Article via Tom Frederico, MFootball: http://www.mfootball.com.au/anderson-the-hero-as-north-geelong-defeat-thunder-in-npl-2-playoff/
North Geelong Warriors has moved closer to an immediate return to the top flight of Victorian football after a resounding 4-1 win over Dandenong Thunder at JL Murphy on Saturday night.
Returning to the same venue that saw it relegated to the NPL 2 last year in a playoff final loss to Melbourne Victory, Micky Colina’s men showed few signs of nerves in an entertaining contest in front of a packed gallery.
Thunder started the brighter of the two sides, Kristian Sarkies going close with a strike in the 17th minute, only to see his effort saved by Zilic.
Kene Eze was providing a threat on the counter for North Geelong and could have opened the scoring in the 25th minute but he couldn’t create space for a shot in greasy conditions.
Four minutes later Warriors found the lead when Michael Anderson bundled the ball home after reacting quickest to a parried save by Fraser Maclaren.
Incredibly, Micky Colina’s side would double its lead just two minutes later when Nick Jurcic scored to send the travelling Geelong fans into raptures.
Sarkies continued to threaten for Thunder in the latter stages of the first half, seeing a free kick saved by Zilic and whipping a dangerous ball across the box moments later.
Eze had the chance to increase North’s lead in first half stoppage time but was denied by a last ditch tackle from Simon Colosimo.
Thunder’s task got even harder straight after the resumption of play in the second half when Anderson tucked away his second goal of the night, all but extinguishing its chances off a comeback.
Thunder managed to wrestle back control of the contest and were rewarded for its efforts when Nick Moddafari produced a superb finish to give his side a lifeline.
Bennett and Colosimo both had chances to further reduce North Geelong Warrior’s lead but neither could find the target from close range.
Seeing an avenue for a comeback, Thunder coach Huss Skenderovic brought on his leading marksmen Brandon Barnes who replaced the impressive Kristian Sarkies.
Thunder continued to press the North Geelong side back into its own half, with Moddari’s goal appearing to hand it most of the momentum.
However it would be North Geelong that would re-establish its three goal lead when Anderson got on a fast break, rounded Maclaren and finished camly to seal his hat-trick in the 80th minute.
Anderson’s hat-trick rounded out the scoring with North Geelong now set to face Richmond SC in a promotion/relegation playoff at Jack Edwards Reserve next week.
