It was a rainy night at Hensley Athletic Field when unbeaten Dunbar Rovers hosted Stanmore Hawks, themselves with a 2/1 record. Dunbar had come off a disappointing week after having been knocked out of the FFA Cup by NPL powerhouse Bonnyrigg White Eagles. This was going to be Dunbar’s sixth competitive game in just 21 days, so Stanmore could probably smell blood and it would not be a easy game for the hosts.

The game had a little bit of spice added to it with the fact one of Dunbar’s new recruits, Neil O’Sullivan, had played for the Hawks for the two previous seasons, so no doubt his old team would want to get one over on him. There were several changes made to the Dunbar team for a variety of reasons. Rest, squad rotation, religious events and injuries saw the Rovers with a youthful starting lineup and bench.

Before the kickoff, both clubs paid their respects to ANZAC servicemen and women past and present, with a minute silence impeccably observed, followed by ‘The Last Post’.

The first 30 minutes of the game wasn’t much of a spectacle. Dunbar struggled to keep possession, while Stanmore were hoping to catch Dunbar on the break. The deadlock was finally broken when an Andrew Doddy free kick was met by a powerful Sean Burke header that came off the cross bar and but was met at close range by youngster Alex Nicolosi to give Dunbar a 1-0 lead, from a tight angle. 1-0.

But the lead didn’t last long. After failing to deal with a long ball, Hawks had an effort on goal from 18 yards out that was spilled by Dunbar’s custodian Deasy and was slotted home from 6 yards out by the Hawks. 1-1 and game on!!!

Stanmore were buoyed by this goal. They could sense that after Dunbar’s exertions in the midweek FFA Cup battle and with no less than 4 changes made to the starting 11 that faced Hills Brumbies a week earlier, and the home team not quite on their game, they felt this was their chance to be the first team to rock the Rovers this season. No more chances of note fell, though, in the first half and the players went to the sheds with the game nicely poised at 1-1.

The chat at half time by Dunbar’s coaching staff was to forget about what happened during the week and get back to what they do best, ATTACKING. Dunbar came out in the second half and looked a totally different team. Slick passing moves down both flanks were causing the Hawks problems and Dunbar were now camped in the visitors half. Dunbar finally took the lead as a lofted free kick from midfielder Andrew Doddy was glanced home by another youngster and new recruit, Andrew Green, before the keeper could claim it. The goal takes Andrew’s tally to 3 in 4 league games. 2-1.

But Dunbar was not finished yet. After a well-worked short corner Captain Robbie Deasy found Andrew Doddy who drilled a low ball into the box, past the Stanmore keeper at full stretch and Alex Nicolosi was there again to tap it home. Dunbar were back on song. 3-1

The Hawks were not leaving Hensley without giving all they had and they continued to cause Dunbar problems on the counter attack. With just five minutes to go, the Hawks swopped in and hit back with a fine individual move down the left that was finished in the 6 yard box. 3-2.

Despite Andrew Green skying what was probably the best chance of the night from four yards, Dunbar managed to hold out for the remaining minutes and claimed a very hard fought victory against a spirited Hawks team. With no less than six 20 year olds in the Dunbar team, the youthful squad showed they had the nerve and steel to win when they were not at their best.

Coach Will Cullen said “it was a tough defeat on Wednesday night and we looked like we had a bit of a hangover from then. I think while we were not near our best tonight, the young boys did a great job, they all showed a great level of maturity to grind it out tonight and that will stand them in good stead for the other games we have. Also another goalscorer for us takes us to 9 different players to bag a goal so good to see the lads stepping up and sharing the load”.

A huge thank you to all the Dunbar supporters who turned out to support us on a wet and miserable night and also the traveling fans from Stanmore who came in their numbers and made a great game atmosphere. Stanmore fought very well and we look forward to seeing them again at Arlington. Onto next week now, when we meet Sydney Uni next Sunday”. PS4 NPL Men’s 3 – Round 4
Dunbar Rovers FC 3-2 Stanmore Hawks
Hensley Athletic Field
Saturday, April 23. 7:30pm

STARTING LINEUP:
S.Deasy – Euripidou, Simpson, O’Sullivan, Liu – Burke, Doddy, Miller – R.Deasy, Green, Nicolosi.
SUBS: Naoum for O’Sullivan, Hems for Burke, Adamo for R.Deasy. Unused: Mrva.

#WEareDunbar