By Greg Blake
A season-best 5-0 show-of-strength triumph has swept Heidelberg United Alexander into its fourth Dockerty Cup final in nine years and within 90 minutes of silverware for the first time this decade. A four-goal second half swatted away any potential challenge from gutsy Nunawading City at headquarters on Saturday.
Alexander will face an old and storied rival in the final, with South Melbourne Hellas seemingly off life support and rebounding from a horror opening four months of the 2025 season. Hellas upset high-flyers Avondale in their Saturday semi final at Lakeside Stadium.
There was an air of inevitability about the Warriors extending their remarkable now 21-game unbeaten streak in their semi final. Nunawading – currently just four points clear of the foot of the VPL 2 ladder – were well-planned, well-organised and tenacious. They were also well out of their depth.
Anthony Lesiotis’ immaculately placed far-post chip just sixteen minutes in gifted Asahi Yokokawa the opportunity to almost casually guide a header wide of City goalkeeper, Chris Pavlidis, to open the scoring. However, Heidelberg slammed the door shut on Nunawading’s free-scoring cup run – they didn’t register a single shot on goal for the day – making an unlikely comeback, well, unlikely.
Lesiotis was denied another cracking season goal nearing half time, when his blast from outside the box had enough lift in it to clip the underside of the crossbar and bounce down over the goal line, only for naked-eye caution leaving match officials unconvinced and the 1-0 scoreline intact going to the break.
Heidelberg’s second half barrage commenced just seven minutes in, a patient build-up culminating in a deft touch from Dau setting Bul Juach free to gallop around a diving Pavlidis before clipping a left-footer across his body to make it 2-0.
Nunawading wobbled. Alexander sensed as much and circled with intent. Six minutes later Fletcher Fulton loaded up and pummelled a goal-bound right right-footer from the top of the penalty area. Pavlidis parried and the lurking Dau stabbed home the rebound to make it 3-0.
Ryan Lethlean’s picture-perfect left-foot loft from deep inside his own half on 75 minutes was fine art, the ball dropping half a step in front of a running Max Bisetto, who polished it off with a precise lob over Pavlidis for Alexander’s fourth.
A minute later unlucky Peter Klaassen rifled a ripping right-footer from a distance, beating Pavlidis but not the far upright. The ricochet fell for Dau and he trundled the ball into an unguarded net.
Other than making the final of the famous century-plus old cup competition, two other positives from Saturday’s romp. Choc Dau got a rare start and nailed a couple of goals himself and was a key link as provider as well. And diminutive newcomer Akiel Raffie settled in sweetly on his debut as a starter.
As for Alexander, maintaining the rage hardly seems an issue. They are still hungry and still flying. As if every single game means plenty. At each goal, each success they fly in from all directions ike Olympic sprinters. The entire contingent hug and dance like they’ve just survived the Titanic. They like each other and play like brothers. It’s marvellous to watch.
So, it’s a six day break and then a Friday evening road trip to windswept Green Gully Reserve. The grand adventure rolls on. Warrior Nation.
