SOCCER
MOUNT Eliza and Seaford United are in an intriguing race for a top-two finish that would secure their State 5 status for next season. Football Victoria’s State Leagues restructuring plan has a major impact at State 5 level as the governing body’s overhaul will introduce State 6 and State 7 levels of competition while making every tier of the State Leagues structure regionalised into North-West and South-East divisions. There’s no promotion from State 5 this year and the top two in the league will remain in the new State 5 South-East in 2026.
Mount Eliza currently has the whip hand as it lies second and enjoys a seven-point buffer over third-placed Seaford. Most pundits expect Morwell-based league leader Fortuna 60 to claim one of the top two spots leaving just one more spot for the chasing pack. And it may be the leading scorers at Mount Eliza and Seaford United that have a major say in the outcome of this race.
Mount Eliza’s Austin Mcewen and Seaford’s Dylan Waugh have each scored 11 goals this season and share second place in the league Golden Boot race. While Mcewen didn’t add to his tally last weekend Waugh was on target in Seaford’s 4-1 away win over Mount Martha last Saturday.
Seaford struck first after a Conor Mcfall penalty in the 25th minute was saved only for Zain Ahmad to convert the rebound. Ten minutes later the home team hit back when a rare Hayden Hicks error allowed Howie Anderson to level.
Seaford regained the lead in the 50th minute when Mount Martha keeper Derren Elliott failed to deal with a cross and Ahmad nabbed his second. Luke Murray’s left-foot volley made it 3-1 in the 57th minute and Waugh came off the bench to round off the scoreline in the 68th minute when he punished the home team defence for failing to clear.
Mount Martha coach Charlie Platt was impressed by the visitors. “All credit to Seaford and that was the best forward line we’ve come up against all year,” he said. “I have to admit that I was very jealous when you see the quality of the bench Seaford had at its disposal.”
Mount Eliza is having its best State League season yet and Saturday’s 2-0 away win over Bunyip District was no surprise. Two first-half goals gave Gerry McDonagh’s outfit all three points. In the 8th minute a Harris Battison corner was headed in by Fraser Keon and it was 2-0 after 25 minutes when a deflected strike from Battison fell to Fraser Keon who slotted the ball past Bunyip keeper Jake Biondo.
The one black mark on the performance came in the 70th minute and resulted in three players sent off – Bunyip’s Tristan Durovic and Lachy Harbers along with Mount Eliza’s Michael Wright.
In VPL1 Langwarrin drew 1-1 at home to league leader Bentleigh Greens last weekend. The home side was on the back foot just seven minutes in when Chris Droutsas was given too much room inside the area and as soon as he had a shooting angle hammered the ball past James Burgess from close range.
Langy finished the half without a shot on target but 10 minutes into the second period home team fans were celebrating when Jeremy Min Fa’s cross from the left was headed home by Brad Blumenthal.
The visitors tried desperately to grab the points but Langwarrin withstood every challenge and shared the spoils with its more prestigious opponent.
In State 1 Mornington returned to winning ways with Saturday’s 2-1 home triumph over Gippsland United. Just two minutes in the visitors took the lead when central defender Cooper Coleman powered in a header following a corner to the back post. But the early advantage didn’t last long. In the 10th minute James Kelly produced a moment of brilliance by curling a long-range strike into the bottom corner to level the scores. Mornington took control creating wave after wave of attacking pressure and restricting Gippsland to minimal opportunities.
The second half was one-way traffic and it wasn’t long before Rory Wagner was played through on goal calmly slotting past the keeper to make it 2-1. Gippsland’s hopes of a comeback were dashed when James Cheney was sent off following a late challenge on Ryan Paczkowski, which effectively ended the contest.
In State 2 Peninsula Strikers overcame a one-goal deficit and a substandard pitch to knock St Kilda off top spot with a 2-1 away win on Saturday. It was St Kilda’s first home loss in over three years but that wasn’t on the cards when a mistimed shot in the 9th minute was tucked away by St Kilda’s Jonathan Creamer from close range. Three minutes later it was 1-1 after Campbell Steedman pounced on a loose ball inside the box and calmly toe-poked it past St Kilda keeper Sean Hyland.
Strikers controlled the first half but couldn’t find the finish they deserved. Both teams had a red-hot go in the second half. Strikers keeper Faraz Zenoozi made a brilliant save and the ball went down the other end of the pitch where his counterpart Hyland saved superbly to deny Steedman.
But Steedman wouldn’t be contained for long.
In the 64th minute Hyland dropped a Jaiden Madafferi cross and Steedman was on hand to bury the ball for the winner. Skye paid dearly for its profligacy in front of goal when going down 1-0 at home to Berwick City on Friday night. Three minutes into time added a corner fell to Berwick substitute Luca Maio and his shot went through a packed penalty area for an unlikely winner.
In State 4 Chelsea thumped Mentone 12-0 away from home to continue its battle with Endeavour United for the prized promotion spot that goes with the championship. James Stinson scored four goals and looks a near certainty to claim his second straight league Golden Boot award. He was backed up by a hat-trick to Adam Dunsford, a brace from Daniel Vella and singles from Christian Murray, Liam Burford and Adam Bartosy.
Baxter had its best win of the season when it downed visitor Monash University 4-0 on Saturday.
It was the first time this season that Billy Armour’s men had toppled a top-six side. All the goals came in the second half and Baxter’s scorers were Kyle Eichenberger, Brody Taylor, Zamer Noor and Austin Sporys.
Rosebud won 5-2 away to Frankston Pines last weekend. Pines opened the scoring against the run of play when a contentious penalty decision enabled Davey Jones to convert from the spot in the 14th minute. But Rosebud hit back in the 34th minute when a pinpoint Sean Smith cross was headed home by Kori Weetch.
The visitors took until the 65th minute to grab the lead when a great Dougie Cunnison ball sent the in-form Weetch clear and he neatly lifted the ball over advancing Pines keeper Caleb Parr. Four minutes later Cunnison made it 3-1 from the penalty spot. But the visitors couldn’t defend a corner in the 72nd minute and Shivneel Pillay made it 3-2.
Rosebud’s two-goal cushion was restored a couple of minutes later when Connor Wharton’s driving run ended with a fine save from Parr only for Weetch to complete his hat-trick by tucking away the rebound. In the final minute of normal time youngster Luke Dennis followed up his two goals in the reserves by grabbing his first in the seniors with a header from a Wharton corner.
On Friday night Somerville Eagles lost 3-0 away to Springvale City.
NEXT WEEKEND
Friday, 27 June, 7.30pm
Langwarrin v Northcote, Lawton Park
Friday, 27 June, 8.30pm
Springvale City v Frankston Pines, Ross Reserve
Saturday, 28 June, 3pm
Mornington v South Springvale, Dallas Brooks Park
Peninsula Strikers v Mooroolbark, Centenary Park
Skye Utd v Noble Park Utd, Skye Recreation Reserve
Chelsea v Lyndale Utd, Edithvale Recreation Reserve
Somerville Eagles v Monash University, Westernport Secondary College
Baxter v Sandown Lions, Baxter Park
FC Noble Hurricanes v Rosebud, Alex Nelson Reserve
Mount Eliza v Aspendale, Emil Madsen Reserve
Mount Martha v Endeavour Hills Fire, Civic Reserve
Seaford Utd v Casey Panthers, North Seaford Reserve
