SOCCER
NEW signings for Rosebud, a first win of the season for Langwarrin while Peninsula Strikers and Baxter are on a Cup collision course.
These were the main stories to emerge in the last week as Rosebud gaffer Jason Symonds put his men through their paces twice in 48 hours with friendlies against Skye United on Thursday night and Mount Eliza on Saturday evening.
On Thursday night Rosebud went down 4-2 to its State 1 host.
A stunning free kick from Charlie Gunning and a fine finish from Connor Wharton enabled Rosebud to go in 2-2 at the interval but Skye proved too strong in the second half.
Skye’s goals came from Mitch Blake (2), Shameit Sharma and a triallist.
On Saturday it was a different challenge posed by State 6 visitor Mount Eliza with Rosebud winning 3-0.
Despite the scoreline Gerry McDonagh has done a great job with a young Mount Eliza side that is well organised, energetic and works very hard.
It was a good test for Rosebud, who for its part played some great combination football and dominated possession for long periods.
Rosebud’s scorers were Elliott Craig (2) and Barney Johnson.
The big news at Rosebud is the influx of four newcomers to the senior squad: Elisha Davies (from South Melbourne), Ben Craig (Mornington), Sam Timuska-Carr (Aspendale) and Jack Heseltine (Mornington).
Davies and Craig can play on the wing or in midfield, Timuska-Carr can play at full-back or in midfield and Heseltine is a central defender who can also play up front.
“They’re a versatile bunch and good footballers and, most importantly, great people,” Symonds said.
In VPL1 news Langwarrin overran FC Melbourne Srbija 3-1 at Lawton Park last weekend.
Much of the first 45 minutes was played inside Langy’s attacking half and the host had the better of the few clear-cut chances created.
Langwarrin’s Charlie Fry, who had come into the starting 11 as a replacement for the injured Lucas Portelli, was not just doing his job as a central defender he also posed an aerial threat to FC Melbourne from set pieces.
It was Fry who broke the deadlock in the 62nd minute when he was at the back post to head home a curling corner from the left by Alun Webb.
But four minutes later the ball bounced about the Langy area and eventually fell into the path of Owen Sheppard for a tap-in from close range.
Sheppard went from hero to villain with a second yellow card and mandatory dismissal in the 71st minute.
Langy gaffer Jamie Skelly had aces up his sleeve and played two of them in the second half with Tom Youngs and Joe Tweats coming off the bench in the 56th and 67th minutes respectively.
Youngs set about doing his thing wide left and teasing and tormenting defenders while Tweats was a bundle of energy in midfield.
Luke Adams was at the back post in the 82nd minute and headed over the keeper where the incoming Webb finished off the move from point-blank range to make it 2-1.
Five minutes later came the goal of the game.
Tweats surged forward from midfield then played a one-two with Youngs before slotting the ball home and putting an end to FC Melbourne’s faint hopes.
In Cup news Peninsula Strikers and Baxter are on a collision course at Centenary Park on Saturday and their second preliminary round clash looks certain to draw a big crowd.
Not only is this the venue of Baxter’s remarkable Cup success in 2019 against Altona North it also is the venue that many Baxter players once called home.
Jai Power, Kyle Eichenberger, Cody Storton-French, Jordy May, Jacob Pay, Michael Millar and Calvin Delaney know every centimetre of the manicured Centenary surface.
Storton-French is injured but the others are expected to be in Baxter’s matchday squad.
Both Strikers and Baxter lost friendlies last weekend in the lead-up to Saturday’s Cup clash.
Strikers went down 3-1 to visitor Heatherton United while Seaford beat Baxter 2-1 at Baxter Park.
Heatherton’s first goal was from the penalty spot but its next two exposed an aerial threat that Strikers didn’t deal with.
The home side’s reply came after a Danny Brooks free-kick fell to Harry Zervos who converted from inside the box.
At Baxter Park the home side had 10 players unavailable.
But an important recent signing in goalkeeper Colby Jones lined up for Baxter.
Jones, 24, has played for Langwarrin, Beaumaris, Doveton and Berwick City and joined Baxter because he was keen to work under head coach Billy Armour.
“I joined Baxter because it felt right at the time as I have a young child and I know that Baxter is a good family club,” Jones said.
“I’ve also wanted to work with Billy for a while so I’m excited to see what he has in store for us this season.”
Jones made a series of first-half saves to deny Seaford striker Zain Ahmad and when Seaford got caught trying to play out from the back Charlie O’Connell made it pay.
Jones was forced off through injury at half-time and was replaced by Kyle Johnston.
Seaford pressed hard in the second half but had to wait until late in the game before equalising.
From a goalmouth scramble the ball fell to Mitch Lander who tapped home from close range.
Minutes later Seaford nabbed the winner.
A well-played ball down the right picked out new Seaford signing Madhi Hazara (ex-Endeavour Hills Fire) and his cross found the ever-dangerous Ahmad who made no mistake.
In other friendlies Frankston Pines beat Somerville Eagles 3-1, Nasha Hussainy scored for Skye in its 1-1 draw away to Knox City, James Kelly scored for Mornington in a 1-1 draw away to Ballarat City while Daniel Vella scored for Chelsea in a 1-1 draw with Waverley Wanderers.
Pines’ goals came from new striker Kenan Akalan.
He played for Berwick City as a junior then was in the under-21s at Dandenong Thunder and Oakleigh Cannons.
His senior career has been at Dingley Stars, Keysborough Cardinals, South East United, Tullamarine FC and for the last two seasons he’s been on the books of Dandenong South.
Pines led 1-0 at half-time thanks to Akalan’s opener in the 41st minute.
Adam Steele played a superb ball over the full-back for Alec Keisoglu to fire across goal and Akalan was at the back post for a tap-in.
It was 2-0 in the 64th minute when Akalan was the quickest to react following a good save from a Howie Anderson shot.
Two minutes later Somerville youngster Will Doughton showed good strength then smashed the ball past Pines keeper Caleb Parr to make it 2-1.
In the 70th minute Akalan completed his hat-trick with a shot that the Somerville keeper spilled into the net.
Pines assistant coach Chris Sanderson has high expectations for Akalan.
“Kenny’s going to be a big player for us,” Sanderson said.
At Knox on Saturday Skye took the lead against the run of play after a well-taken free-kick from Hussainy.
Knox equalised in the second half after a slick interpassing move.
Both teams had a chance to win it in hot conditions but it ended all square.
Here is this week’s VPL1 match:
Friday 27 February
Langwarrin v Northcote City, Lawton Park, 7.30pm
Here are second-round Dockerty/Australia Cup matches involving local clubs:
Saturday 28 February
Peninsula Strikers v Baxter, Centenary Park, 3pm
Somerville Eagles v Yarra Jets, Westernport Secondary College, 3pm
Hampton Park Utd v Chelsea, KM Reedy Reserve, 3pm
Sale Utd v Frankston Pines, Godfrey Baldwin Reserve, 5.15pm
Here are some upcoming friendlies:
Friday 27 February
Knox City v Mornington, Egan Lee Reserve, 7.30pm
Saturday 28 February
Lalor Utd v Skye Utd, HR Uren Reserve, 3pm
