SOCCER
BAXTER thumped Greater Dandenong 7-1 at WJ Turner Reserve last Friday night.
The contest was a feisty affair with Baxter captain Cody Storton-French sent off in controversial circumstances a few minutes before half-time.
Baxter led 1-0 from a Nicholas Brigo free-kick but a dreadful linesman’s decision allowed Greater Dandenong to level and led to Storton-French’s dismissal.
Down to 10 men and scores tied at 1-1 Baxter produced a dominant six-goal second half that left its opponent in disarray.
Brigo completed his hat-trick, Kyle Eichenberger got in on the act with a brace while Jai Power and Charlie O’Connell also got on the scoresheet.
The match though finished on a down note for Baxter as Aiden McKenna joined Storton-French on the sidelines just after the final whistle when he too was sent off.
Baxter hopes that the referee assessor at the game will support its view that both red cards should be rescinded and has provided him with Veo footage in support of its claim.
Still in State 4 Rosebud downed visitor Chelsea 2-1 at Olympic Park on Saturday.
Rain and wind contributed to a contest of attrition between two evenly matched teams with good football at a premium.
Rosebud led through striker Elliott Craig in the 8th minute and took a 1-0 lead into the half-time break.
Chelsea equalised from the penalty spot through James Stinson just three minutes into the second half.
The winner came in the 88th minute after brilliant combination play between Craig and Connor Wharton with the former effecting a cool finish.
Craig has now scored five goals in two games and is proving to be an astute signing from Skye United.
Rosebud made two more signings last week and both came off the bench in the second half.
Central defender or midfielder Jamie Davidson joined from Strikers and Alessio Izzo switched from Somerville Eagles.
Rosebud coach Jason Symonds was delighted with the result.
“We have massive respect for Chelsea as they have some great players and a fantastic coaching team,” he said.
“For us to compete and beat them shows we are making good progress especially considering that Chelsea beat us 7-1 over two games last year.
“We’ve put together a great bunch of lads but we know that there’s lots of work to be done yet.”
In VPL1 Langwarrin conceded three second-half goals to come away empty-handed from its Friday night clash with Brunswick Juventus at CB Smith Reserve.
Langy started well hitting the post within two minutes then having a goal ruled out for offside not long after.
In the second half two defensive errors led to goals for Juventus.
Langy worked hard to get back into the game but couldn’t get the goal to set up a big finish.
The final goal came in injury time when the visitors were down to 10 men due to an injury and having committed players forward.
In State 1 Mornington drew 2-2 at home to league leader South Springvale while Skye United’s first home match at this level ended in a 3-1 loss to Boroondara Eagles last weekend.
Mornington started brightly and controlled the opening 20 minutes creating early chances for James Kelly and Campbell Steadman.
But it was the visitors who struck first with a long ball over the top and a smart finish by Zac Taweel in the 29th minute.
Needing a response after the break Mornington came out strongly and captain Ryan Paczkowski levelled the scores reacting quickest to finish from close range after a goalmouth scramble from a corner in the 56th minute.
Mornington began to control the tempo but South Springvale remained dangerous and regained the lead when a whipped corner from Jayden Scott flew through the area and into the net to make it 2–1.
Mornington pushed hard late on and was rewarded when Joe Hunt’s dangerous delivery from a corner went straight in securing a deserved equaliser.
Although this wasn’t a classic performance Mornington showed resilience and character to come away with a point.
At Skye Recreation Reserve Apai Ukuno opened the scoring for the visitors in the 16th minute after a header from a corner.
The hosts equalised in the 33rd minute when Marcus Spivey cut a ball back for Shameit Sharma and although his initial shot was saved he was on hand to head home the rebound.
But parity lasted just three minutes with a smart Thomas Reilly header putting Boroondara back in front.
Skye huffed and puffed in the second half but to no avail and Boroondara iced the game in the 94th minute when Ukuno tapped home from close range as the hosts pushed numbers forward for an equaliser.
In State 2 Peninsula Strikers played out a thrilling 3-3 draw away to Berwick City on Friday night.
The home side struck in the first minute when Jarod Blackbourn intercepted a throw-in then drove into the box.
His shot was stopped by Strikers’ keeper Jamie Walker but the rebound fell to the incoming Jalil Nabizadah coming in at the back post who made it 1-0.
What unfolded was an entertaining high-quality contest with multiple chances created.
In the 16th minute following a Danny Brooks free-kick and a number of blocked shots Matt Harrington fired a lot hard ball across the goals which was deflected home by Sonny Lindsay for the equaliser.
A controversial moment came in the 31st minute when Berwick was awarded a penalty for handball.
A deflected shot struck the chest of Josh Botha but the linesman flagged for a handling offence despite being blindsided by Botha.
Walker pulled off a sensational save only to be beaten six minutes later when Blackbourn’s cross was finished by Christian Lettieri to make it 2-1.
But Strikers hit back three minutes before half-time when Harrington won the race ahead of Berwick keeper Pedro Formosa and from outside the box on the left slotted a precise strike into the far corner to send the sides in level at the interval.
The second half was an action-packed affair.
In the 64th minute Riley Anderton earned Strikers a free-kick outside the area.
Danny Brooks blasted the ball against the wall with his right foot then from the rebound smashed a half-volley with his left which rocketed into the net to make it 3-2.
Strikers should have sealed it in the 91st minute when a Brooks free-kick found Harrington wide on the left.
He beat his opponent then fired a low, hard shot that Formosa finger-tipped onto the post and was just missed by Jerome Valadon.
From that goal kick Strikers – who had held out valiantly – failed to clear their lines and for the second game in a row conceded an injury-time goal from a Fraidoon Mohammadi back post header which finished a cracking game with the points shared.
The action didn’t finish there though with Berwick’s Matthew Foschini receiving a second yellow card for dissent after the final whistle.
In State 5 both local sides lost last weekend.
Nick Simmons scored in Somerville Eagles’ 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Monbulk Rangers while Conor McFall and Mitch Lander were on target as Seaford United lost 3-2 at home to Lyndale United.
In State 6 Mount Eliza won its third straight game and sits second on the table on goal difference behind Old St Kevins.
Gerry McDonagh’s side beat Knox United 3-1 with two converted penalties by Michael Wright and a Noah Green goal.
Frankston Pines drew 1-1 at home to Bunyip District and Mentone lost 5-0 away to Pakenham United.
Pines were 1-0 down at half-time but grabbed a point in the 76th minute when a Jaiden Taberner cross from the right sailed over the head of the Bunyip keeper and struck a post before going in.
Bunyip’s Ivica Braha was sent off in the 84th minute.
In State 7 Aspendale maintained its 100 percent record with a 5-1 away win over second-bottom side Mount Martha on Saturday.
The Stingrays went ahead in the 4th minute when Oscar Carter’s corner was met by Oliver Clark and his shot was deflected by Max Symonds-Keogh past his keeper Derren Elliott for an own goal.
Further goals from Taylan Yildirim, Daniel Trevisan, Clark and Mitch Hodder (his sixth of the season) gave the visitors an insurmountable 5-0 lead at half-time.
The pick of that bunch was Trevisan’s half-volley from the edge of the box that went in off the upright.
The home side’s sole reply came in the 51st minute through a close range finish from Tom Brewster.
“We’re obviously delighted to have picked up maximum points but we now have a tough run of fixtures that will test the group,” Aspendale gaffer Jason Grieve said.
“We’re also looking for a coach for our reserves to build on their strong start to the season and anyone interested should contact the club.”
NEXT WEEKEND’S GAMES
Friday 17 April, 7.30pm
Langwarrin v Bulleen Lions, Lawton Park
Friday 17 April, 8.30pm
Skye Utd v Mornington, Skye Recreation Reserve
Noble Hurricanes v Seaford Utd, Alex Nelson Reserve
Saturday 18 April, 2.15pm
Burwood City v Mount Martha, Ballyshannassy Park
Saturday 18 April, 3pm
Baxter v Riversdale, Baxter Park
Kings Domain v Rosebud, Fawkner Park North Pavilion
Monash University v Chelsea, Monash University Playing Fields
Lyndale Utd v Somerville Eagles, Lyndale Secondary College
Mount Eliza v Brighton, Emil Madsen Reserve
Old Melburnians v Frankston Pines, Robert Menzies Reserve
Whitehorse Utd v Mentone, Terrara Park
Aspendale v Keysborough District, Aspendale Gardens Sports Ground
Sunday 19 April, 3pm
North Caulfield v Peninsula Strikers, Caulfield Park
