Soccer
The twists and turns of the final round of the season had to be seen to be believed. This was the stuff of legend and will be spoken about for years to come.
It’s the season that a rebuilt Skye squad achieved what most thought impossible and the season that ended in heartbreak for Strikers when the prize was ripped from their grasp.
Strikers went into Saturday’s State 2 home game in second spot, one point above Skye, but Scott Morrison’s team could only draw 3-3 with Casey Comets.
Skye had been given a huge opportunity to grab second and promotion to State 1 and it did so with a come-from-behind 5-3 home win over Knox City.
What took place at Centenary Park last weekend was bizarre. Strikers should have been doing laps of honour throughout the second half but paid dearly for their profligacy in the opening 45 minutes.
Nevertheless, they had a commanding 3-1 lead at the break thanks to goals from Sam Maggs, Campbell Steedman and a towering Jamie Davidson header.
Comets’ response came from the penalty spot after Jaiden Madafferi had dragged down Kaspar Fry. Lucas Ferreira Piccone easily converted.
Next came the craziest 45 minutes of Strikers’ season. Maggs and Steedman should have put this one to bed, then Madafferi received a second caution in the 63rd minute and the momentum swung.
In the 74th minute, a freakish goal added to the impetus Comets had mustered against a 10-man opponent. Daniel Brooks belted the ball into the shins of Joseph Manual standing in front of him and the ricochet from well outside the box sailed over Ben Caballero’s head and inside the far post.
Ten minutes later, the goal that ended Strikers’ promotion quest and made it 3-3 was set up by a superb Nick Swan cross from the left that was met by a precise glancing header from Toshi Semii that gave Caballero no chance.
The sickening feeling that Strikers’ supporters experienced worsened when captain Stevie Elliott ruptured an Achilles and had to be stretchered off. Having used their substitutions, Strikers now had nine men.
When the final whistle sounded, what was going to be a celebration of success had become a wake.
Not far down the road at Skye Recreation Reserve, the scenes were in sharp contrast.
Skye spurned two early opportunities and was made to pay when Peter Koskos finished a one-on-one to give the visitors a shock lead in the 16th minute.
Lucas Bonnido made it 2-0 in the 30th minute with a replica of the opening goal, but five minutes later Skye hit back when Jason Nowakowski squared the ball to Elliott Craig to reduce the deficit.
However, the moment was short-lived after Skye goalkeeper Steven Hadjikakou struggled to deal with a Bonnido long-range effort, and the hosts were again staring down the barrel of a two-goal margin.
At half-time, an injured Hadjikakou had to be replaced by reserves keeper Mickey Chiodo, and news that Strikers were leading 3-1 did nothing to lift a sombre mood.
But two minutes into the second half, an Emmanuel Scarlett strike made it 2-3 and eight minutes later captain Ben Lund jinked his way through the Knox backline and slid home his finish to make it 3-3.
In the 69th minute, Skye took the lead for the first time in this contest when substitute Mitch Blake scored from close range following Lund’s square pass.
By then, word had filtered back that the tide at Centenary Park had turned against the home side and scores there were level, placing Skye in second spot.
Substitute Alexandro Boisseranc eased any nerves about the result at Skye with a 94th-minute strike to give the hosts a 5-3 win.
Skye players, coaches, friends, family and spectators began to congregate in the middle of the pitch waiting for confirmation of the Strikers’ result.
Five minutes felt like an eternity, but finally scenes of jubilation erupted and the Skye faithful celebrated a truly remarkable feat.
At the start of the season, Phil McGuinness’ men had been widely tipped to be embroiled in a relegation battle. At the end of the season, they were the envy of 10 other teams in State 2 South-East.
In State 1, Mornington defeated league champion Malvern City 2-1 at Dallas Brooks Park last weekend.
The result proved inconsequential as Bayside Argonauts strolled to a 4-0 home win over bottom side Gippsland United and secured second spot and promotion.
Mornington finished a point behind the Argonauts.
Saturday’s success over Malvern City came thanks to a James Kelly double — the first coming in the 38th minute when he headed home a Kieran Dover cross.
Kelly made it 2-0 in the 62nd minute when he pounced on a defensive blunder and unleashed a stunning volley that sailed into the top left corner of goal.
Malvern’s sole response came in the 81st minute when Stephen MacDonald’s flick-on header from a long throw sailed over Kane Runge’s head.
In State 4, Chelsea signed off on a second-placed finish with a 5-3 away win over relegated Somerville Eagles, Baxter had a 2-0 home win over Lyndale United, Rosebud won 4-2 away to Springvale City and Frankston Pines went down 6-1 away to champion Endeavour United.
League Golden Boot winner James Stinson scored for Chelsea in the first half but the visitors were 2-1 down at half-time.
The second half was a different matter though, and goals from Nathan Boccari, Marcelo Burgos, an own goal and Matteo Barba settled the issue.
Marcus Anastasiou (2) and Alessio Izzo scored for Somerville.
Rosebud signed off on a winning note when it won 4-2 away to third-placed Springvale City. Barney Johnson (2), Ethan Hunt and Riley Gill scored for the ’Buds.
Baxter left it late to secure the points against Lyndale. Brody Taylor broke the deadlock in the 75th minute and Jai Power added to the scoreline 10 minutes later.
Pines ended arguably the worst season in its history with Saturday’s comprehensive loss. Davey Jones scored for Pines who finished bottom with one solitary win and will start next season in the newly created State 6 South-East.
On a positive note, simply finishing the season without withdrawing from State 4 South is an achievement not to be underestimated, so the club now has the off-season to build a competitive squad — and maybe one that can start the long trek up the leagues.
In State 5, Seaford United made certain of finishing second and securing its league status with a 6-0 drubbing of visitor Cleeland United last weekend.
This one was decided in the first 45 minutes.
Dylan Waugh opened the scoring in the 18th minute when he ran onto a Matthew Davis pass and lobbed the advancing keeper, and 10 minutes later it was 2-0 after Jay McCabe robbed a defender then scored from a one-on-one.
A fine run down the right and a low strike from Zain Ahmad made it 3-0 in the 35th minute and right on half-time Conor Mcfall broke through and converted from a one-on-one.
Waugh grabbed a double in the 63rd minute. Mcfall’s header found Waugh on the edge of the box and his touch allowed him to turn and strike a volley for the goal of the day.
Abraham Leuth completed the scoreline in the 76th minute after a Corio Osorio strike from distance was parried and Leuth headed in.
Mount Eliza signed off in style, defeating Keysborough 4-0 away last weekend. The home side had no answer to a Troy Buchanan-Ferguson hat-trick and a goal from Ryan Blunt.
Mount Martha drew 0-0 at home to Bunyip District on Saturday while Aspendale lost 3-1 away to Pakenham United. Kailan Smith scored for Aspendale.
