SOCCER
THE revolving door through which senior coaches at Frankston Pines have been passing is spinning once more. Jason Grieve is the “new” Pines senior coach, the fifth man to grab that poisoned chalice in six months. However this is Grieve’s second stint in the role taking over from Donn Delaney late last year after the latter joined the committee and most of the senior players in the largest mass exodus from a local club this century. Grieve didn’t last long though and quit in January so what prompted this change of heart? “I always kept in touch with the club and they knew I was prepared to help them out if the opportunity arose,” Grieve said.
That opportunity was facilitated by the appointment of Ross Evans as director of football and he has enticed Grieve to return along with the appointment of Cal Peacock as reserves coach. Peacock has had coaching roles at Box Hill, Chelsea, Barton and Seaford United. Evans also has been busy recruiting players and there has been a remarkable turnaround in numbers at training since he took over four weeks ago. When Evans was appointed the seniors had just eight players at training but last week there were 31 there and Evans also has been directly responsible for recruiting six players with more signings expected.
The new players are defender Rohullah Abdul Wahid (from Doveton), winger Enis Baftirovski (ex-Dandenong Thunder and Kingston City), midfielder or defender Marc Gavigan (Collingwood City), midfielder Paymon Azimi (Barton United), winger Massood Mohseni (ex-Casey Comets and Berwick City) and central defender Mohammad Mohammadi.
However Grieve and Pines were unable to build on the point earned the previous week when going down 3-0 at home to Somerville Eagles last Friday night. The visitors broke through in the 39th minute when a Jake Meggs cross was headed home by Marcus Anastasiou. A minute late it was 2-0 when Alessio Izzo finished a slick attacking move down the right and four minutes into the second half the contest was over when Jack Gorbert sent a probing ball into the box that caught Pines keeper Caleb Parr out of position and found its way into net.
Nevertheless it was a spirited Pines display and was acknowledged as such by Somerville head coach Mark Larner. “Despite the result Pines showed resilience and encouraging signs of growth,” Larner said. “Their effort and character throughout the 90 minutes suggest a first win of the season may not be far away.”
In other State 4 news Chelsea lost top spot when going down 3-0 away to Endeavour United last weekend. Hit on the break three times in the opening half-hour Chelsea’s cause wasn’t helped by injuries to Nathan Boccari and Nathan Gondelle forcing them to be subbed in the first half.
Chelsea, Somerville Eagles and Rosebud all remain in the top six after round 7 which is crucial to maintaining their status in next year’s league restructure.
Rosebud downed Lyndale United 3-1 on Saturday evening at Olympic Park. It wasn’t a great display from the home side but goals from Sean Smith, Finn Gregg and Marcus Collier accounted for the visitors.
Baxter remains in the bottom half of the table after last weekend’s 2-1 away loss to FC Noble Hurricanes. To make matters worse both Keegan Myatt and Duncan McPherson were sent off and will miss this weekend’s home fixture with league leader Endeavour United. Myatt scored against the Hurricanes but Baxter was livid with the referee who booked seven Baxter players and one Noble Hurricanes player.
In VPL1 news Langwarrin lost 2-1 away to North Sunshine Eagles last weekend. Langy was the better side in the first half and led at the break after Tosan Popo set up Archie Macphee for a tap-in at the far post in the 24th minute. North Sunshine had the better of the second period and Langy failed to take a couple of chances to extend its lead while the home side was much more efficient in front of goal.
In State 1 news Mornington hit a road bump on the promotion path in the form of Hampton East Brighton going down 2-1 at Dallas Brooks Park on Saturday. The visitors took the lead after two minutes when Ahmed Habeeb pounced on Jacob Brito’s under-hit pass and went further ahead after an attempted clearance from Jay Davies fell kindly to Habeeb who rifled it into the bottom corner in the 20th minute. But Mornington kept pushing forward and was rewarded in the 33rd minute by a stunning strike from James Clark. The Seagulls had multiple opportunities in the second half to draw level but couldn’t find the finishing touch while Hampton was a constant threat on the counter.
In State 2 news Peninsula Strikers grabbed a point from neighbour Skye United with a 94th-minute equaliser in their thrilling 2-2 derby clash last weekend at Centenary Park. Strikers led after just three minutes when Campbell Steedman’s pressure forced a turnover from which the quicksilver striker hit a low shot inside the far post. Ten minutes later Emmanuel Scarlett made it 1-1 from the penalty spot and the visitors hit the front in the 35th minute when Strikers failed to cut out a Jason Nowakowski free-kick to the far post and Varmah Mgoneh made them pay with a firm, low shot from close range.
Skye looked certain to take the points despite Scarlett being shown a straight red for a behind-the-play incident in the 93rd minute but a minute later it was 2-2. The visitors were defending desperately only to be undone by a deflected strike from Cooper Andrews from the edge of the area. Strikers head coach Scott Morrison was bitterly disappointed with his team’s display. “That was one of the worst performances we’ve produced in my time at the club yet we pinched a point late and should’ve won it with almost the last kick of the game,” he said. Morrison claimed that Strikers were denied two “stonewall” penalties when Joel Bowen and substitute Jai Power were felled inside the area.
In State 5 news two goals in injury time earned home team Mount Martha a point in its 2-2 draw with Pakenham United on Saturday. Staring down a two-goal deficit and entering time added the home side never gave up. In the 92nd minute Mitch Hawkins chased hard and won the ball on the byline. His quick cross was hammered home by Jacob Platt. A minute later the home side was rewarded for its press when Seth Cooley smashed the ball home from the edge of the box for a share of the spoils.
Mount Eliza prevailed 4-1 at home over Casey Panthers in a physical and spirited clash last weekend.
Harrison Battison put the home side in front in the 32nd minute.
Four minutes into the second half Darcy Purcell’s through ball was finished well by Austin Mcewen and Josh Luca made it 3-0 in the 58th minute. Shortly after Casey hit back through Lochlan Morgan-Banks but Mcewen’s second in the 76th minute following a fine through ball by Ray Amiri rounded off the scoreline and sent Mount Eliza into second spot on the league ladder.
Seaford United moved into third spot after Saturday’s 2-0 home win over Bunyip District.
Blake Hicks and Naseer Mohammad combined to set up Dylan Waugh who scored from close range in the 39th minute. Two minutes into the second half a Conor Mcfall corner to the back post was headed back across goal by Tristen Stass and Backy Barakzoi’s sweetly struck volley sealed Bunyip’s fate.
Aspendale lost 6-3 away to title favourite Fortuna 60 on Saturday. The home side was 3-0 up after 20 minutes and although James Macnab pulled a goal back Fortuna struck two more to lead 5-1 at half-time. Aspendale was a different team in the second half and hit back when stand-in captain Lewis Marco bundled the ball home and Ben Garside fired one in from just outside the box. Although the visitors continued to push forward Fortuna scored a late goal from a breakaway to complete a convincing win.
NEXT WEEKEND
Friday, 16 May, 8.30pm
Chelsea v Sandown Lions, Edithvale Recreation Reserve
Saturday, 17 May, 3pm
Mornington v Doveton, Dallas Brooks Park
Skye Utd v Mooroolbark, Skye Recreation Reserve
Berwick City v Peninsula Strikers, Jack Thomas Reserve
Baxter v Endeavour Utd, Baxter Park
Monash University v Frankston Pines, Monash University Playing Fields
Lyndale Utd v Somerville Eagles, Lyndale Secondary College
Aspendale v Mount Martha, Aspendale Gardens Sports Ground
Mount Eliza v Cleeland Utd, Emil Madsen Reserve
Pakenham Utd v Seaford Utd, IYU Recreation Reserve
Saturday, 17 May, 6pm
Caroline Springs George Cross v Langwarrin, City Vista Pavilion & Sports Field
Rosebud v Mentone, Olympic Park
