Above left: Endeavour United goalie Franc Marateo launches a clearing kick against Berwick City on Saturday.
By Paul Pickering
ENDEAVOUR United has surged to the top of the table in the Football Federation Victoria State League Three South-East with three wins in eight days.
After accounting for Mooroolbark 2-0 on Saturday, 28 July, United thrashed Southern Suburbs 4-1 in the midweek fixture at Darebin before returning home to beat Berwick City 1-0 on Saturday.
United hit the lead in the 38th minute, when Mohammed Alsakkran lobbed a volley over the Berwick City ‘keeper from 25 metres out.
Despite a sustained assault on City’s goal in the second half, United failed to capitalise on its chances to extend the lead.
After the match, United coach Carlos Retre praised the performances of his centre-halves Jason Castel and Nemanja Losanica in protecting ‘keeper Franc Marateo.
“They didn’t give their strikers a sniff,” he said.
“We knew it was going to be a tough game and Berwick fought hard all day, but had we made better decisions we could have scored more goals.”
Retre has warned his charges that possession of top spot puts a sizeable target on their heads.
“We’re on top of the ladder now, so we don’t expect any freebies, every side is going to be trying to knock us off,” he said.
“When you’re on top you don’t need any other motivation, because you’ve got to be up for it week-in week-out.”
United will travel to Waratah Reserve to meet an erratic Doveton side this week, coming off a lacklustre 2-1 loss to the cellar-dwelling Fitzroy City.
Doves’ coach Sam Elmazi unleashed an almighty spray on his side after the match and has threatened to relegate as many as six of his senior players to the reserves this week.
“It was like Doveton was at a teddy bear’s picnic,” Elmazi said.
“It made me sick, I was utterly disgusted.”
Only 16-year-old goalscorer Youssef Elkassaby escaped the coach’s scorn.
“Every other player was out of control – they did not take instructions,” he said.
In a symbolic display of frustration with his side, Elmazi dragged senior players Leon Buhic and Miles Tidd in the second half.
Elmazi will be hoping the addition of some fresh faces can invigorate the Doves at home this week – where a loss would surely eliminate any chance of promotion.
Springvale City lived out its worst nightmare against Frankston Strikers at Ballam Park last Saturday, conceding six goals in the second half to go down 7-1.
Selim Osmani’s goal gave Springvale City a sniff of victory at half-time, before a stunning five-goal onslaught from Striker Simon O’Donnell left the Vales’ defenders shaking their heads in disbelief.
The Vales travel to Ronald Reserve to meet Morwell Pegasus on Saturday.
