SOCCER
A REFRESHED Peninsula Strikers line-up recorded its second win of the State 2 season when downing Noble Park United 4-2 at Centenary Park on Saturday in a dominant display.
Strikers’ boss Ross Walliss brought Hayden Schreck, Sam Delaney and recent signing Max Civil into the starting line-up.
Civil, ex-Mornington, and former Chilean pro Angel Orellana were both announced by Strikers as new signings late last week.
From the outset on Saturday Matt Harrington controlled the midfield for Strikers while Delaney capped off his energetic outing with a well-earned man-of-the-match performance.
Strikers struck early when Oscar Colgate-Jones whipped a dangerous ball across the box and Civil controlled and finished well.
Despite Strikers’ control Noble Park found an equaliser half-an-hour in.
A rare corner saw a high cross fall to Tristan Thompson who headed it back across the box for Luca Maio to finish and it was 1-1.
Little changed after the break with Strikers continuing to push, probe and create but they had to wait until the 75th minute to break through.
Orellana had been lively coming off the bench and he laid the ball back to Joel Bowen who struck it through a crowded area.
A clever decoy run by Riley Anderton had wrong-footed United keeper Rahul Ramkumar and the ball rolled into an unguarded net.
There was more to come from Orellana.
In the 87th minute he laid off a short corner to Colgate-Jones who burst into the box and hammered home a low shot to make it 3-1.
Three minutes later Orellana capped a dream debut by curling a low effort from the edge of the box into the bottom corner.
Noble Park grabbed a consolation goal four minutes into stoppage time but frustrations boiled over moments later and the visitors finished the match with 10 men following a late red card for Stefan Avric.
In VPL1 Langwarrin had a 1-0 away win against North Sunshine Eagles but it was no more than the visitors deserved.
Setting up to defend in numbers when out of possession and hit the home side quickly on the break often with long balls over the top Langy looked comfortable with this system.
A combination of the skill of North Sunshine keeper Rory Brian and poor finishing denied Langy throughout.
Tom Youngs had the best chance of the first half but was denied by Brian’s outstretched leg.
Two minutes into the second half Brad Blumenthal mistimed a free header at the back post.
In the second half Luke Goulding had a gilt-edged chance at the end of normal time when substitute Joe Tweats put him through only to watch in dismay as Goulding’s lob beat Brian but bounced wide of the far post.
The pivotal moment came in the 96th minute when Zach Bates went down in the box.
The referee pointed to the spot and big Lucas Portelli smashed his conversion home off the underside of the bar.
In State 1 Skye United was hammered 5-0 away to title favourite South Springvale while Mornington had a bye.
In State 4 Baxter, Chelsea and Rosebud lie third, fourth and fifth respectively with Chelsea last weekend’s only winner among the trio.
Chelsea struck in the first minute through usual suspect James Stinson.
A pinpoint Dylan Scott pass over the top allowed Stinson to let the ball bounce before chipping Kings Domain keeper Harrison Elliott.
Two minutes into the second half a Christian Murray through ball found Stinson in perfect position to take a touch and slot low past Elliott.
Kings Domain hit back in the 69th minute through Dylan Keane but two minutes later his teammate Shane Coughlan was sent off for dissent.
New signing John Gibney came off the Chelsea bench in the second half.
He’s a holding midfielder signed from Waverley Wanderers with previous stints at Brighton and Kings Domain.
Baxter travelled to Ross Reserve on Friday night but couldn’t dent Springvale City’s championship tilt losing 3-2.
Baxter led 1-0 at half-time thanks to Charlie O’Connell but three second half goals had the home side in control.
Kyle Eichenberger made it 3-2 in the 90th minute.
Rosebud lost 3-1 on Saturday night at home to Ringwood City.
“We were well beaten by a super Ringwood City side that is clearly the best we have faced this season,” Budders’ boss Jason Symonds said.
Late in the game Elliott Craig scored his 10th goal of the campaign for Rosebud after a pinpoint cross by Mark O’Connor.
Striker Noah Musso is back with Rosebud following his spell with Peninsula Strikers and came off the bench in the second half.
In State 5 Somerville Eagles emerged from Saturday’s derby shootout with visitor Seaford United 4-2 victors.
The first half saw Seaford spurn multiple chances to score including a Matt Cobb header cleared off the line but Somerville’s efficiency up front was remarkable and the home side led 3-0 at the break.
Max Watson scored the first of what was to be his maiden senior hat-trick when he tapped in from close range in the 18th minute.
Seaford was adamant that it was offside but the Somerville linesman was metres behind play so there was no flag.
Further goals from Watson and Joe Hitchcock gave Seaford a mountain to climb.
It fought back after the break with Zain Ahmad converting from a one-on-one in the 51st minute but six minutes later Watson completed his hat-trick to make it 4-1.
The final goal came in the 75th minute when Ahmad converted a Jayden LeBron cross and the final whistle left Seaford lamenting its profligacy up front.
Last week Somerville welcomed back talismanic striker Marcus Anastasiou from his stint with Chelsea.
In State 6 Mount Eliza maintained its promotion push with a 2-0 away win over Whitehorse United.
Second-half goals from Michael Wright and Fraser Keon settled the issue for the second-placed locals.
Mentone lost 3-1 at home to Knox United on Saturday with Osman Gowni scoring late for the home side.
The second half featured three send-offs with Mentone’s Frankie Varsamis receiving two yellow cards in the 61st minute while Knox’s Aden Bhatti and Amish Chandra received second yellows in the 64th and 69th minutes respectively.
Lee Barber has resigned for personal reasons and Mentone stalwart Dave Taylor is head coach.
“Spirits are high, players are coming back to the club and we look forward to the second half of the season with renewed optimism,” club president Cameron Dunkerley said.
Frankston Pines lost 6-2 at home to Casey Panthers on Saturday night.
It was a poor performance from Pines who had Said Uygur sent off for a second caution in the 86th minute.
Kenny Akalan scored both Pines’ goals.
In State 7 Aspendale drew 2-2 away to Cleeland United on Saturday missing a golden opportunity to end the host’s unbeaten start to the season.
Cleeland was gifted the early opener when a slack pass allowed Abu Lemi to round Josh Mravljak and slot the ball home.
The Stingrays hit back in the 56th minute with a close-range finish from Jack Gallagher and five minutes later hit the lead via a tremendous 35-metre strike from Ryan Mravljak.
After losing a late equaliser scored by Nush Konah Aspendale’s Aidan Bannon and Mitch Hodder spurned two glorious chances to win the game.
Despite a 1-0 defeat away to second-placed Keysborough District last weekend Mount Martha delivered its most complete performance of the season.
Playing with no bench due to injuries and player unavailability 11 men executed a disciplined game plan – frustrating the hosts with a compact mid-block, dominating the second half and creating the clearest chances of the match.
The only goal came from the penalty spot with 19 minutes remaining.
The result was harsh but the performance sent a clear message that this Mariners’ group is building.
NEXT WEEKEND’S GAMES
Saturday 30 May, 2.15pm
Burwood City v Aspendale, Ballyshannassy Park
Saturday 30 May, 3pm
Hampton East Brighton v Mornington, Dendy Park
Skye Utd v St Kilda, Skye Recreation Reserve
Mooroolbark v Peninsula Strikers, Esther Park Reserve
Baxter v Ringwood City, Baxter Park
East Kew v Rosebud, Willsmere Park
Greater Dandenong v Chelsea, WJ Turner Reserve
Somerville Eagles v Templestowe Wolves, Westernport Secondary College
Seaford Utd v Yarra Jets, North Seaford Reserve
Brighton v Mentone, Dendy Park
Mount Eliza v Bunyip District, Emil Madsen Reserve
Mount Martha v Glen Waverley, Civic Reserve
Saturday 30 May, 6pm
Frankston Pines v Pakenham Utd, Monterey Reserve
Saturday 30 May, 6.15pm
Melbourne Serbija v Langwarrin, Kevin Bartlet Reserve
