By Tim McGlone

Dandenong Thunder and Oakleigh Cannons played out the NPL’s first scoreless draw on Thursday night at George Andrews Reserve.

Dandenong would have walked away feeling it should have taken the three points though, after missing a host of second-half chances.

Jake Nakic spurned two glorious chances for the hosts and, despite pummelling the Oakleigh goal in the closing minutes, Thunder could not put the ball in the back of the net.

With each sides sizing each other up to begin with, the first half took a little while to get going.

Coming off the back of a six-goal display last week, Oakleigh’s strong contingent of travelling fans must have been expecting more of the same.

Dandenong’s defence provided the Cannons’ attackers with a much sterner test however, with Ramazan Tavsancioglu and Faisal Safa thwarting the away side on several occasions.

Dusan Bosnjak, who took out the Winning Edge Presentations NPL Player of the Month award earlier this week, went closest in the first half with a strike that was just off target.

The game kicked into gear after the restart, starting with Evan Christodoulou’s corner. The ball fell to Oakleigh centre-half Aron Wilford, whose goal-bound effort was cleared off the line by Brendan Elmazovski.
In the scramble that followed, the ball fell to Dean Piemonte, whose fierce shot was off target.

In the 52nd minute, Nakic had an opportunity to put Thunder in front when he went one-on-one with John Honos, only to shoot straight at the experienced Cannons keeper.

Nakic then had an even better chance just a minute later when he headed over after Kieran Dover’s cross found the rangy striker unmarked at the edge of the six-yard box.

Winning Edge Presentations Rising Star of the Month, Matt Millar, was introduced shortly after and almost had an immediate impact for Thunder, with his on-target attempt saved by Honos, who had an excellent night.

Veton Korcari almost created something out of nothing  in the 74th minute when he harassed a couple of Dandenong defenders to win possession next to Oakleigh’s attacking corner flag, but his shot lobbed onto the roof of the net.

The final 15 minutes were all Dandenong’s, with Honos preventing Dover and substitute Brendan Craig from scoring. The Oakleigh shot stopper also pulled off a magnificent one-handed diving grab from one of Dover’s crosses, with several Dandenong players ready to pounce.

The final whistle sounded soon after with the scores still locked at 0-0, leaving both sides still undefeated after five rounds.

Dandenong coach Dean Hennessey felt his side should have grabbed the three points, but was philosophical about the result:

“We felt we should have won, based on the chances we had in the second half. We had four or five chances in the second half, and normally with that many you’d expect to bury one,” Hennessey said.

“That being said, if you had of offered me a point before the game against a team like Oakleigh, I certainly would have taken it.”

Oakleigh assistant Franz Weimper said his team was happy to remain undefeated:

“You come into any game trying to win but tonight you must remember that Dandenong are a good team, they have a very good coach in Dean Hennessey, and they’re on their home turf,” Weimper said.

“Overall we are happy with a point and a clean sheet.”

After the Easter weekend, Oakleigh travels to Broadmeadows to take on Hume City, while Thunder faces Bentleigh at Kingston Heath Soccer Complex in what promises to be a Friday night blockbuster.

MATCH DETAILS

Dandenong Thunder 0 drew Oakleigh Cannons 0 at George Andrews Reserve

Dandenong Thunder - 1. Frazer SIDDALL, 12. Brendan ELMAZOVSKI, 4. Ramazan TAVSANCIOGLU, 5. Faisal SAKHI ZADA, 11. Kristopher KIOUSSIS, 6. Alan MULCAHY, 16. Alan KEARNEY, 15. Ryan BURNS, 7. Kieran DOVER 23. Jake NAKIC, 17. Marcus SCHROEN

Substitutes: 8. Matt MILLAR, 21. Zaim ZENELI, 3. Ilir PALI, 18. Brendan CRAIG, 14. David KING

Oakleigh Cannons - 1. John HONOS (GK), 5. Aron WILFORD, 7. Bonel OBRADOVIC, 18. Adam LE CORNU, 23. Dominic D’ANGELO, 20. Jordan LOWDON, 11. Evan CHRISTODOULOU (c), 17. Dean PIEMONTE, 21. Andreas GOVAS, 8. Dusan BOSNJAK, 14. Nathaniel FOSTER

SUBSTITUTES: 2. Thomas LAKIC, 19. Goran ZORIC 10. Veton KORCARI, 35. Branislav KARAGA, 4. Ian KAMAU.