Melbourne Knights FC Official Website The Knights are back for their fourth consecutive home game at Somers Street this week, this time facing off against recently promoted – but no stranger to NPL football – Dandenong City SC in round five action.
The Knights return to the park coming off the back off a convincing 3-0 win over St Albans Saints last Sunday. The clinical display saw the Knights put in their best effort so far this season, with goals attributed to Corey Sewell, and newcomers – both with their maiden goals of the season – Tommy Semmy and John Mabok. On top of that, and much to the delight of Chris Oldfield and Knights fans in general, the side managed to maintain their first clean sheet of the season.
Looking to our opponents, 2023 year marked a big shift for the club as they set their sights squarely on promotion back into the NPL, after spending a year in NPL 2. After topping the competition and being crowned NPL 2 champions, Dandenong City were able to secure promotion back into NPL Victoria.
Making room in their championship squad in the offseason, Dandy City were able to secure the talents of Kenny Athiu (Heidelberg United), Valli Cesnik (Port Melbourne), Stefan Brecevic (Bentleigh Greens), Kyan Bryant (Sunshine Coast Wanderers – QLD), Danny Kim (Green Gully), Tim Atherinos (Melbourne Victory NPL2), James Kydias (Altona Magic), Luke Saunders (Melbourne City), Thomas Giannakopoulos (Adelaide Comets – SA), Seb Kernando.
Despite starting their NPL season off with a 4-3 defeat at the hands of Avdonale FC, Dandy have been able to take points from all their more recent games, with a 3-2 win over Altona Magic in round 2, a 3-1 win over Dinamo in round 3 and a 1-1 draw against the Shark. For Dandy City, goal scoring has been a whole team effort, with goals falling at the feet of Kyan Bryant, Tim Atherinos, Jacob Alexander, Will Bower (2), George Lambadaridis, Valli Cesnik and Kenny Athiu (2). Surprisingly for Dandy, all goal scores bar Jacob Alexander have come from their new recruits.
Importantly, due to the hot weather that is rolling across the state over the long weekend, the fixture has been shifted to later in the evening, with a new revised kick-off to 7pm (previously 4pm), with the U23’s kicking off at 4:30pm. With the later kick-off, also comes Melbourne Croatia’s annual Labour Day Eve post match Cro Night with Sydney’s DJ KT flying in for the event, and local DJ Takac on the decks.
Melbourne Knights FC
2.Ben Carrigan, 4.Corey Sewell, 5.Ivan Franjic, 6.Anthony Duzel, 7.Mitch Hore, 8.Steve Whyte, 9.Ciarran Bramwell, 10. Gian Albano, 12. Felipe Sanchez, 13. Chris Oldfield, 14. Tomas Karlovic, 15. John Mabok 17. Mohammed Sumaoro, 18. Jack Morton, 21. Jakeb Wiseman, 23.Tom Woerndl, 27. Joseph Franjic, 29. Saif Eddine Sakhi, 32. Tommy Semmy
Dandenong City SC
1 John Hall, 2 Stefan Brecevic, 3 Jacob Alexander, 4 Matt Hennessey, 5 Jack Webster, 6 Kurt Kouakou, 7 Brad Plant, 8 Seb Hernando, 9 Kenny Athiu, 10 Chris Irwin, 11 Brady Quinn, 13 Valli Cesnik, 14 Damian Iaconis, 16 Kyan Bryant, 17 Danny Kim, 18 Thomas Giannakopulos, 19 James Xydias, 20 Michael Martinovic, 22 Tim Atherinos, 23 Will Bower, 24 Nicholas Hamakiotis, 25 George Lambadaridis, 28 Luke Saunders, 38 Jackson Lino
