Match Preview - Dandenong Thunder vs South Melbourne FC

Thursday, 28 July 2011 10:25 AM

It is do or die for both Dandenong Thunder and South Melbourne FC when the two sides meet at George Andrews Reserve on Saturday afternoon. A loss will almost certainly mean that the Thunder will miss finals action in 2011, whereas a loss for South will make things extremely difficult going into the final round of matches next weekend.

Two weekends ago, South breathed new life into its 2011 campaign with a fantastic 3-1 victory over League leaders Hume City to put itself into second place on 37 points and with a weekend off to prepare for the Dandenong match. Since then, Oakleigh and Green Gully won their games in hand and have subsequently pushed South down to fourth spot. A win over Dandenong will put South on 40 points which could be enough for a spot in the finals depending on the events that transpire in the Hume vs Oakleigh and Northcote vs Bentleigh matches. What is certain however is that two wins from its final two matches will see South playing finals football, so the Club's destiny for season 2011 is still in its own hands.

Dandenong made use of its game in hand to defeat the Melbourne Knights 3-1 at George Andrews Reserve last Saturday to keep alive its chances of playing finals football in 2011. That result pushed the Thunder to only two points behind Bentleigh Greens in fifth spot. Depending on other results, a win against South on Saturday could very well put the Thunder into the top five, or level with teams currently in the top five. Unlike South, Dandenong essentially need to win their final two matches as well as rely on other results to fall positively in order to make the top five.

South will be boosted by the fact that it hasn't lost at George Andrews Reserve in two visits there, with the first being a come-from-behind 2-2 draw in 2009 before a professional 0-2 win last season. Coach Eddie Krncevic should have almost a full squad to choose from, and with key players having returned from injury and suspension and hitting match form, the supports will be expecting to see nothing less than a performance similar to the one against Hume City two weeks ago.

Saturday's match kicks off at 15:00 at George Andrews Reserve. The match is open to the public so South fans are strongly encouraged to attend and support their team to hopefully win the three points that could seal a finals spot.