SOCCER
MORNINGTON secured a vital three points with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over a determined St Kilda at Elwood Park on Saturday.
Chances were limited throughout the opening half as both teams remained disciplined and compact.
The breakthrough came in the 39th minute when returning star Kieran Dover, back from suspension, rose highest to head home a pinpoint Lachie Candy free-kick to give Mornington a deserved 1-0 lead heading into half-time.
St Kilda came out with real intent after the break throwing everything forward in search of an equaliser but Mornington’s defence stood firm, producing a disciplined and resilient performance to repel wave after wave of pressure.
When Candy curled a superb free-kick into the bottom corner to make it 2-0 in the 57th minute the home side faced an enormous task.
From that point on the visitors controlled the tempo of the game keeping possession well and managing the contest professionally.
Despite St Kilda’s relentless effort the Seagulls showed their class and composure to see out the match comfortably.
It was an important win for Mornington as it once again tries to break into an elite club level in Victorian football.
South Springvale firmed as title favourite with another win but the race for second spot and automatic promotion is heating up with three points separating five teams.
The Seagulls have three catch-up games to play against South Springvale (away), Collingwood City (away) and Banyule City (home).
State 1 rival Skye United is at the other end of the league ladder and facing a difficult end to the season as it strives to avoid relegation.
Skye lost 1-0 at home to Beaumaris last weekend.
It was the local club’s annual Chris Attard memorial round commemorating the former club president who made a major contribution to the sport and who lost his fight with cancer in 2016.
The Chris Attard medallists were Ben Lund (seniors) and Jacob Stephens (reserves).
In VPL1 Langwarrin went down 1-0 to Brunswick Juventus at Lawton Park on Saturday.
It was a hard-fought affair with Nicholas Symeoy scoring the decider from the penalty spot in the 35th minute despite Langy keeper Branten Kindler getting a hand to the ball down low.
Langy felt hard done by as there was a clear offside missed by the assistant referee in the build-up to the penalty.
Juventus hit the post late in the second half but despite the home side’s pressure the visitors defended well coping with crosses and long throw-ins and balls over the top trying to release Langy striker Alun Webb.
In State 2 Peninsula Strikers lost 2-1 away to Dandenong South on Saturday.
Strikers struck first in the 8th minute with Matt Harrington slipping in Oscar Colgate-Jones who put a sharp cross to the opposite full-back Hayden Schreck and he finished neatly first time.
But the home side hit back a minute later with a long-range effort from Liron Azizi.
Three minutes into the second half former Strikers winger Taylan Geylan finished into the top corner.
Strikers then dominated possession but couldn’t break down a well-structured and organised opponent.
In State 4 Chelsea’s poor recent run continued when it lost 3-2 to title favourite Springvale City at Ross Reserve on Friday night.
Chelsea has only taken a point from its three games this month.
It took the lead against Springvale City after 18 minutes when a cross into the area fell to James Stinson and he made no mistake.
Springvale used long throw-ins to pressure Chelsea’s defence and the tactic worked in the 37th minute with Alex Omokaro making the visitors pay for their inability to clear.
Nine minutes into the second half Springvale City hit the front when Chelsea failed to clear from a corner and tall defender Sam Rhodes headed home at the far post.
The visitors replied four minutes later after great work by Stinson down the right and a cross into the path of Maxi Avram for a neat move and finish.
But Daniel Bailey’s powerful shot from inside the box in the 76th minute proved decisive.
Chelsea now faces another huge game on Friday night when it hosts second-placed Ringwood City and the locals should have Adam Dunsford, Dylan Scott and potentially Patrick Briggs back.
Baxter’s dry July continued with Saturday’s 1-0 home loss to East Kew and it has quickly been drawn into the relegation battle (if as expected Football Victoria still relegates two teams from this 11-team league).
Rosebud lost 2-1 away to Monash University on Saturday.
The visitors dominated the first half but twice were caught on the break through Ethan Basilewsky and Samuel Au.
Sandwiched in between was a Mitch Blake goal when the ever-alert striker pounced on a Marcus Collier flick-on and finished from close range.
The second half was an end-to-end affair but the Budders couldn’t break through.
In State 5 Somerville Eagles won 2-1 away to Noble Hurricanes last weekend while Seaford United lost 3-2 away to East Bentleigh.
Noble Hurricanes led after 12 minutes when Geramie Flaounas hit the target but Tom Simmons levelled in the 23rd minute when he was on the end of a Jack Gorbert cross and finished with a left-foot strike from the edge of the box.
Simmons’ second sealed the issue in the 61st minute with another left-foot strike following a good interpassing move.
The Hurricanes were reduced to 10 men in the 70th minute when Jesus Velez Vargas was red carded for retaliating to a Tom Pollock challenge.
Veteran Seaford United striker Dylan Waugh scored both of his side’s goals in Saturday’s loss.
Not for the first time this season Seaford was left wondering how it didn’t get something from this clash as it hit the woodwork three times and had two goals ruled out by contentious offside decisions.
In State 6 all three local sides lost.
Mount Eliza missed a great chance to grab second spot when beaten 3-2 by Casey Comets at Emil Madsen Reserve on Saturday.
Mujtaba Sakhi and Michael Wright scored for Mount Martha with midfielder Noah Green and Casey’s Mahdi Haidari both sent off in the 97th minute.
Mentone lost 5-1 away to Bunyip District while Frankston Pines lost 2-1 away to Old Ivanhoe last weekend.
James Shaw scored for Mentone and Nathan Yole scored for Pines.
Pines thought they’d taken the lead in the first half only for the referee to overrule his assistant and give offside.
Ivanhoe’s opener in the 24th minute came from Leon Kyriakos even though the ball had gone out in the build-up for what should have been a goalkick.
Yole’s 66th minute equaliser came when he was alert enough to nip in and finish a Nasser Mohammad cross.
And the winner came in controversial style when an Old Ivanhoe player should have been ruled offside in the build-up.
In State 7 Aspendale maintained its promotion push with a deserved 2-0 home win over Glen Waverley on Saturday.
The home side led when Glen Waverley keeper Jordan Robinson could only parry Tom Machin’s free-kick into the path of Mitch Hodder who headed in from close range.
Machin again was the provider in the 46th minute when his lob caught out the visitors’ defence and found Alex Beaumont who calmly placed the ball past the advancing Robinson from the edge of the box.
Mount Martha lost 3-0 away to Boronia last weekend.
The Mariners will celebrate the 100th appearance of veteran keeper Derren Elliott on Saturday when they host Croydon Rangers.
NEXT WEEKEND’S GAMES
Friday 24 July, 8.30pm
Chelsea v Ringwood City, Edithvale Recreation Reserve
Saturday 25 July, 3pm
Beaumaris v Mornington, Beaumaris Reserve
Old Scotch v Skye Utd, HA Smith Reserve
Peninsula Strikers v Casey Comets, Centenary Park
Ashburton Utd v Baxter, Ashburton Reserve
Somerville Eagles v East Bentleigh, Westernport Athletics Track
Seaford Utd v Monash Villareal, North Seaford Reserve
Old Melburnians v Mentone, Robert Menzies Reserve
Mount Martha v Croydon Rangers, Civic Reserve
Endeavour Hills v Aspendale, Power Reserve
Saturday 25 July, 6pm
Rosebud v Greater Dandenong, Olympic Park
Frankston Pines v Mount Eliza, Centenary Park
Monday 27 July, 8.30pm
Bulleen v Langwarrin, Veneto Club
