Full points for City

By Gavin Staindl
BERWICK City has taken full points from a gripping encounter with cross-town rivals Doveton at Jack Thomas Reserve on Saturday.
While half of Casey was watching AFL star Brendan Fevola, the remaining half of Casey was across the other side of Fox road at Jack Thomas Reserve as two of the area’s most popular soccer clubs battled it out in the opening round of Division Three.
In front of a big crowd of over 500 people, Doveton gained the early ascendency, working the ball through the centre of the pitch to stretch the Berwick defence.
Heading into the main break with scores level, the Doves would have felt unlucky not to be leading after Ruizan Roslan hit the crossbar minutes from injury time.
The thrilling encounter was taken to a new level in the second half, when both sides went on the attack in search of their season’s first goal.
Ex-Berwick captain, Steve Carr, was the beneficiary of the end-to-end style, slipping a header into the outstretched fingers of Doveton goalkeeper Daniel Stuchbury that, unfortunately for the visitors, found the edge of the crossbar and bounced in.
With a 1-0 lead, Berwick found itself defending deep in its own half as Doveton pressed for the equaliser.
Despite a few anxious moments for the home team, City was able to hole out for the 1-0 win.
“It was a tough game,” Berwick coach Tom O’Halloran said.
“It was a typical derby match, no questions asked and everyone put everything into it.
“We were a little late out of the gates but after the first 15 minutes it started going back and forth.
“It was a matter of who ever scored first was going to win.
“I am happy to get the three points but I would have been happy with a draw… a draw would have been a fair result, I think.”
In other matches, home side Casey Comets were handed a 1-0 defeat by Morwell Pegasus in the opening round of Division Two.
While the Casey Kings enjoyed a 5-1 thrashing over Ashburton at Ashburton Park, the outcome was not as friendly for Endeavour and newly promoted Keysborough.
A second-half goal to Riversdale gave them a 1-0 win at Reema Reserve while the Boroondara Eagles knocked off Keysborough in their 2-1 win at Coomoora Reserve.