SOCCER
MORNINGTON set out on the long haul to VPL glory with a convincing 3-0 win over Collingwood City last weekend.
The match was played at Civic Reserve which Mornington will use for State 1 South-East home games this season while a major redevelopment of its usual headquarters at nearby Dallas Brooks Reserve takes place.
This was a composed and clinical display by the Seagulls who lifted their intensity after an even first half and the impact of their substitutes proved significant.
They broke the impasse in the 64th minute when Keiran Dover finished a well-worked move heading home a Joe Hunt cross.
In the 82nd minute substitute Rhys Craigie’s relentless pressing forced an error from the Collingwood keeper who struck the ball against him to gift Mornington a second.
The result was put beyond doubt in the third minute of added time when a long ball found Dover who unselfishly cut it back for substitute James Kelly to seal the win and cap an impressive team performance.
The Seagulls have signed Cal Goulding from Langwarrin and he will be available for selection this weekend against Boroondara Eagles.
Mornington remains in talks with an NPL player.
In VPL1 Langwarrin lost 2-1 away to promotion-chasing Eltham Redbacks on Friday night.
Langy started well dominating possession and creating chances.
In the 22nd minute striker Alun Webb won the race with Eltham’s keeper Abdulkerim Koc to a back pass and slotted the ball home to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
Langy kept up the pressure with Webb hitting the crossbar and Koc making numerous saves.
Eltham was much more competitive after the break and drew level in the 53rd minute when Langy keeper Branten Kindler palmed a long throw into his own net.
Langy’s inability to deal with set pieces proved costly in the 88th minute and Finn Diamond scored the winner after the visitors failed to clear properly following a corner.
Kindler was sent off in the dying seconds after handling outside the area.
No 1 custodian James Burgess returns from suspension for next Monday’s away clash with Melbourne Victory.
In State 2 Peninsula Strikers went down 3-1 at home to Waverley Wanderers.
When Matt Harrington scored for Strikers in the 87th minute it was inconsequential to the outcome and the visitors headed home with three points in the bag.
In State 4 Chelsea’s season started on the back foot losing 2-0 at home to East Kew on Friday night while Rosebud got off to a flyer with a 6-3 home win over Ashburton United.
East Kew broke the deadlock against Chelsea with an absolute belter from James Ciccone in the 28th minute.
His left-foot volley from the right wing was still rising as it hit the back of the net.
Despite Chelsea having more possession it couldn’t break through a resilient East Kew defence and when the visitors capitalised on the counter with a late Ulysses Barberoglou goal there was no way back for the home side.
It was goals galore at Olympic Park on Saturday evening and Rosebud dazzled in the first half as the Craig brothers held court.
Ashburton was already 2-0 down when Ben Jefferson received a second caution and was sent off in the 26th minute.
Elliott Craig notched a hat-trick while Ben Craig nabbed a brace.
Add a Charlie Gunning cannonball which nearly broke the back of the net and Rosebud’s 6-0 lead at half-time was insurmountable.
Ashburton hit back in the 62nd minute and Rosebud paid the price for taking its foot off the pedal as the 10 men scored two goals in time added.
Rosebud has a bye next weekend and will take on Knox Churches at Olympic Park on Saturday (1pm reserves, 3pm seniors) in a friendly.
In State 5 Seaford United drew 3-3 away to Sandown Lions in a spiteful clash at Ross Reserve last weekend.
Zain Ahmad (2) and veteran Dylan Waugh scored for Seaford but a number of off-the-ball incidents marred the contest.
Seaford claims that Connor Tzelios was punched behind play while Backy Barakzoi was kicked as he lay on the ground.
The local club will submit Veo footage to Football Victoria in support of this claim.
Somerville Eagles lost 3-1 at home to promotion favourite Fortuna 60.
Devlin Lee scored for Somerville.
In State 6 news Mount Eliza won 2-1 away to Old Ivanhoe while Frankston Pines downed visitor Mentone 3-1 last weekend.
Alfie Harris opened the scoring for Mount Eliza when he followed up his shot which was initially parried by Old Ivanhoe keeper Sebastian Martinez in the 12th minute.
Gerry McDonagh’s side went 2-0 up in the 40th minute when a Tom Shalagin strike from outside the box nestled in the bottom left corner of goal.
Old Ivanhoe hit back in the 51st minute when a free-kick was headed in by Billy Skliros but the visitors held firm for the remainder of the clash.
The day finished on a sour note for Mount Eliza when Harris was shown a straight red in the 87th minute.
Pines won their first opening round match since beating Casey Comets 5-0 in 2022.
On Saturday it took Pines a minute to open the scoring.
Naseer Mohammad’s bullet header came from a superb Alec Keisoglu cross.
The impressive Keisoglu was the provider for Pines second goal after 33 minutes intercepting a Mentone pass out of defence to play the ball into Kenny Akalan.
The Pines striker took a touch then smashed a superb shot that curled into the far corner of the net.
Right before half-time great work by Mohammad down the left saw him pull the ball back to Akalan who buried his shot into the top corner and at 3-0 Pines were in command.
Pines started the second half in the same vein and should have added to their lead through Mohammad and Akalan before some poor defending from a corner on 54 minutes led to Luka Varga making it 3-1.
Keisoglu, Mohammad and Akalan had good chances to extend Pines’ lead but failed to convert.
In State 7 Aspendale was in seventh heaven after trouncing Croydon Ranges 7-1 at Croydon on Saturday while Mount Martha was hammered 7-0 away to Keysborough.
Mount Martha was forced to forfeit the reserves game as it couldn’t field a team.
Aspendale’s Mitch Hodder had a game-high four goals to his name, Liam Crowley scored twice and Ryan Mravljak also scored.
Aspendale head coach Jason Grieve isn’t getting carried away by the result and knows that his side will face stiffer competition throughout the season.
NEXT WEEKEND’S GAMES
Friday 27 March, 8.30pm
Chelsea v Ashburton Utd, Edithvale Recreation Reserve
Monbulk Rangers v Seaford Utd, Monbulk Regional Soccer Facility
Saturday 28 March, 3pm
Peninsula Strikers v Brandon Park, Centenary Park
Mornington v Boroondara Eagles, Civic Reserve
Baxter v King’s Domain, Baxter Park
Sandown Lions v Somerville Eagles, Ross Reserve
Mentone v Old St Kevins, Mentone Grammar Playing Fields
Pakenham Utd v Mount Eliza, IYU Recreation Reserve
Whitehorse Utd v Frankston Pines, Terrara Park
Lilydale Montrose Utd v Mount Martha, Keith Hume Fraser Reserve
Saturday 28 March, 4pm
Aspendale v Noble Suns, Aspendale Gardens Sports Ground
Saturday 28 March, 7pm
Doveton v Skye Utd, Waratah Reserve
Monday 30 March, 8.30pm
Melbourne Victory v Langwarrin, Home of the Matildas
Rosebud BYE
