Author: Craig MacKenzie

SOCCER SCOTT Miller won’t coach Langwarrin next season. The Lawton Park club made the announcement last week after scheduled talks between Miller, president Tanya Wallace and main sponsor Greg Kilner due to be held at the end of the season were brought forward. Miller’s last match as head coach was Saturday’s 2-1 home win over Brunswick Juventus a result that confirmed the visitors’ relegation. Goals from Brad Blumenthal and Tom Youngs sealed Juve’s fate but its cause wasn’t helped by the straight red brandished at Mathew Whatley in the opening seconds of the second half. Miller’s first match at the…

SOCCER MENTONE has secured promotion from State 5 South after Saturday’s 1-0 home win over Mount Martha. Jason Grieve’s men have locked-in a second-placed finish with two rounds to go due to upcoming byes for Rosebud and Seaford. A bullet header from Marcus Spivey in the 7th minute clinched the win last weekend. Grieve believes that player depth was pivotal to the senior team’s success. “When we’ve had players missing we’ve been able to move players to different positions and call on players from our reserves who have more than held their own,” Grieve said. “I put that down to…

SOCCER FRANKSTON Pines’ season goes on the line on Saturday night when it meets Berwick City at Monterey Reserve. It’s a do-or-die clash for both sides given the relegation scrap in which they find themselves. There’s just three games left with Pines precariously perched in second last place on the league ladder (at present the bottom two go down) a point behind Berwick and two points behind Skye United. Skye hosts Berwick the following week. Describing Pines’ season as topsy-turvy is an understatement. Losing last season’s strike force due to players switching clubs and work commitments posed a problem that’s…

SOCCER LANGWARRIN will have a new president at October’s AGM after Tanya Wallace steps down. Wallace became the club’s first ever female president and the youngest in the club’s history when first elected in 2014. She served for two years before handing the reins to John Heskins in 2016 then returned to the helm at the 2018 AGM. “I’m tired and it’s time to hand over to someone with a fresh perspective to see what they can achieve,” Wallace said. “I’ve achieved most of what I wanted to achieve but I don’t know what’s next so I need to step…

SOCCER MORNINGTON’s hopes of clinching promotion to the NPL are hanging by a thread after a shock 3-2 loss to Gippsland United at Warragul on Saturday. Seagulls’ players, support staff and supporters were seething after the match at what they claimed were poor refereeing decisions and substandard facilities. But Mornington gaffer Adam Jamieson dismissed those reasons for the loss. “It was a very disappointing day and probably the worst refereeing decision (for one of the goals) I’ve ever seen,” he said. “But unlike the ref who couldn’t, wouldn’t and didn’t – even after the game – put his hand up…

SOCCER ROSEBUD and Football Victoria are on a collision course that could end up in court. Last week FV emailed the local club to inform it of a three-point deduction for playing an ineligible player. The player in question is Davis Markulin. He received two yellow cards in Rosebud’s surprise 3-2 home loss to State 5 struggler Pakenham United in a round 12 clash on Saturday 10 June. It’s understood that Rosebud approached the referee after the match and he agreed not to record the second caution. Referees have to fill in teamsheets after each match recording the half-time and…

SOCCER A GOAL in the 93rd minute denied Langwarrin a memorable away win on Friday night against NPL2 championship challenger Preston Lions. The home side led after 18 minutes when Connor Bell neatly angled a low Andy Stubley cross from the right inside the far post. Langy hit back nine minutes later when Luke Goulding’s cross from the right was headed firmly by Brad Blumenthal. The visitors hit the front in the 80th minute with an Archie Macphee header following a Lucas Portelli cross from the right to make it 2-1. The last minutes of this thrilling contest kept fans…

SOCCER A DAVID Stirton brace and a Rhys Craigie strike kept Mornington’s State 1 promotion push on track last weekend. Adam Jamieson’s men came away from Victory Park with a 3-0 win over hosts Bentleigh United Cobras to sit second on the table a point behind leader Melbourne City. Stirton’s goals gave the Seagulls a handy half-time lead. His first was in the 33rd minute when his cross from the left sailed over the head of Bentleigh keeper Rahul Ramkumar. Just before the break Satoshi Kurakawa’s cutback was miscued by Adam Hester into Stirton’s path and he sent Ramkumar the…

SOCCER JASON Symonds is the new senior coach of State 5 outfit Rosebud and Stan Packer is his assistant. They replace Paul Truman who suddenly stepped down as head coach just over a week ago. Rosebud was second on the ladder when Truman quit. He told the club of his decision after the shock 3-2 home loss to second-bottom Pakenham United on 10 June. Rosebud spent the next 72 hours trying to convince Truman to reconsider but his mind was made up. “Over the past five or six weeks – probably after the loss to Hampton Park and the draw…

SOCCER CARLO Melino’s six-year stint as senior coach at Chelsea will end when the final whistle blows for the 2023 season. Last Friday’s 7-1 home defeat at the hands of a rampaging Baxter outfit had no bearing on the decision as Melino told the club’s board and the players that he will be stepping down a fortnight ago. “It’s just getting too hard to combine family life and football and I need to be there for my three kids,” Melino said. “I’ve been coaching for the best part of 15 years. “I joined Chelsea at the end of 2017 and…

SOCCER SOMERVILLE Eagles and Baxter have joined the chase to try and run down tearaway leader White Star Dandenong as the State 4 South promotion pursuit heats up. Both locals are now in second and third spots respectively after wins last weekend while White Star drew with Chelsea. Somerville outgunned Sandringham 2-0 at Tyabb Central Reserve on Saturday. Marcus Anastasiou could have scored early in the first half when he rounded Sandringham keeper Jack Evans but couldn’t convert from a tight angle. He made amends in the 43rd minute after a goalmouth scramble when he struck a well-timed volley to…

SOCCER THE friendship between Aaran Currie and Liam Baxter played a major part in reuniting their striking partnership last week. It led Currie to drop from State 2 to State 4 level quitting Frankston Pines and heading to Baxter Park. Currie, whose CV includes spells at Langwarrin, St Albans Saints, Peninsula Strikers and Casey Comets joined Pines last year and along with teammate Baxter formed part of a formidable strike force that helped win promotion from State 3. Baxter was Pines’ leading scorer but left at the end of the season. Currie’s decision to leave Monterey Reserve last week caught…

SOCCER SEAFORD United, Somerville Eagles and Mentone won their derby battles last weekend in a round of State League matches with some surprising outcomes. In a keenly contested clash at North Seaford Reserve the home side emerged a 2-0 victor over high-flying Aspendale thanks to second-half strikes from Andrew Packer and substitute Luke Murray. Aspendale came close in the first half when left winger Kailan Smith struck the far post only for the rebound to be cleared. The Seaford defence was excellent throughout and goalkeeper Hayden Hicks proved a formidable barrier. The goal that broke the deadlock came in the…

SOCCER RILEY Anderton treated onlookers to a volleying masterclass on Saturday as he single-handedly broke Berwick City’s resolve with a breathtaking four-goal display. The Peninsula Strikers ace was the catalyst for a second-half turnaround at Centenary Park that saw a 1-0 deficit transformed into a resounding and unexpected 5-1 win. Until the Kiwi first struck in the 55th minute Berwick was the better side and deserved its slender lead but Anderton levelled when he spun on a deflected cross and volleyed with his right foot into the roof of the net. Within minutes he demonstrated a deft touch at the…

SOCCER PENINSULA Strikers and Frankston Pines dipped into the transfer market last week with six players joining the State 2 rivals. Strikers signed forward Wayne “Buzzer” Gordon from NPL3 outfit Doveton, goalkeeper Faraz Zenoozi from Queensland side Souths United and defender and ex-Strikers player Deniz Karabadjak from Pines. “I wanted to sign ‘Buzzer’ during the off-season as his leadership and qualities on the pitch are still there,” Strikers’ gaffer Scott Morrison said. “Faraz is a great signing for us. “He goes about it in a professional manner and will challenge Ben (Caballero) and ‘Browny’ (Nathan Brown) for the number one…

SOCCER ANOINTED on Wednesday, took training on Thursday – the second coming of Kevin “Squizzy” Taylor to the task of head coach of Frankston Pines is still reverberating around local football circles. First-year senior coach Trevor Johnston resigned after Pines’ 4-0 home loss to Mooroolbark the previous weekend and had his resignation ratified early last week. Johnston’s stay lasted just five league games and failed to produce a win with Pines on the bottom of the State 2 South-East ladder when he quit. Pines turned to the man who had walked away from the job last year and later joined…

SOCCER A MAN-OF-THE-MATCH performance from Jamie Powell underpinned Mount Eliza’s 3-1 derby success against Mount Martha in their State 5 clash at Civic Reserve on Saturday. The visitors had planned to attack Mount Martha out wide and with Powell and Lachie Mitchell on song it worked a treat. Mount Eliza player-coach Bryce Ruthven went close with a free kick and midfielder Fraser Keon made a superb run only to force a corner in the early exchanges. Powell broke the deadlock in the 41st minute with an excellent run before taking on Mount Martha right back Dan Fernandes and unleashing a…

SOCCER PENINSULA Strikers and Aspendale were last weekend’s big derby winners while Baxter and Somerville Eagles had to settle for a share of the spoils at Baxter Park. Strikers overcame the send-off of Huss Chehimi in the 28th minute to emerge 1-0 winners over neighbour Frankston Pines at Monterey Reserve on Friday night. Chehimi reacted to a late Aaran Currie challenge and was shown a straight red for violent conduct. Nine minutes later the 10 men went in front. Pines keeper Colby Jones slipped and his attempted clearance was won by Campbell Steedman who teed it up with one touch…

SOCCER FOR 78 minutes lions roared at Carrum Downs Recreation Reserve last Wednesday night. Glenroy Lions from State 5 North had travelled south to square up to State 2 local Skye United in what loomed as a David and Goliath affair. For the opening 20 minutes Skye created the better chances with an Alex Van Heerwarden back post header striking the crossbar. That didn’t deter Glenroy and the home side was set back on its heels when Nathan Ibrahim’s fine finish in the 26th minute made it 1-0. Spurred on by this success the visitors almost increased their lead but…

SOCCER A MARCUS Spivey strike was enough for Mentone to emerge victorious in Saturday’s local derby against State 5 rival Seaford United. Mentone’s talismanic scorer hit the target in the 17th minute after a move that typifies his team’s style under head coach Jason Grieve. When Mentone wins possession its great strength is its ability to go forward quickly. Spivey, Tyler Pollard and Frankie Varsamis form a combination of finishing, guile and pace and the decisive move on Saturday was set up by Pollard who was on the end of a long ball from Zaidan Allie on the left. Pollard…

SOCCER WHEN the final whistle blew in Saturday’s State 1 clash at Comets Stadium visitor Mornington marched off the pitch with eight men and three points in a remarkable result. Club president Matt Cameron described the 1-0 scoreline as “one of the greatest wins in the club’s history”. But that was furthest from his mind in the 15th minute when referee Vince Turcarolo courted controversy with a straight red for Mornington midfielder Rhys Craigie after a challenge on Comets keeper Lajos Hun. Ten minutes later the 10 men took the lead. A superb interpassing move involving Rory Currie, Brady Pollard,…

SOCCER LIAM Baxter’s sudden return to Baxter and Donn Delaney’s unexpected departure as Peninsula Strikers joint senior coach were the main talking points leading into last week’s opening of the State League season. Baxter was Frankston Pines’ top scorer last season but switched to Baxter Park in September then a few weeks later started training with Beaumaris eventually joining the Bayside outfit. Their relationship ended abruptly early last week and Baxter celebrated his second arrival at the local club by scoring in its 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Baxter Park on Saturday. The final scoreline was a good result for…

SOCCER BAXTER looms as a strong candidate for promotion among local State League clubs heading into this weekend’s first round of the 2023 league season. While there’s been noise around the promotion chances of Mornington, Peninsula Strikers and Seaford United much of the off-season attention has focussed on the extensive makeover that has taken place at Baxter Park. New head coach Stephen Fisher and assistant Hayden Taylor have overseen the introduction of 15 newcomers into a 23-man senior squad and all the new signings have come from clubs in higher leagues. “To be honest the joint is bouncing,” Fisher said.…

SOCCER LANGWARRIN, Mornington and Frankston Pines were the only local teams remaining in the fourth preliminary round of the 2023 Australia Cup as we went to press. Skye United was due to host Collingwood City at Carrum Downs Recreation Reserve on Monday this week so there’s a chance that four local participants will be in the round four draw with ties to be played as midweek matches in early April. State 2 promotion contender Peninsula Strikers was dumped from the cup last weekend going down 2-0 to State 3 opponent Williamstown while State 5 outfit Rosebud went down 4-0 to…

SOCCER FRASER Maclaren faces three months on the sidelines while A-League legend Leigh Broxham has joined Chelsea as a club ambassador. Maclaren, Mornington’s first choice goalkeeper, will have surgery this week to repair knee damage following an incident in a recent friendly against Doveton. “It was an awkward landing and I knew straight away that I’d hyperextended and I felt it pop,” Maclaren said. “The meniscus tear is the main issue but I’ve done other things as well. “It certainly is the worst injury I’ve had and I expect to be out for three months. “Hopefully I have a speedy…

SOCCER BAXTER’s capture of Damien Miskulin, Langwarrin’s come-from-behind win and Australia Cup controversy were the main talking points to emerge from an action-packed weekend. Late last week Baxter announced that it had clinched the signature of 26-year-old midfielder Miskulin who made 21 appearances last season for Doveton in NPL3. Miskulin had been with Melbourne Victory, Melbourne Knights and Dandenong City prior to joining Doveton. It’s rare for players in their prime to make a dramatic drop down the leagues but Miskulin had a simple response when queried about the move. “I’m going to Europe for four weeks and would have…

SOCCER IT’S a newlook Langwarrin that launches the league season on Saturday when it hosts Kingston City at Lawton Park at 7pm. Scott Miller has brought in 13 players from other clubs during the off-season in a major squad makeover that the local club hopes will deliver a successful campaign. “Pre-season’s been really enjoyable and the characters we’ve brought in have had a really positive effect on the group,” Miller said. “I sat down last week and looked at the league and seven of those clubs have been in NPL1 while two are A-League clubs. “Compare that to Langwarrin who…

SOCCER MARINOS Panayi quit Frankston Pines last week and captain Ryan Ratcliffe is trialling with Casey Comets. And Rosebud has secured the goalkeeper it sought by luring former Langwarrin, Peninsula Strikers and Knox City custodian Colin McCormack out of premature retirement. State 5 club Rosebud was delighted to secure McCormack after losing Hayden Hicks to Seaford United. Rosebud coach Paul Truman had been trying out two younger keepers and was keen to sign an experienced gloveman. “Signing Colin is a big plus for us,” Truman said. “Having an experienced keeper is so important if we’re to build a really competitive…

SOCCER COULD Paul Truman be the man who lifts Rosebud off the foot of the State Leagues? The ’Buds re-entered State League for the 2019 season finishing eighth in State 5, not competing in a pandemic-ravaged 2020 then seventh in an interrupted 2021 before hitting rock bottom last year. Rosebud won just two games in 2022 amassing nine points in all with a minus 54 goal difference. Clearly the ’Buds were the worst team on the peninsula. The senior coaching position had become a poisoned chalice that had seen Pat Sabatino, Tommy McShane, Mark Pagliarulo, Ryan Monk and Stef Papaluca…

SOCCER SCOTTISH striker Rory Currie arrived in Melbourne last week to bolster Mornington’s 2023 promotion push. The Seagulls have had the 24-year-old on their radar since last year and agreed terms with him months ago but have been keeping the move under wraps. Currie has been involved with both Celtic and Rangers as a youth and made 10 appearances for Hearts over a four-year period that included loan spells at East Fife, Forfar Athletic and Linfield. He signed with Brechin in 2020 and in November 2021 joined Tranent Juniors currently third in the Lowland League. Despite only being here for…