The Suns walked off CB Smith Reserve on Saturday having fought tooth and nail to nick three points off a relentless Pascoe Vale opposition.
Shane Dunne’s fearless strike midway through the first half was all that separated the sides as the final score read 1-0.
But the scoreboard rarely tells a tale.
Early on, the Suns bolted out of the gate and wasted no time mixing it with the freshly-relegated hosts on their home track.
There was no breakthrough in the opening 20 minutes, but fortune disguised as officiating error then swung the tide for the Suns.
While initially miffed at referee Paschalis Natis’ decision to award an indirect free kick rather than let play resume — where Vani Shamoon would eventually score — the mood soon picked up.
Dunne leathered the ball into the roof of the net from the dead ball situation, sending the visitors ahead.
And amid the fracas brought on by the referee's decision, bad turned to worse for Pascoe Vale as Johnathan Vakirtzis was sent to the showers early for dissent.
However, the game wasn’t made at all easier for Craig Carley’s charges.
A second half barrage from Pascoe Vale had the visitors on the ropes, pushing the Suns’ defence to its limits.
And it almost gave — if not for the brilliance of young keeper Zac McLeod.
With less than 10 minutes to play, the teenager stuck out a strong right hand to deny Pascoe Vale a certain goal from six yards out.
Holding on by the skin of their teeth, the Suns emerged to remain unbeaten in three games and stay at the top of the NPL2 ladder.
“Make no mistake, it certainly wasn't our best performance, but what I was really proud about was the fact that we were resilient and found a way to win ugly,” coach Carley said.
“Our defensive structure from front to back was really disciplined. It was a good win on the road and I'm extremely proud of the boys and the squad as a whole.
“Everyone is playing their part on and off the pitch.”
Earlier, a Marcus Thomas brace handed the Suns’ under-19s their first win of the season. The pacey forward struck either side of half-time to lift the boys in orange to eighth on the table.
Lastly, the Suns’ under-21s’ frustrating start to the season continues as they remain winless after falling to Pascoe Vale 1-0.
● The Suns have landed a home tie in round five of the FFA Cup, where they are set to take on Sydenham Park.
A date and time for the fixture is yet to be announced.
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