Having picked up a morale-boosting Dockerty Cup win over North Geelong Warriors at Epping Stadium on Saturday, Green Gully return their focus to National Premier Leagues Victoria duties with a huge clash at Frank Holohan Soccer Complex on Friday night.
Gully will be out to get back on the NPLV Winner’s List with a strong performance on the road against a Dandenong City side that has shown very little issues with the jump from VPL1 to the top-flight of Victorian football.
Under the stewardship of former Bentleigh Greens coach, Nick Tolios, Dandy City have been in fine form this season and find thesleves in seventh place, having won three, drawn two and lost two of their first seven games.
Green Gully on the other hand have a bit of ground to make up. A never-ending bad run with injuries and suspension has well and truly tested the depth of Stephen Downes’ squad, and Gully sits in 11th with two wins and a draw to show from their opening seven fixtures this season.
Whilst a strong 3-0 win over North Geelong in the Dockerty Cup has undoubtedly lifted spirits, Gully will be hoping that form translates into league action on Friday night.
Josh Hope and Luca Tevere will be major goal threats once again, with three league goals each so far this season.
Hope continued his fine scoring form in the Cup and will be hoping to get another at Frank Holohan.
Former Heidelberg United and Melbourne Victory striker Kenny Athiu has rediscovered his form of old so far this season, having struck four times this season, in a team that has otherwise shared the goals around quite well.
Thomas Giannakopoulos, Tim Atherinos and Will Bower all have two goals each.
A Gully win could see them rise as high as eighth on the table.
Whilst the seniors will do battle on Friday night, the Under-23s have to wait until Sunday to take the pitch against City.
The Gully youngsters sit atop the NPLV U23 standings, with six wins out of seven and just a solitary loss.
Dandenong City – much like their seniors – are sitting in seventh.
