By David Nagel
The drought has well-and-truly broken.
Pakenham United is back to its exciting and damaging best after making light work of Mount Martha in a 4-0 drubbing at IYU Reserve on Saturday.
United, who put five past Hampton Park United last week, is regaining strength after its early season was hit hard by illness, injuries and suspension.
Pakenham still finds itself 10 points outside of the promotion zone, but is making ground rapidly after claiming six points from its last two matches.
And a game this week against a struggling second-last placed Rosebud could see United close that gap even further.
Pakenham struck early on Saturday, with Danny Di Vito hitting the back of the net after 10 minutes of play.
Di Vito, Steve Ngoneh and Daniel Vigilante were in everything for United early, while star-striker Sash Saric was just biding his time waiting for the right opportunity.
Vigilante doubled United’s lead in the 27th minute as the home side sailed into the break with a comfortable 2-0 advantage.
Pakenham maintained its two-goal lead until the 80th minute, when Saric struck the first of two blows to make the game safe at 3-0.
Saric then scored again – seven minutes later – before coach Liam McCafferty made some changes with Saj Sugrim, Mo Kargbo and Shanuka Kulasekara running on to the pitch for the last few minutes of play.
Pakenham has an impressive goal difference of 12…scoring 23 goals and keeper Harry Wightman conceding just 11 goals for the season.
Pakenham’s defensive record is the second best in the competition, showing the benefits of McCafferty’s experience and structure.
Bunyip, meanwhile, remains two points clear of Pakenham despite giving up a 2-0 lead against Aspendale.
Daniel Biondo and Liam Lenders put the Strikers two clear at the half, before Sam Timuska-Carr cut the margin in the 49th minute of play.
Blake Rosenberg then levelled the score just four minutes later before the game fizzled out to a draw.
MEN’S STATE LEAGUE 5 SOUTH
RESULTS – ROUND 11
Pakenham 4 v Mount Martha 0, Aspendale 2 v Bunyip 2, White Star Dandenong 3 v Endeavour Hills 0, Barton United 0 v Casey Panthers 1, South East United 3 v Hampton Park United 2, Rosebud 0 v Mentone 6.
LADDER
Mentone 25, Barton United 25, White Star Dandenong 23, Hampton Park United 19, Casey Panthers 18, Bunyip Strikers 17, Pakenham United 15, South East United 14, Aspendale 11, Mount Martha 10, Rosebud 4, Endeavour Hills 1.
FIXTURE – ROUND 12
Rosebud v Pakenham United, Endeavour Hills v Bunyip Strikers, Mentone v White Star Dandenong, Mount Martha v South East United, Aspendale v Casey Panthers, Hampton Park United v Barton United.
