SOCCER
FRANKSTON Pines’ senior men’s program is in disarray after reports emerged last week that Jason Grieve had resigned for the second time in five months. Neither Grieve nor Pines president Liz Diaz would respond to multiple attempts to make contact and director of football Ross Evans would only offer a terse “no comment” when asked who was the senior coach of the beleaguered club.
At Saturday’s 7-0 thumping from Baxter the match started with Evans and reserves coach Cal Peacock in the Pines dugout and the official teamsheet listed Evans as coach and Peacock as his assistant. Baxter recorded its second win of the season with Daniel Bancroft (2), Austin Sporys, Charlie O’Connell, Aiden McKenna, Jack Bradbury and Keegan Myatt on target. To add to Pines’ woes Baqir Rahimi and Shivneel Pillay were red carded in the second half and will miss Friday night’s home match against Mentone.
Pines remain anchored to the foot of State 4 South and destined for a two league demotion come next season’s competition restructure. They were forced to forfeit Saturday’s reserves fixture due to a lack of players. The club’s senior men’s program has limped from crisis to crisis throughout the off-season and into the current league season and despite the official line from the club the outlook is grim.
The passing parade of senior coaches started in November with Donn Delaney’s backflip and eventual exit.
Grieve took over in December but after his first training session he resigned. Alex Halikias took over in January and resigned in March to be replaced by Juan Vargas. The club recently hired Evans as director of football and he lured Grieve back as head coach and offered Vargas the senior assistant’s role but Vargas refused and stood aside instead. Grieve was in charge for two games before last week’s bizarre turn of events.
Meanwhile at the top end of the State 4 table Chelsea maintained its promotion push with a 5-1 home win in Saturday’s derby showdown with Rosebud. It was game over at half-time with Chelsea holding a commanding 4-0 lead and although the visitors did better in the second half they were a well-beaten side by game’s end. Chelsea’s scorers were league Golden Boot favourite James Stinson (2), Liam Burford, Daniel Vella and Chistian Murray while Kori Weetch replied for the ’Buds.
Somerville lost 2-1 at home to ladder leader Endeavour United last weekend. Nick Simmons gave the Eagles a half-time lead but Joao Bosco Halle equalised in the 53rd minute and Lucas Noronha grabbed the three points in the final minute of normal time. The result leaves Somerville with a tenuous grip on sixth spot as the local side battles hard to maintain its State 4 status.
In State 1 news Mornington suffered its third defeat of the season when going down 2-1 away to promotion rival Bayside Argonauts on Saturday. Bayside took the lead in the first half from a corner as Jack McDonald lost his man allowing Mathul Kuei to convert and gain the early advantage. Despite dominating possession Mornington struggled to break down a resilient Bayside defence.
The Seagulls came out with more intent in the second half and were rewarded when Dylan Thomas was brought down in the box and Kieran Dover calmly slotted home the resultant penalty to bring Mornington level. Just minutes later, however, Bayside regained the lead with a well-executed counterattack.
A through ball split the right side of Mornington’s defence and was squared back into the box for a simple finish from Bayside captain Mitch Cooper. Bayside now had something to hold on to and it did just that while Mornington huffed and puffed but lacked a cutting edge in the final third.
One of the growing concerns at Mornington is the team’s inconsistency especially given the experience throughout the squad. There may be movement in the transfer market soon with gaffer Adam Jamieson reportedly considering options after a deal to bring back Scotland-based striker Rory Currie fell through at the last minute.
In State 2 news Skye United regained second spot on the table after Saturday’s 4-2 away win over Bentleigh United Cobras. The match marked the return of fan favourite and former captain Marcus Collier following a short stint with Rosebud.
Nhan Than put Skye 2-0 up at the break by converting a 37th-minute penalty after Tapiwa Kufakurowa was brought down inside the area and five minutes later finishing from a Jason Nowakowski cutback.
Five minutes into the second half a Ben Lund through ball sliced open the Cobras back four and Nowakowski found the back of the net to make it 3-0.
The home side got back into the contest when Massimo Torre scored in the 74th minute and with 10 minutes remaining Ethan Emmons converted from the spot to make it 3-2. But Skye sealed the game in the 89th minute when substitutes Shameit Sharma and Elliot Craig combined with the latter finishing off a cutback.
State 2 rival Peninsula Strikers lost their third game of the season when surprisingly going down 2-1 at home to bottom side Doncaster Rovers on Saturday. Doncaster took the lead against the run of play when a Sam Maggs turnover was capitalised on by Riley Angelosante but Strikers equalised just before half-time when Campbell Steedman pounced on a deflected cross to poke home into the top corner.
Early in the second half the home side was reduced to 10 men when Jaiden Madafferi was given a straight red and Doncaster snared the three points through a superbly taken George Thodis free-kick in the 90th minute.
In State 5 news Mount Eliza took a firm grip of second spot with a 3-2 away win over derby rival Seaford United last weekend. The visitors led 3-0 after 59 minutes thanks to Callum Drysdale and an Austin Mcewen brace and although Dylan Waugh’s goals in the 70th and 76th minutes brought Seaford back into the contest Mount Eliza was able to hang on for all three points. Gerry McDonagh’s Mount Eliza is enjoying its best season yet in State League but its lack of depth remains a potential pitfall to the side’s continued progress.
Aspendale suffered a shock 3-2 home loss to bottom-of-the-league Cleeland United last weekend. It was the visitors’ first win of the season and Aspendale now finds itself in a traffic jam as sides desperately try to maintain their league status with a top six finish. This will avoid relegation under next year’s league restructure plans which demote teams finishing in the bottom half of the league. Dean Mamos and James Macnab scored for Aspendale as the home side paid dearly for a shoddy defensive display.
NEXT WEEKEND
Friday, 30 May, 8.30pm
Frankston Pines v Mentone, Monterey Reserve
Saturday, 31 May, 3pm
Langwarrin v Kingston City, Lawton Park
Old Scotch v Mornington, HA Smith Reserve
Peninsula Strikers v Knox City, Centenary Park
Baxter v Somerville Eagles, Baxter Park
Monash University v Chelsea, Monash University Playing Fields
Seaford Utd v Aspendale, North Seaford Reserve
Mount Martha v Fortuna 60, Civic Reserve
Mount Eliza v Endeavour Hills Fire, Emil Madsen Reserve
Saturday, 31 May, 7pm
Springvale City v Rosebud, Ross Reserve
Sunday, 1 June, 3pm
North Caulfield v Skye Utd, Caulfield Park
