Obed Baheerathan throws the ball back into play for Endeavour United.By Paul Pickering
ENDEAVOUR United has emerged from a horror week to remain in contention for second spot in the Football Federation Victoria State League Division Three South-East.
After having a home match abandoned because of a crowd brawl on Saturday 18 August, United suffered a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Frankston last Wednesday.
Coach Carlos Retre said he was delighted to be back in the winners’ circle after a 4-1 win over Fitzroy City on Saturday.
Fitzroy’s Veljko Jaksic scored the first goal to put the pressure on United, before Ted Ithiea replied almost immediately.
Mohammed Alsakran then gave United the lead with a well-placed left-foot strike into the bottom corner.
When two Fitzroy City players were sent off for double-yellows late in the first half, the result became a mere formality.
Despite City’s all-out defence in the second half, Claudio Santos and Obed Baheerathan broke through to seal the 4-1 scoreline.
United now sit just two points behind the Eastern Lions in second spot, with the possibility of being awarded three points for the abandoned match – which they lead 1-0 in the 65th minute.
While Retre conceded that it was frustrating to have to rely an impending tribunal verdict on the incident at such a crucial stage of the season, he said he was confident that United would be absolved of blame for the brawl.
“We’ve got to be patient and forget about what happens at the tribunal,” he said.
“It’s great to get back on the winning track but we need to win the next two games to get promoted.”
Endeavour United will travel to Ronald Reserve to meet Morwell Pegasus this Saturday.
Meanwhile, a win over the second-placed Eastern Lions has prompted Doveton coach Sam Elmazi to hail his side as the best in the competition.
The Doves, who are seemingly out of contention for promotion after a costly mid-season slump, accounted for the Lions 2-1 at home on Saturday.
Doveton is five points out of the top two with just two rounds left but Elmazi has been so impressed by his side over the past three weeks that he believes the Doves would beat some of the teams in Division One.
“The Doveton squad is the best squad in the league,” he said after the match.
“We’ll probably go undefeated in the next two weeks and hopefully fall into second spot.”
Elmazi’s renewed confidence in his team is typified by his faith in striker Leon Buhic, who has bounced back from copping his coach’s wrath after an incipid performance against Fitzroy City earlier this month.
Buhic netted the Doves’ first at the 15-minute mark on Saturday, turning his defender inside out to smash home the opener from the penalty spot.
Five minutes later, Brian Murphy came from the opposite wing to drive home the Doves’ second.
Only a last-minute goal from Martin O’Hare could salvage some respect for the Lions.
Even an impending clash with the ladder-leading Frankston Strikers could not sway Elmazi’s confidence.
“I don’t see Frankston beating us,” he stated bluntly.
While the Doves’ late-season charge is destined to be in vain, Elmazi says the future is bright at Waratah Reserve.
“There is only good signs for the club, with a couple of extra players next year we should skate through (towards promotion),” he said.
Meanwhile, in other games last weekend, Berwick City was impressive in holding Frankston Strikers to a 1-1 draw, while Springvale City surrendered 6-1 to cellar-dwelling Mooroolbark.
The Vales will be looking to bounce back when they host Berwick City at Ross Reserve on Saturday.
