SOCCER
MORNINGTON took no mercy on Skye United on Friday night and exposed serious shortcomings in the home side’s make-up with a staggering 9-0 victory.
This was a result of seismic proportion that sent shockwaves through State 1 South-East and cements Mornington’s bona fides as a serious promotion candidate.
No-one envisaged the orange tsunami that would engulf Skye Recreation Reserve but it started in the 9th minute with a Ryan Paczkowski header from a Joe Hunt free-kick.
Kieran Dover made it 2-0 in the 15th minute with a low shot that was diverted by Skye’s Hamish Millar past his keeper Ittetsu Hirai.
Dover was at it again in the 33rd minute when Skye’s defence was indecisive and he nipped in to hammer home a volley into the roof of the net.
It was 4-0 nine minutes later from a Paczkowski corner whipped in from the right.
Shaun Kenny hammered home a loose ball from an attempted Nic Millar clearance in the 44th minute and if Skye thought the Seagulls would ease off the pedal in the second half it was wrong.
A brilliant reverse pass from James Kelly set up Nate Sim to make it 6-0 in the 49th minute and if Kane Runge had suddenly charged downfield and finished off a one-two by nutmegging Hirai no-one would have been surprised.
It was that kind of night, a night when an enormous gulf in class was in full public view.
Kosta Droutsas and Kelly joined in the feast and the final goal in the 82nd minute saw Dover complete his hat-trick.
So where to now for Skye?
The mental scarring of the playing group is a problem that Travis Mitchell and Alex Rojas must deal with immediately.
They are the coaches tasked with convincing their players that not all is lost and they haven’t become the easybeats of the league.
Head coach Phil McGuinness is overseas on a family holiday and will miss another two games.
In VPL1 Langwarrin had a great chance to grab three points against Bulleen Lions on Friday night but had to settle for a 2-2 draw.
Bulleen went ahead in the 34th minute with a firm header from Marko Bagaric following a corner.
Langwarrin hit back in the 42nd minute through Brad Blumenthal who was motoring in at the back post for a tap-in as the ball was played in from the left by Tosan Popo.
In the 73rd minute a superb lob volley from Alun Webb was worthy of a winner but six minutes into time added the visitors struck again.
Bulleen had pressured Langy late in the match and had won a free-kick.
As the referee was returning from lecturing the Bulleen bench the free-kick was taken only to strike the bar and bounce over.
The ref ruled that he wasn’t in position and ordered a retake.
Jake Cardillo didn’t miss sending a low strike out of the despairing clutches of Langy keeper James Burgess.
In State 2 Peninsula Strikers enjoyed a first win of the season when beating North Caulfield 2-1 away on Sunday.
After a scoreless first half Strikers struck took two minutes into the second period.
Jerome Valadon played in Riley Anderton who finished well.
In the 65th minute Valadon pounced on a back pass to make it 2-0 and North Caulfield’s sole reply came in the final minute of normal time after Daniel Sacks was quickest to react from a scramble inside Strikers’ box.
The result took Strikers from 11th to 5th on the table.
In State 4 Chelsea got back to winning ways with a hard fought 1-0 away win over Monash University last weekend.
The decisive moment came in the 22nd minute.
Liam Burford broke down the right and played a low cross to the top of the box and Marcus Anastasiou slotted it first time into the bottom right corner.
On Friday night Chelsea is at home to league leader Springvale City.
Chelsea has already lost two of its first four games and another loss would cast serious doubt over its promotion credentials.
Baxter drew 2-2 at home to Riversdale on Saturday.
The visitors struck in the 8th minute with a spectacular long-range volley from Patrick Magris that rocketed into the top far corner of goal.
Baxter hit back in the 37th minute when Calvin Delaney’s excellent long free-kick released Aaron Credlin on the right and his volleyed cross was met by Jai Power whose glancing header gave Riversdale’s keeper no chance.
Baxter looked to have secured the points until the last minute of normal time.
Baxter keeper Colby Jones could only parry a firm dipping strike from outside the area and the incoming Mark Jencik tucked away the loose ball.
Rosebud lost 3-1 away to Kings Domain on Saturday.
The ’Buds went 1-0 up in the 34th minute against a very physical opponent.
Their goal came from a Charlie Gunning corner and the visitors were good value for their half-time lead.
The second half was a very different affair with Kings Domain dominating and deservedly winning despite Rosebud missing some key chances.
Rosebud will hold a Special General Meeting at its clubrooms this Thursday at 8.30pm.
The meeting will vote on a proposed merger with Rosebud Heart.
Given the significance of the vote Rosebud urges all members to attend and have their say.
In State 5 Seaford United won its first game of the season when beating Noble Hurricanes 3-1 at Alex Nelson Reserve on Friday night.
Seaford struck first after a delightful left-footed ball in behind from Matt Davis in the 15th minute found Matt Cobb who laced his strike home from a tight angle at the back post.
Five minutes later Davis went from hero to zero when his back pass led to a Hurricanes goal.
Seaford’s Jonas Harasser gave away a penalty and Koray Yildirim made no mistake from the spot.
The visitors pushed hard in the second half and were rewarded in the 65th minute.
The returning Blake Hicks whipped in a delightful cross which was flicked on from Conor Mcfall at the front post to Alex Roberts who scored on his debut with a volley.
Roberts is a former Skye United, Bentleigh Greens, Frankston Pines and Brandon Park forward who has previously played for Seaford.
The sealer came in the 85th minute when a Matt Davis clearance led to Zain Ahmad rounding off the scoreline.
Somerville lost 2-1 away to Lyndale United on Saturday.
Troy Dekker scored for Somerville in the 93rd minute.
In State 6 Mount Eliza’s perfect start to its promotion campaign continued on Saturday with a 4-0 home win over Brighton.
Michael Wright scored twice from the penalty spot and completed his hat-trick in the 68th minute.
Substitute Will Gowans was Mount Eliza’s other scorer.
Frankston Pines had a disappointing 2-1 loss at home to Old Melburnians on Saturday.
Pines opened the scoring right on half-time when Nathan Yole got on the end of a superb Kyan Taberner cross from the left.
Two minutes into the second half the visitors equalised and Simone Pelleti scored the winner direct from a free-kick in the 64th minute.
Mentone lost 5-0 away to Whitehorse United last weekend.
Mentone created several chances but conceded two early goals from sloppy defensive play and there was no way back from 3-0 down at half-time.
The local club remains pointless after four rounds.
In State 7 Aspendale lost its first points of the season when going down 3-2 at home to Keysborough District on Saturday.
After missing some early chances Aspendale hit the front in the 24th minute when Patrick Finnegan’s pass found Kailan Smith whose left-foot shot beat Keysborough keeper Louis Fevrier.
Slack marking from the hosts allowed Keysborough’s Mohammed Alshammari to level in the 38th minute.
Aspendale went ahead again in the 54th minute with an excellent Taylan Yildirim strike from a tight angle.
Keysborough levelled in the 79th minute when Jamie Mason scored from the penalty spot following a Sam Curtis handball.
Aspendale got caught on the break pushing for the winner with Alshammari again finding room and making no mistake in the 89th minute.
Mount Martha’s horror start to the season continued with a 7-0 drubbing away to Burwood City last weekend.
NEXT WEEKEND’S GAMES
Friday 24 April, 7.30pm
Brunswick City v Langwarrin, Dunstan Reserve
Friday 24 April, 8.15pm
Casey Panthers v Mount Eliza, Prospect Hill Reserve
Friday 24 April, 8.30pm
Mornington v St Kilda, Knox Regional Football Centre
Chelsea v Springvale City, Edithvale Recreation Reserve
Saturday 25 April, 3pm
Beaumaris v Skye Utd, Beaumaris Reserve
Peninsula Strikers v Dandenong South, Centenary Park
East Kew v Baxter, Willsmere Park
Seaford Utd v East Bentleigh, North Seaford Reserve
Somerville Eagles v Noble Hurricanes, Westernport Secondary College
Mentone v Bunyip District, Mentone Grammar Playing Fields
Mount Martha v Boronia, Civic Reserve
Saturday 25 April, 3.15pm
Glen Waverley v Aspendale, Carlson Reserve
Saturday 25 April, 6pm
Rosebud v Monash University, Olympic Park
Frankston Pines v Old Ivanhoe, Monterey Reserve
