Quick on the draw

By Gavin Staindl
A GOAL minutes from full-time by an off-the-bench 17-year-old gave Doveton a welcome 1-1 draw against Division Three opponent, Kingston City, at Grange Reserve on Monday.
Substitute Dennis Karac scored his first goal for the Doveton seniors – and it could not have come at a better time, as the Doves battled to find an equaliser in the dying moments of the night match.
Karac’s goal virtually assured the visitors would escape with the unlikely draw, a result coach Tony Saunders embraced.
“I thought the result was fantastic, to be honest,” Saunders said. “Kingston is a very experienced side and I am happy with a point.”
Until Monday’s match, Kingston had not conceded a goal in its two games and many tipped the game to be a one-sided affair, but persistent pressure in the second half by the Doveton forwards provided for an even contest.
With one win, one loss and one draw from three games, it appears Doveton hasn’t taken much time to adjust to the higher standard of play in Division Three.
“Pre-season, we were a bit edgy about playing up a league, just because we have such a young group,” Saunders said. “But now we have settled down and we are getting self-belief.
“We are a hard-working team and hopefully we can improve each week, but it just comes down to believing in yourself.”
Ever since defeating Doveton at home, Berwick has lost consecutive games, with last Saturday’s 1-2 home loss to Nunawading the most recent of the two.
Similar to that game, there were plenty of shots on goal but impressive performances by both goalkeepers meant the score line was restricted.
In Division Two, the Casey Comets recorded a 6-0 shut-out against Heatherton at Comet Stadium.
The Comets, led by Liam Ryan with three goals, responded emphatically to a call by coach Dough Chisholm to start winning at home. In Provisional Two, the Casey Kings and Endeavour United had encouraging wins, while Keysborough went down to the Bayside Argonauts.