SOCCER
MORNINGTON expects ex-Manchester United midfielder Liam Grimshaw to arrive this week. The 30-year-old came through youth ranks at United before signing a professional contract with the English giant in 2013. He signed for Preston North End in 2016 and the following year joined Motherwell where he made 101 appearances before joining Morton for the 2022-23 season. He was on the move again the following season and made 33 appearances for Dundee United.
The Seagulls were alerted to his availability through assistant coach Nathan Peel and have been speaking to Grimshaw for the past fortnight. “He’s got some pedigree,” Mornington head coach Adam Jamieson said. Grimshaw will slot straight into a midfield berth as Jay Davies joined Langwarrin last week.
Mornington faltered in its drive for promotion when going down 3-2 at home to South Springvale on Saturday. James Kelly scored both of Mornington’s goals on a substandard playing surface at Dallas Brooks Park. “Our ground is in a terrible condition right now and it probably cost us (against South Springvale),” Jamieson said. “We have to do something about this over the next few days.”
Former Dandenong Thunder striker Brayden Mann made a late substitute appearance for the Seagulls. It was Mann’s first match back after a lengthy period on the sidelines due to a hip injury. As we went to press Mornington was expecting to finalise negotiations with central defender Matt Hennessey from Bentleigh Greens. He has also been on the books of Melbourne Victory, Hume City, Pascoe Vale, Bulleen and Dandenong City. Ryan Paczkowski has returned to England for family reasons.
In VPL1 Langwarrin won 5-2 at home against Northcote City on Friday night. Langy got off to a flyer thanks to a Brad Blumenthal back-post header in the 5th minute and went 2-0 up in the 42nd minute when a Blumenthal cross wasn’t cleared and Ryo Takahashi’s deflected shot gave Northcote keeper Ahmad Taleb no chance.
Two minutes later a Takahashi pass was intercepted by Sam Warde who skipped past Rogan McGeorge then hammered a lot shot past Langy keeper James Burgess from just outside the box.
But Takahashi restored the home side’s two-goal lead in the 60th minute when a long throw wasn’t cleared and he swivelled and struck a firm shot that beat Taleb at the keeper’s near post. Seven minutes later it was 3-2 after Alun Webb was tripped inside the area and Devin O’Hea converted from the spot.
In the 71st minute Archie Macphee was on target from close range following a series of headers in and around the Northcote area and seven minutes later substitute Tom Youngs put the visitors out of their misery with a superb finish from the left of the box. Langy youngster Mark Deacon made his full senior debut and was impressive while 18-year-old Dylan Street made his senior bow off the bench in the second half. Street joined the under-19s this year from Glen Eira.
Experienced midfielder Davies came off the bench late in the game. “After hearing that he had left Mornington last week I spoke to him about coming in and joining the squad as I felt we needed some more experience for the back end of the season,” head coach Jamie Skelly said. Langwarrin has now amassed 13 out of a possible 15 points from the last five games.
In State 2 news Skye United and Peninsula Strikers both enjoyed home wins last weekend. Skye downed Noble Park United 4-2 while Strikers beat Mooroolbark 2-0. Skye was looking to bounce back from successive 1-0 losses and took the lead in the 38th minute when Marcus Collier bundled the ball over the line from a corner.
Mitch Blake was introduced at half-time and took two minutes to make an impact when he finished off a Shameit Sharma square ball after a well-worked move. Minutes later it was 3-0 as Nhan Than converted from the spot after Varmah Mgoneh was brought down. The visitors clawed their way back into the contest after a penalty from Paul McEvoy and a deflected free-kick from Alex Vranesevic but with 10 minutes to go Blake sealed the three points with a smart turn and finish inside the area.
Strikers’ success came after a strong second-half display which produced both goals. In the 58th minute Campbell Steedman’s cross was superbly headed into the far corner by Sam Maggs who could have made it 2-0 two minutes later but his low shot was well saved by Mooroolbark keeper Vlad Velikin. Second half sub Matt Harrington doubled the lead in the 81st minute. Wayne Gordon found Riley Anderton whose first-time touch put Harrington through and he coolly slotted home on the half volley to seal the three points.
In State 4 news Chelsea found Lyndale United a difficult opponent at Edithvale Recreation Reserve on Saturday but prevailed 2-1 to maintain its promotion battle with Endeavour United. James Stinson equalised from the penalty spot in the 75th minute and substitute Cole Ryan nabbed the winner in injury time.
Rosebud took another three points in its search for a top-six finish with a dominant display in a 3-1 away win over Noble Hurricanes last weekend. The visitors took the lead in the 7th minute when Kori Weetch found the fine run of Barney Johnson and he displayed excellent composure to slot neatly past Hurricanes keeper Elvis Alimovski.
Rosebud made it 2-0 in the 65th minute with another well worked move finished by Ashton McMahon and five minutes later it was 3-0. Weetch again was the provider playing in Connor Wharton for the finish. Hurricanes pulled back a consolation goal with a high looping header that dropped in at the far post but the visitors had no problem seeing out the remainder of the contest.
Somerville Eagles have a Marcus Anastasiou goal to thank for a share of the spoils in Saturday’s 1-1 home draw with Monash University. Somerville remains in the top six but only just with Baxter now snapping at its heels.
Baxter won 2-1 at home to Sandown Lions on Saturday. The local side had been busy in the week leading up to the clash and had signed Jai Power and Cody Storton-French from Strikers while Dan Bancroft had returned to Mount Martha. Baxter took a 1-0 lead into the half-time break thanks to a well-placed half-volley from Charlie O’Connell. The lead should have been greater with Power and O’Connell both being denied by the crossbar.
The visitors levelled 20 minutes into the second half. An Aiden McKenna challenge saw the referee point to the spot. Abraham Koul’s conversion attempt struck the bar and was cleared but the ensuing corner was spilled by Baxter keeper Chris Marshall and Kuol tapped it in. Shortly after Sandown’s Ahmed Abdulkadir was sent off following a clash with O’Connell and despite Baxter’s pressure it looked as if a draw was inevitable. That was until the final minute of normal time when a misplaced Austin Sporys shot fell to Kyle Eichenberger whose first-time strike proved decisive.
On Friday night Frankston Pines lost 3-1 away to Springvale City with Davey Jones scoring for Pines.
Springvale’s Brodie McMinimee and Pines’ Aloysio Ferreira Neto were both sent off in the second half.
There’s been no official announcement from Pines but Mauricio Perez is the head coach and has signed a few players from former club Greater Dandenong.
In State 5 Mount Eliza continues to snap at the heels of ladder leader Fortuna 60 and despite head coach Gerry McDonagh’s concerns over his squad’s depth the local outfit is a firm favourite to finish in a top-two spot and retain its league status.
Saturday’s 4-1 home win over Aspendale was due to a dominant second-half display. The sides were locked at 1-1 at half-time with a superb free-kick from Mount Eliza’s Austin Mcewen cancelled out by a Jared Kilmartin equaliser in the 30th minute. A minute into the second half a Harris Battison corner wasn’t cleared and Mcewen hit the target from the edge of the area. He completed his hat-trick in the 80th minute by converting from the spot after a handball infringement.
Mount Eliza wrapped up proceedings five minutes later when substitute Troy Buchanan-Ferguson’s first touch was a header from a Jackson Tossavainen corner that rounded off the scoreline.
Seaford United drew 1-1 at home to Casey Panthers on Saturday. Seaford dominated play but a stubborn Panthers and a brilliant keeping performance from Quinn Carter kept the home side at bay.
Seaford led at the break thanks to a goal of the year contender from Zain Ahmad.
In the 36th minute Luke Murray broke down the left and flicked the ball over his opponent’s head then volleyed his cross to Ahmad whose stunning bicycle kick found the top corner of goal. Casey hit back in the 56th minute when Lucas Whiteside was given a free header from a corner and made it count. The result gives Seaford a mountain to climb to grab a top two finish that would ensure its State 5 status for next season.
Mount Martha remains near the foot of the table following Saturday’s 2-1 home loss to Endeavour Hills Fire. The home side was 2-0 down when an Archie Thomas second-half header completed the scoreline.
NEXT WEEKEND
Friday, 4 July, 8.30pm
FC Noble Hurricanes v Frankston Pines, Alex Nelson Reserve
Saturday, 5 July, 3pm
Langwarrin v Moreland City, Lawton Park
Mazenod v Mornington, Brandon Park Reserve
Skye Utd v Chisholm Utd, Skye Recreation Reserve
Chelsea v Baxter, Edithvale Recreation Reserve
Somerville Eagles v Rosebud, Westernport Secondary College
Bunyip District v Aspendale, Bunyip Recreation Reserve
Endeavour Hills Fire v Seaford Utd, Power Reserve
Pakenham Utd v Mount Eliza, IYU Reserve
Casey Panthers v Mount Martha, Prospect Hill Reserve
Sunday, 6 July, 3pm
North Caulfield v Peninsula Strikers, Caulfield Park
