off the bar into the path of Armenian who applied the finish. His celebrations were cut short however, his effort correctly ruled out for offside. 

Just two minutes later, Richmond got their sealing goal through Josh Knight's quick reactions from a corner.

The midfield turned and lashed the ball home from close range, with Salcin unsighted thanks to a crowd of bodies in front of him. 

Richmond's constant attacking left them tired and susceptible in the closing stages, allowing Ash Cattermole to score a consolation in stoppage time thanks to some brilliant play by Keegan Ziada. 

Dandenong now hosts the flying Melbourne Victory on Saturday, whilst plays lowly Nunawading City. 

 

Match details:

Dandenong City 1 (Cattermole 90+3') defeated by Richmond SC (Flynn 40', Knight 66') at Frank Holohan Soccer Complex

 

Dandenong City:

Damir Salcin, Brad Clarke, Chris Ross, John Carroll, Keegan Ziada,

Ashley Cattermole, Andy Jerez (Robbie Wynne 64') Chris Antoniadis (Graham Hill 87'), Alex Rojas (Daniel Buhic 23'), Chris Sanita, Anthony Mijac

Unused: Sena Tokalic, Anthony Casset

Yellow cards: None

 

Richmond:

Christian Rossi, Andrew Goff, Jordan Seeto, Brenda Richardson, Matt Waters, Peter Sawan (Ryan Lambert 85'), Josh Knight, Michael Catalano (Mate Eterovic 86'), Liam Flynn, Hamlet Armenian (Jay Kelly 75'), Tom Cahill.

Unused: Chris Davis, Daniel Piovesan.

Yellow card: Seeto 85'