Deciding enough was enough watching from the paint, the Englishman injected himself into the contest at 1-0 to pull back an equaliser with a point-blank header during the pre-season friendly.
With powerhouse City plying its trade a division above the Suns, Carley was pleased at how his men handled themselves as the days until competition football count down.
“I was happy with the performance and I certainly think we matched Dandenong City,” Carley said.
“Our shape was good again without the ball, and we were better than last week when we had the ball.
“There is still a lot to work on going forward and getting into the final third, but I’m really impressed with the boys’ attitude and application.”
Though a host of first-team regulars were unable for selection yet again, Carley welcomed senior players Vani Shamoon and Jamie De Smit back into the starting line-up.
However, it was the visitors who displayed greater levels of footballing maturity from the off.
Led by former Socceroo Sasa Ognenovski, City worked the ball from wing to wing with razor sharp precision, keeping play ticking thanks to experienced heads in the midfield.
A cracking one-on-one save was drawn out of Suns’ young custodian Zac McLeod in the first half, stopping a City forward dead from inside 10 yards.
But after absorbing pressure City had applied through neat build up play, it was a route one move which eventually broke the deadlock at the Theatre of Dreams.
A lofted ball over the top caught the Suns’ centre half pairing off guard, and this time McLeod couldn’t save his side from conceding.
Both sides made a raft of changes in the second half, and though the game look destined to peter out in the latter stages, the Suns’ gaffer had other ideas.
Whacking on the strip, Carley popped up with with 10 minutes to play to nod home at the back stick from a delightful Sean Grant delivery.
Carley said while unimpressed with how his side conceded, he relished a 1-1 result against a high standard of opposition.
“I was disappointed with the goal we conceded, but again it gives us plenty to work on,” Carley said.
“Overall, I’m pleased with the performance against another strong NPL outfit and the players are really starting to jell.”
● The Suns are next scheduled to play the Albury Wodonga All Stars on Saturday. Kick off is 6.30pm at McEwen Reserve, Shepparton.
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