By ADEM SARICAOGLU
THE Green Gully Cavaliers are no strangers to silverware, and on Sunday they again added to their trophy cabinet.
The Cavaliers took on fellow Victorian Premier League side, Dandenong, on rival turf at Knights Stadium in the State Knockout Cup final, and by game’s end were crowned the champions, coming away with an impressive 3-1 win.
After a scoreless opening half-hour it was Gully who struck first, with Andy Vargas finding the back of the net in the shadows of half-time.
Jason Hayne then joined the party 12 minutes into the second half with Gully’s second, but it was the Thunder who struck back 21 minutes later to peg it back to 2-1.
After that, however, the Cavaliers continued their attack in the Dandenong third and were soon rewarded for it, with Hayne completing his double from the penalty spot in the 83rd minute.
Afterward, Green Gully football manager Raymond Mamo spoke of the significance of Gully’s latest gong.
“It means a lot,” Mamo said.“Considering where we were at the start of the season and since Aaron Symons and Jeffrey Fleming’s taken over, the guys have really lifted and their performance actually showed that today.
“To come from where we were on the ladder to winning the state-wide knockout cup final – it’s an enormous achievement.”
Green Gully hardly looked like a finals contender at the start of the VPL season but has since turned things around with on-field leader, Fleming, taking charge as interim senior coach.
Currently in the top five on the VPL table thanks only to goal difference, Green Gully’s final three games of the season loom as some of the most vital in the club’s recent history.
“We’ve got Bentleigh Greens (away) on Friday night and that will be another big test for the boys,” Mamo said.
“Bentleigh Greens are regarded as top five finishers, they’ve got good signings and they’ve got a good side and it will be a big test for us.
“For the next three games now we really can’t afford to drop any points.”
After taking on third-placed Bentleigh, the Cavaliers will finish their home-and-away campaign with clashes against Dandenong and Oakleigh.
