SOCCER
SKYE United emerged from Saturday’s chaotic contest with Hampton East Brighton with a precious point after a six-goal thriller at Dendy Park.
Both teams were searching for their first win of the season and the hosts were well on their way to breaking that duck when taking a 2-0 lead in the first half.
HEB struck its first blow in the 33rd minute when Jay Leader headed home from a corner and 10 minutes later Joshua Frame flicked on his header from a free-kick to make it 2-0.
Skye hit back on the stroke of half-time when Jason Nowakowski’s long ball found Marcus Spivey and the big man rounded HEB keeper Anirudh Kappiyoor to make it 2-1.
Skye started the better of the sides in the second half and within five minutes scores were level.
An Alex Boisseranc cross found Artim Baki sliding in at the back post and it was 2-2.
It was Baki at the double four minutes later when he struck a loose ball outside the box which curled into the top corner.
Skye was in front for the first time in the contest but the frenetic pace of the match didn’t slow.
The visitors had a great chance to ice this one but substitute Mitch Blake had his penalty saved by Kappiyoor and in the 90th minute Flynn O’Reilly’s header drew the home side level.
When the referee pointed to the spot in the fifth minute of added time the home side had every reason to believe that the three points were heading its way.
That was until substitute Bryan Bran slammed his conversion attempt into the crossbar.
Skye gets another chance to record that elusive State 1 win on Saturday when it hosts bottom side Collingwood City.
Skye has led in four of its six games this season but so far has been unable to defend its lead.
In VPL1 Langwarrin remained in the relegation zone when beaten 4-1 by promotion candidate Melbourne Knights at Lawton Park on Saturday.
When striker Alub Webb was tripped inside the area in the 16th minute big Lucas Portelli had no problem scoring from the spot.
But the visitors replied in the 24th minute from a break on the right and a cutback that was angled first time by Josh Divin past young Langy keeper Branten Kindler.
Eight minutes later Langy went behind and never recovered.
A Knights corner was headed to the edge of the area where Luka Kolic left Rogan McGeorge tackling thin air before sending a superbly curled strike into the top corner.
In the 56th minute a slip by Kindler gifted a turnover and Kolic made it 3-1.
He completed his hat-trick in style in the 79th minute.
He cut inside from the right playing two one-twos before easily slotting the ball past a helpless Kindler.
Langy continues to have problems defending having conceded 68 goals in its last 30 games.
It needs to address this problem and quickly if it is to save its season.
In State 2 Peninsula Strikers drew 1-1 with Gippsland United at Centenary Park last weekend.
Gippsland scored in the 8th minute by playing the ball to the byline and cutting it back for a one-touch finish from Nathan Lugton.
Strikers were on top for the rest of the half with Gippsland keeper Liam Andersen making an excellent save from a Riley Anderton header.
In the 33rd minute Joel Bowen found Danny Brooks inside the box and he skipped around a defender then slotted the ball to the left of Andersen for the equaliser.
Strikers had the balance of play for the rest of the match but Gippsland defended well which was enough to earn the visitors a point.
In State 4 Chelsea and Baxter drew 0-0 at Edithvale Recreation Reserve on Saturday.
Both keepers were in form and Baxter’s central defensive combination of Cody Storton-French and Aiden McKenna stymied the threat of Chelsea’s gun striker James Stinson and Daniel Vella.
Rosebud lost 2-1 to league leader Springvale City at Olympic Park on Saturday evening.
The Budders led 1-0 in the 16th minute with Elliott Craig finishing off a slick interpassing move.
Right on half-time Rosebud’s Elish Davies was sent off following an altercation with Springvale’s Callum Herd.
Davies exited the pitch with a cut and blackened eye and Rosebud was incensed when Herd only received a yellow card.
Rosebud head coach Jason Symonds also was shown a red card.
“I just asked the referee what was going on,” Symonds said.
“It was non-abusive just a query but by then things had gotten out of control.”
When play restarted Springvale’s Marc Watson scored with a heavily deflected shot and the sides went in at half-time locked at 1-1.
The visitors hit the front two minutes into the second half when big Matty Hames hit the target.
But Rosebud’s 10 men kept creating chances and came close to equalising a few times.
In the 90th minute Springvale substitute Varounen Vengadachellum was shown a straight red for a dreadful tackle on Sam Timuska-Carr that looks likely to sideline the Rosebud player for some time.
In State 5 Seaford United lost 1-0 at home to Mount Waverley City while Somerville Eagles lost 2-0 at home to Monash Villareal last weekend.
Seaford only has itself to blame for not taking advantage of multiple scoring chances with the winner coming in the 93rd minute.
Seaford’s Mahdi Haidari was yellow carded for a second time in the 51st minute and Mount Waverley’s Martin Palinic suffered a similar fate in the 92nd minute.
In State 6 Frankston Pines notched its second win of the season when it downed Knox United 3-1 at Monterey Reserve on Saturday evening.
In the 9th minute Nathan Yole played the ball inside to Said Uygur who took a touch then hammered home a superb strike.
Pines went further ahead in the 30th minute after Naseer Mohammad was on the end of a great free-kick and played it back across goal for Kenny Akalan to head in.
In the 54th minute Jack Carter’s corner fell to Akalan who smashed home his second to make it 3-0.
Knox’s sole reply came in the 73rd minute when a misstruck cross fell nicely to Flavien Trivino to poke home.
Mount Eliza recovered from a two-goal deficit to draw 2-2 away to Old St Kevins on Saturday.
Just before half-time a defensive error set up Old St Kevins forward Yu Fung Ethan Wong who made no mistake from a one-on-one with Mount Eliza keeper Micky Chiodo.
It was 2-0 in the 53rd minute when Ethan Wong scored again this time when his shot skimmed off a sliding defender.
Mount Eliza’s comeback started in the 63rd minute when Old St Kevins keeper Dale George stopped an Alfie Harris shot just short of the line and the incoming Josh Luca did the rest.
The equaliser came four minutes later when a well-taken Noah Green corner was headed in by Callum Drysdale.
Mentone lost 2-0 at home to Old Ivanhoe on Saturday but gave a good account of itself against the league leader.
In State 7 Mount Martha lost 5-0 at home to Noble Suns while Aspendale went down 4-2 away to league leader Keysborough.
Taylan Yildirim and John Gallagher scored for Aspendale.
NEXT WEEKEND’S GAMES
Friday 15 May, 8.30pm
Chisholm Utd v Peninsula Strikers, Jack Edwards Reserve
Saturday 16 May, 3pm
Skye Utd v Collingwood City, Skye Recreation Reserve
Old Scotch v Mornington, HA Smith Reserve
Baxter v Monash University, Baxter Park
Riversdale v Rosebud, Frog Hollow Reserve
Seaford Utd v Templestowe Wolves, North Seaford Reserve
Mount Waverley City v Somerville Eagles, Tally Ho Reserve
Mount Eliza v Mentone, Emil Madsen Reserve
Brighton v Frankston Pines, Dendy Park
Aspendale v Lilydale Montrose Utd, Aspendale Gardens Sports Ground
Mount Martha v Cleeland Utd, Civic Reserve
Saturday 16 May, 5pm
North Geelong v Langwarrin, Elcho Park
Chelsea BYE
