VPL Grand Final: Dandenong Thunder struck with win

Dandenong Thunder are the Victorian Premier League champions after defeating Oakleigh Cannons 2-1 in an enthralling Grand Final at AAMI Park.

Credit: Anita Milas

Goals to the dynamic duo of Luke Sherbon and Nate Foster were enough to get the minor premiers over the line after Ricky Diaco had earlier equalised for Oakleigh via the penalty spot.

The match played as the curtain closer to the A-League fixture between Melbourne Heart and Wellington Phoenix was never short in action as referee Brenton Haywood pulled out no less than 11 yellow cards, two of those secondary yellows.

Dandenong were clearly the better side in the first half and had the majority of the play and the chances, starting with a Foster header in the first minute which went wide.

The game went into half time and to that point it looked like Oakleighs defence was going to be able to hold up the constant thunder attack. The game though took a wicked turn on the hour mark when Thunders Craig Elvin was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Oakleigh gained the edge for only seven minutes as Victorian Premier League golden boot winner Luke Sherbon stepped up and rifled home the free kick to give Dandenong the deserved lead after Jawadi was bought down just outside the area.

The lead only lasted another seven minutes as Ricky Diaco converted a penalty after McIlroy bought down Milanovic and it looked like the extra man advantage to the Cannons was going to be the telling point.

That was until two minutes later when Luke Walker was shown a second yellow in the softest and silliest of circumstances. Walker grabbed the ball after giving away a soft free kick and threw the ball no more than 5 meters away. Referee Haywood bravely chose to show a second yellow, much to the disgust of the larger Dandenong contingent.

With only ten minutes to go it looked like the tired legs of each sides ten men weren't going to be able to manufacturer another goal, that is until Nate Foster, the Robin to Sherbons Batman all season stepped up and grabbed what was to be the winner. A brilliantly curved shot left Lewis Italiano no chance to save as the crowd behind the gaol started to celebrate what in the end was rightfully theirs after such a stellar season.

Dandenong completed the treble of Minor Premiers, champions and Knock-out cup winners,


DANDENONG XI: Webster, Rexhepi, Elvin, Bran, Thompson, Kearney, Mala, Jawadi, Foster, Sherbon, McIlroy
SUBS: Zeneli, Sivic, Elmazovski, Korcari, Azizi


GOALS - Sherbon 67' Foster 82'

Red Card - Elvin 60'



OAKLEIGH XI: Italiano, Mitchinson, Cumming, Andersen, Drakos, L. Walker, Lagana, Honos, Festersen, Diaco, Zoric
SUBS: Neesham, Milovanovic, Tavsancioglu, Krncevic, Christodoulou

GOAL - Diaco (pen) 74'

Red Card - Walker 79'