SOCCER
CHELSEA scoring machine James Stinson put Greater Dandenong to the sword at WJ Turner Reserve on Saturday with a stunning seven-goal display.
The former Sunderland youth striker is in his third year at Edithvale Recreation Reserve and is on course for back-to-back league Golden Boot honours.
The last thing that cellar dweller Greater Dandenong needed was to go down to 10 men early in the contest and that’s what happened when Ezatullah Mohammadi was shown a straight red after a clash with Paddy Briggs in the 12th minute.
A minute later Stinson put Chelsea 1-0 up and by half-time the home side was waving the white flag.
Stinson had scored four and young Christian Murray had got in on the act with a volleyed finish.
The pick of Stinson’s first-half haul was when he was at the near post for a first-time finish to a fine move down the left involving Liam Burford and Briggs who drilled the ball into the area.
There was no respite for Greater Dandenong after the break with Stinson adding a second-half hat-trick to his tally and Dunsford and Daniel Vella joining the party.
All the host could muster was a 92nd minute goal from substitute Mohammad Farzad Haidarian.
After the match Stinson confirmed that this was the most goals he’d scored in a senior game.
Chelsea assistant coach Chris Porteous reflected on Stinson’s impact on the team.
“He’s been looking sharp the last few weeks and when he’s scoring goals for fun it gives the whole team a lift,” Porteous said.
Fellow State 4 local Rosebud earned a battling point away to East Kew on Saturday.
Kew chose to ignore the bowling green pitch in the first half and hit the Budders with a continuous barrage of long balls eventually breaking through with a Ulysses Barberoglou goal in the 31st minute.
Rosebud gradually took control in the second half led by recent signing Noah Musso.
The visitors created several chances hitting the bar and post and bringing out the best in Kew keeper Luke Bosco who had a blinder.
In the final minute Rosebud grabbed the point it deserved when top scorer Elliott Criag converted from the penalty spot.
Baxter twice led by two goals but lost 4-3 at home to title contender Ringwood City on Saturday.
Morteza Hashemi and Nicholas Brigo had Baxter 2-0 up before veteran striker Geordie Scott pulled one back for the visitors.
Brigo’s second in the 20th minute made it 3-1 but Zach Nasso’s goals either side of half-time made it 3-3.
Daniel Fowler scored the winner in the 79th minute and Ringwood’s William Coard was shown a second yellow three minutes from time.
In VPL1 Langwarrin drew 0-0 away to Melbourne Srbija on Saturday.
It was a strongly contested affair with both teams having chances to break the deadlock.
Langy came closest with a Tosan Popo free-kick that only needed a touch to go in while Melbourne Srbija’s big chance came late but it was denied by an excellent save from Branten Kindler.
In State 1 Skye claimed its second win of the season on Saturday when beating visitor St Kilda 2-1 to move four points clear of the relegation zone.
Skye dominated the opening exchanges and in the 30th minute Marcus Spivey converted from the spot after Daniel Attard was dragged down inside the box.
Skye continued to dominate but couldn’t find the second goal with Spivey, Attard and Jason Nowakowski’s efforts all finding the woodwork.
The hosts finally doubled their lead in the 68th minute when Attard’s pass found Varmah Mgoneh whose left-foot strike made it 2-0.
The visitors found a lifeline in the 85th minute when Gary McCrossan’s header looped in at the back post ensuing a nervy finish for the host.
Mornington’s unbeaten run continued but it felt like two points dropped as its promotion push suffered another setback on Saturday with a frustrating 3-3 draw away to a determined Hampton East Brighton outfit.
The Seagulls couldn’t deal with a cross in the fourth minute allowing Hampton’s Marko Stanisavljevic to tap home from close range.
Mornington levelled in the 15th minute.
A superb delivery from Rhys Craigie found Kieran Dover at the back post and after his initial effort was saved he reacted quickest to score.
A series of defensive errors in the 43rd minute allowed Stanisavljevic to strike again from close range.
At half-time Mornington made a tactical change withdrawing Ryan Paczkowski and James Clark and reverting to a back four which provided greater defensive stability in the second half.
But Hampton went further ahead in the 56th minute when Stanisavljevic completed his hat-trick with a superb curling strike that gave Kane Runge no chance.
In the 60th minute James Kelly reduced the deficit with a well-taken header after excellent wing play from Lachie Candy.
The Seagulls found an equaliser through Dover who broke through into a one-on-one in the 77th minute and calmly finished to secure a point.
While Mornington remains unbeaten there is work to do and if it is serious about its promotion ambitions three points against St Kilda next Saturday is a must.
In State 2 Peninsula Strikers lost 2-0 away to Mooroolbark last weekend.
In State 5 Seaford United downed visitors Yarra Jets 4-0 on Saturday.
All of Seaford’s goals came in the second half.
In the 57th minute Dylan Waugh made it 1-0 with a great strike on the left from a quick counter attack.
The lead was doubled five minutes later after a pinpoint cross from Alex Roberts to the back post saw Blake Hicks convert with a side-foot volley.
Roberts was on the score sheet a minute later and Seaford’s leading scorer Zain Ahmad tapped home a low cross from Hicks in the 70th minute.
Somerville Eagles lost 3-1 at home to Templestowe Wolves on Saturday with Tom Simmons scoring for the Eagles.
In State 6 Mount Eliza kept its promotion push on course with a 2-0 home win over Bunyip District last weekend.
The damage was done in the final minutes of the first half.
In the 43rd minute Noah’s Green’s superb side volley opened the scoring and two minutes later Fraser Keon was in the right spot to strike the ball home between two defenders.
The result maintains Mount Eliza’s promotion push as it sits second four points off leader Old Ivanhoe.
Frankston Pines drew 1-1 at home to Pakenham United on Saturday evening.
Pakenham scored in the 40th minute with Hassan Nazari converting from a controversial penalty decision after the referee had originally given a corner.
Right on half-time Pines hit back with Jacob Platt curling a superb free-kick into the top corner.
Pines assistant Chris Sanderson lamented the missed opportunities his side created after the break.
“We battered them in the second half but couldn’t find the winner,” he said.
Mentone lost 5-0 away to Brighton last weekend and is firmly entrenched in last spot with the worst goals against record in the league.
But club president Cameron Dunkerley remained hopeful of a revival in the back half of the season.
“The boys are sticking together,” he said.
“We have 12 senior players out and we hope to get some back after next week’s break.”
In State 7 Aspendale won 2-0 away to Burwood City on Saturday.
Second-half goals from Patrick Finnegan and Mitch Hodder allowed the local side to leapfrog its opponent and claim fourth spot on the league ladder.
Mount Martha lost a tough, tight contest at home going down 1-0 to Glen Waverley last weekend.
Note that next weekend is a catch-up round and Football Victoria was expected to approve the Mornington v St Kilda game that Mornington wants to play at Civic Reserve on Saturday.
If that game goes ahead Mornington and Langwarrin will be the only local clubs in action.
NEXT WEEKEND’S GAMES
Friday 5 June, 8.30pm
Northcote v Langwarrin, John Cain Memorial Park
Saturday 6 June, 3pm
Mornington v St Kilda, Civic Reserve
