Monday, 2 June 2008 8:36 AM
By Michal Skrodzki
South Melbourne’s recent signings have starred in a entertaining 3-2 victory over Coburg United at Knights Stadium on Saturday night.
Scott MacNicol and Stuart Kelly (both picked up from Oakleigh during the week) shone in an impressive display for the Blues. This was Scott MacNicol’s first game back after returning from Oakleigh and post game he said that he “was glad to be back” .
MacNicol also believed that South could match it with the big teams of this years VPL and said that “we’ve (South) always had a good team. It just wasn’t working for them”. The win continues South’s good run of late with 4 wins in the last 5 weeks. Coburg on the other hand continue to struggle and must be disappointed after taking the lead early in the match.
The game started at a good pace with both teams testing each other out. South should have taken the lead early on when some nice play down the left flank lead to Fernando De Moraes with a clear shot on goal from only 10 metres out. Fortunately for Coburg the Futsalroo blasted his shot way over the bar.
Coburg managed to get on the scoresheet first when Ross Thompson made the best of a South defensive lapse and his shot was too good for Jelic in the South Melbourne goal, beating him at the far post.
South responded though and were rewarded for their early pressure when De Nittis managed to equalise. A great through ball was played by Stuart Kelly which found De Nittis, the South stalwart’s shot from close range managed to nutmeg Tomas Kovar.
The goal lifted South and only minutes later took the lead through a superb strike by Nathan Caldwell.
South Melbourne continued to dominate for the remainder of the half and went into half time buoyed by their fight back.
In the second half, South came out with all guns blazing and the next 20 minutes were probably their best of this season so far.
Goran Zoric was having a fantastic game on the wing, terrorising the Coburg defense with his constant runs in the box.
South scored their third of the night when Zoric made another great run into the box, before his shot from a tight angle was parried right into the path of Nathan Caldwell, who scored his second of the night.
At 3-1 up South seemed to drop a gear and Coburg slowly got back into the game. South threw on Hamlet Armenian and the former Whittlesea striker did well creating several chances for himself but he just couldn’t finish his good work.
Coburg managed to score a late consolidation goal when Thompson unleashed a rocket from the top of the box that left Jelic with little chance. The goal lead to a few nervous moments for the South faithful in the final minutes, but soon enough the final whistle blew and South had the three points.
At the end of the match, the travelling South fans honoured Tansel Baser for the years of great service he gave to the club by chanting his name. Baser responded by clapping the South fans in a great post match moment.
The win continues South’s push for a finals birth, as now they are only 3 points outside the top 6 and are sitting in 8th position on the ladder.
Next week South travel to Ralph Reserve to face strugglers Western Suburbs.