SOCCER
SEAFORD United is on target for a top six finish in State 5 South with Saturday’s 2-1 win over Aspendale. This game was broken open by three second-half goals in contrast to the sometimes scrappy first-half that preceded it.
Despite losing top scorer Dylan Waugh to injury at half-time Seaford struck just four minutes after the break. A deep free-kick from Conor Mcfall found Tristen Stass heading back across goal and Zain Ahmad’s deft touch made it 1-0. A defensive error cost Aspendale dearly in the 58th minute allowing Ahmad to square the ball from the right to Blake Hicks who controlled it before belting it past Aspendale keeper Thomas Carter from close range.
Aspendale pushed hard in the last 20 minutes and was rewarded with a Jared Kilmartin near post header that made it 2-1. That made for a nervy finish from the home team but keeper Hayden Hicks was up to the challenge making a series of saves to deny the visitors from snatching a point. The result leaves Aspendale with a tenuous grip on sixth spot with the champion team being promoted and teams finishing below sixth facing relegation in next year’s league restructure.
Right now relegation is furthest from Mount Eliza’s thoughts as it continues its pursuit of breakaway league leader Fortuna 60. While Fortuna earned a tough 4-1 win over a depleted Mount Martha at Civic Reserve last weekend with Zac Foad on target for the Mariners, Gerry McDonagh’s Mount Eliza recorded a 2-1 home win over Endeavour Hills Fire on Saturday.
Josh Luca gave Mount Eliza a half-time lead when he headed home following up on an Austin Mcewen shot that wasn’t properly cleared by Endeavour keeper Howard Andrews. The visitors thought they’d grabbed a point in the 86th minute when a fine free kick was headed in by Rahmatullah Hussaini but a minute later Mount Eliza substitute Trevor Smith ran onto a Noah Green pass and rounded a defender and Andrews to score the decisive goal in a tight contest.
In VPL1 news Langwarrin’s 3-1 home win over Kingston City last Saturday gave the locals three precious points as they strive to avoid relegation. Three teams will go down to VPL2 at season’s end and with Kingston City also in the relegation zone a win against their Greek-backed opponent was crucial.
Slick ball movement featuring Tom Youngs and Archie Macphee ended with Brad Blumenthal in possession on the right of the area in the 22nd minute and he hammered a firm shot past Kingson keeper Ben Nassiep for the opener.
The visitors hit back in the 36th minute when Atticus Gonzalex combined with Chudiar Tharjiath before lobbing the bouncing ball over stranded Langy keeper James Burgess. While Thurjiath’s pace was a problem for the home side it was Langwarrin’s potency up front and ability to get in behind Kingston’s defence that highlighted the second half.
In the 68th minute Ryo Takahashi overhit his cross from the right but Youngs was on the left of the area and his cross was taken down by Macphee who spun and struck a low shot past Nassiep to make it 2-1. Youngs iced the result in the 78th minute when synching his run with a Macphee chip that allowed Youngs to deftly lob the ball over advancing Nassiep and give Langy a deserved two-goal cushion.
In State 1 news second-half substitute Dylan Thomas was the hero for Mornington scoring with the last kick of the game to seal a vital 2-1 away win over a resilient Old Scotch.
Mornington started sluggishly and was punished early when a quick short corner from Old Scotch enabled a slight Alex Howard touch to catch the visitors napping. But this spurred Mornington into action and the visitors began exploiting space behind the full-backs with well-placed long balls from deep. That paid off in the 17th minute when a precise ball over the top sent Kieran Dover through and his goal levelled the scores and put him on top of the league’s scoring charts.
The second half was evenly contested with both teams creating chances. Ryan Paczkowski produced a brilliant goal-line clearance to keep the visitors in the game while James Kelly came agonisingly close with a powerful strike. As the match wore on the tension mounted and Seagulls boss Adam Jamison made a bold move by bringing on Thomas late in the game. In the dying seconds the youngster latched onto a loose ball and fired home to secure the win sparking scenes of relief and celebration.
In State 2 news Peninsula Strikers enjoyed an important 2-1 home win over promotion challenger Knox City on Saturday. The visitors led after six minutes when Leo Macleod capitalised on a defensive error and slotted home past Strikers keeper Faraz Zenoozi. The equaliser came in the 32nd minute from a Tom Wood shot-come-cross which Campbell Steedman reacted fastest to scoring from close range.
Early in the second half Strikers took the lead after Ethan Goulding hit a left foot peach from 20 metres.
A second caution in the 82nd minute saw Strikers reduced to 10 men with Wayne Gordon’s send-off but Strikers could have won 5-1 with Jai Power, Joel Bowen and Goulding all wasting golden chances to wrap it up.
On Sunday Skye United returned to top spot in State 2 South-East with a 2-1 away win over North Caulfield. Skye’s goals came from Varmah Mgoneh and a 61st-minute winner from Nic Millar.
In State 4 Chelsea talisman James Stinson increased his lead in the race for league Golden Boot honours at the expense of promotion rival Monash University. Gus Macleod’s men won 4-1 at Monash Playing Fields with Stinson’s hat-trick a match highlight. Adam Dunsford was Chelsea’s other scorer in a dominant second half from the visitors after going in at 1-1 at half-time.
Baxter and neighbouring Somerville drew 1-1 at Baxter Park on Saturday. Baxter hit the woodwork twice in the first half but could only take a 1-0 lead into the break thanks to Brody Taylor converting from the penalty spot. Somerville’s equaliser came from Eli Masterson.
Rosebud was dominant in its 4-1 away win over Sandown Lions on Saturday. If not for a magnificent display from the Sandown keeper both Connor Wharton and Alfie Harris could have had hat-tricks.
Wharton opened the scoring in the 10th minute but a string of saves kept it at 1-0 at half time. Rosebud finally made some of its dominance count in a pulsating second half with goals from Mark O’Connor, Alfie Harris and Finn Gregg.
Frankston Pines lost 8-1 at home to Mentone last Friday night. Jaishiv Narayan scored for Pines.
NEXT WEEKEND
Friday, 6 June, 8pm
Brunswick City v Langwarrin, Dunstan Reserve
Friday, 6 June, 8.30pm
Casey Comets v Peninsula Strikers, Comets Stadium
Cleeland Utd v Seaford Utd, Thomas P Carroll Reserve
Saturday, 7 June, 3pm
Malvern City v Mornington, Kooyong Park
Knox City v Skye Utd, Egan Lee Reserve
Chelsea v Somerville Eagles, Edithvale Recreation Reserve
Frankston Pines v Endeavour Utd, Monterey Reserve
Lyndale Utd v Baxter, Lydale Secondary College
Mount Eliza v Keysborough, Emil Madsen Reserve
Aspendale v Pakenham Utd, Aspendale Gardens Sports Ground
Bunyip District v Mount Martha, Bunyip Recreation Reserve
Saturday, 7 June, 6pm
Rosebud v Springvale City
