Eyes on the prize: Endeavour United’s Muhamed Kirmaci and Doveton’s Scott Bell jostle for position during the Doves’ 2-1 win on Saturday. 22084 Picture: Luke Plummer.
By Stuart Teather
DOVETON defeated Endeavour United 2-1 on Saturday to keep its quest to avoid relegation from State League Division Three South East alive.
Despite languishing at the bottom of the ladder for most of the season, Endeavour played like a side on a mission, and had the better of the first half.
Doveton might have taken some time to adjust to the conditions at Reema Reserve, which coach Michael Kupinic described as “shocking”.
“I admire (Endeavour United) for having to play on it every second week — it’s an absolute shocker, and for them to be able to play as well as what they can on it, I give them five stars for that,” he said.
Endeavour had a number of chances in the first half, but were unable to find the net, and the sides went into the break deadlocked. Kupinic said his side came out firing in the second half.
“The second half, we just came out full guns blazing and we got to a two-goal lead. It was magnificent play actually, considering the conditions, the ball got to Leon, he was one-on-one with a defender, he skinned him and he slotted it which was a great goal.”
Buhic was instrumental in the side’s second goal, holding off three players before setting up Hugo Reyes, who snuck the ball past the keeper.
Endeavour, with nothing to lose, threw everything it had at the Doveton defence and broke its scoring drought 15 minutes before the end, through Pedro Sequeira.
But it was not enough and the Doves took a hard-fought victory.
Kupinic praised his leading goalscorer Buhic after the game.
“Leon Buhic has got to be pretty close to the top marksmen in the competition, and what people don’t realise is he’s carrying a pretty nasty injury.”
Kupinic said Buhic would be a crucial part of the lineup that will fight North Caulfield this Sunday, with the loser almost certain to be relegated to the Provisional league next year.
“You’ve just got to approach it in the mind that you don’t do any silly things, to allow the opposition to get any soft goals, because this has been one of our biggest problems… Concentration has got to be spot on.
“We’ll make sure we’re nice and tight defensively, and I’m sure we’ll get some opportunities as well.”
In other games, Berwick City went down 1-0 to Heatherton United, with Mirzet Skenderovic scoring early for the victors.
In the season’s final round this week, Berwick faces Springvale City, while Heatherton takes on the Southern Suburbs.
In Division Two South East, the Casey Comets defeated Chelsea 1-0 at HD Thomas Reserve, with David Terek the lone scorer for the day.
The Comets take on the Peninsula Strikers in their final game this Saturday at home.
In the women’s Division Two South East, Berwick City had a hard-fought 3-3 draw with the Southern Suburbs.
Striker Joanna Cary scored twice for City and Lauren Grant once, while for the Suburbs Tina Moutafis scored a hat-trick.
