By David Nagel
Pakenham United was beaten but certainly not bowed after playing its part in a Friday-night classic against ladder leaders White Star Dandenong in Men’s State League 5 South.
United fell to White Star 4-3, but turned in the type of performance that coach Liam McCafferty has been spruiking his team possessed for some time.
United opened the scoring at Greaves Reserve when Daniel Vigilanti found the back of the net in the 11th minute, before Michael Bowen and Ben Kuzucu struck twice for White Star after 26 and 35 minutes of play.
But the quality of the home side’s attack fail to deter United, who levelled the scores at 2-2 when star-signing Sash Saric found a way past White Star’s keeper just five minutes before the interval.
United held sway with White Star for the first 20 minutes of the second half, before the home side struck a purple-patch of form.
Ryan Don Paul, who hadn’t scored in his previous five matches for White Star, scored a match-winning double, piercing United’s defence in the 66th and 68th minutes.
United steadied an ailing ship in a hurry and returned fire with a Sila Onye goal with just six minutes left of regulation time.
United was desperate to equalise, but its quest became forlorn after Manny Christopher was red carded one minute after Onye’s strike.
White Star held on for a thrilling victory that sees it remain the clear front-runner at the top of the table.
Pakenham has some big games on the horizon, but none bigger than this Saturday’s local derby against Bunyip at IYU Reserve in Pakenham.
The teams met in round three, with the game finishing in controversial circumstances and ending in a 1-0 victory to Bunyip.
United will be keen to square the ledger when the first whistle blows at 3pm on Saturday.
Bunyip will come in confident after a 3-2 home victory over a powerful Mentone at Bunyip on the weekend.
The Strikers surrendered the early lead to the Panthers, after just eight minutes, but goals to Garon Pearce and Dean Schembri had the home side in front at the break.
Daniel Biondo then struck a third for the Strikers after 60 minutes, before the Panthers cut the margin to 3-2 with a goal in the 88th minute.
But the Strikers held on in the dying stages and sang their song with gusto after the match.
The Strikers can put an eight-point margin between themselves and Pakenham with victory this weekend.
MEN’S STATE LEAGUE 5 SOUTH
RESULTS – ROUND 13
White Star Dandenong 4 v Pakenham United 3, Bunyip 3 v Mentone 2, Mount Martha 1 v Barton United 6, Casey Panthers 6 v Hampton Park United 2, South East United 2 v Rosebud 3, Aspendale – Bye.
LADDER
White Star Dandenong 29, Barton United 25, Mentone 22, Barton United 22, Casey Panthers 21, Bunyip 17, Hampton Park 16, South East United 14, Pakenham United 12, Rosebud 8, Mount Martha 7, Aspendale 5.
FIXTURE – ROUND 14
Pakenham United v Bunyip, Barton United v Rosebud, Mount Martha v Casey Panthers, Aspendale v Hampton Park, South East United v White Star Dandenong.
