Daniel Walsh is swamped by his Berwick City teammates after scoring the opening goal in the clash with Noble Park United on Saturday. 31257 Picture: Luke PlummerBy Stuart Teather
BERWICK City came out on top of the State League Three South East local derby with Noble Park United on Saturday, collecting a 3-1 win at Jack Thomas Reserve.
City was on fire in the clash and attacked Noble Park’s goal from the opening kick.
The side broke through in the first half when Daniel Walsh converted off a Gary Davidson cross and City coach Joe Carrol said he made sure his side did not rest on its lead.
“In the rooms (at half-time) I said ‘we’ve got to keep our foot on the gas and keep going at them because they’re capable of getting goals back,” he said.
Carrol’s charges heeded his advice in the second half and Berwick City took complete control of the game.
New recruit Jusuf Pekmezovic justified his inclusion in the starting line-up with a goal early in the term, then when he headed to the bench in the 75th minute, replacement Jonathan Ash came on and slotted a third.
Carrol was full of praise for Pekmezovic, who joined City two weeks ago after moving across from Heatherton United.
“I didn’t expect him to be starting so early simply because he needs match fitness, but he stayed on for 75 minutes and he had a really good game,” he said.
“He’s a strong lad, a really good sort and he’s a good goalscorer. Once he gets fit I expect great things from him.”
The win was City’s third of the year, propelling the side to fifth on the ladder, but only two points away from second-placed Southern Suburbs.
Carrol put his side’s success down to improved defence.
“Defensively we’ve been excellent this year, we’ve only let in seven goals in eight games and three of those were in the first game,” he said.
“The secret to where we’re getting is being built up from defence. We’re nice and solid down back and we’re not giving anything away.”
In State League Two South East action, Casey Comets turned around their recent horror run, securing a 2-2 draw with Knox City.
The Comets entered the game on the back of 4-1 and 8-0 losses over the previous two rounds, but showed enough improvement to collect a point.
There were mixed results for local teams in Provisional League One South East, with Doveton picking up its second win of the year, while Endeavour United went down.
The Doves recorded a 1-0 victory against Old Melburnians on the back of a second-half goal to Leon Buhic.
Endeavour United endured its sixth defeat of the year with a 1-0 loss to Mooroolbark at Esther Park Reserve.
