Soccer
MORNINGTON’S promotion push maintained momentum on Saturday when it proved too classy for St Kilda Celts at Civic Reserve.
James Kelly had home team fans roaring their approval in the 15th minute when he scored a contender for goal of the season.
Kieran Dover crossed from the right and Kelly’s stunning bicycle kick sent the ball rocketing past St Kilda keeper Matt Harrington.
Nine minutes later Kelly was the main man again with another spectacular effort.
He pounced on a poor clearance, rounded an opponent and from 25 metres struck a powerful shot that once more left Harrington clutching at thin air.
St Kilda was on the back foot and its task became even harder when Dover made it 3-0 in the 33rd minute.
Kelly turned provider deftly laying the ball inside to Dover whose low shot from the edge of the area beat Harrington and went inside the far post.
If the contest was all but over when the teams went in at half-time it certainly was a minute into the second half and it was Dover at the double.
A free-kick was played to Nate Sim on the right and his far post cross was headed in by Dover to make it 4-0 and put an exclamation mark on a dominant display by the Seagulls.
Mornington head coach Adam Jamieson was in Europe and assistant Nathan Peel was interstate but both are expected back this week.
Marinos Panayi took over the coaching reins against St Kilda assisted by Kyle Johnson and Hayden Taylor.
In VPL1 Langwarrin remains fighting for its league status with the bottom three clubs dropping into VPL2 next season.
The local side lost 3-1 on Friday night to Northcote at John Cain Reserve and is second last in the league.
Zac Bates’ season ended in the 21st minute when he had to be assisted from the pitch after suffering a broken collarbone.
Bates had just returned to Langy first-team action after breaking a leg in the off-season.
He was playing against his previous club and has also been on South Melbourne’s books.
Bates has undergone corrective surgery.
There was little between these sides in the first half and the deadlock was broken in the 53rd minute in spectacular style.
Langy was playing the ball about at the back then eventually brought keeper Branten Kindler into the action.
His pass upfield was intercepted and in a flash Sam Warde had sent a well-weighted strike from just inside the attacking half over Kindler’s head and into goal.
The visitors hit back in the 70th minute.
Kindler played a long ball downfield that Northcote’s defence didn’t deal with.
Brad Blumenthal looked to be through when brought down outside the area and the loose ball fell to Tom Youngs whose predatory instincts kicked in and he neatly slotted it past advancing Northcote keeper Kieran Brown.
It took until the 88th minute for Northcote to regain the lead when Giorgio Serdenes made no mistake with a free header from a corner on the left.
The game was put out of the visitors’ reach two minutes later when Langy substitute Ben Mason lost the ball to Zack Appleton just inside the area and the Northcote player struck a firm low strike that kept his side well positioned in the title race.
Langwarrin senior assistant coach Adam Poole and under-23s head coach Ben Caffrey are at the World Cup finals due to kick off this week.
They will miss up to six weeks of the VPL1 season with former assistant Simon Storey taking on Poole’s role on an interim basis.
Langwarrin was hoping to seal the transfer of an NPL midfielder as we went to press.
In State 4 news Chelsea drew 3-3 with State 3 outfit Sandringham at Sillitoe Reserve on Thursday night.
Chelsea rested Dylan Scott, James Stinson and Paddy Briggs.
The visitors started well but once Sandringham opened the scoring it was much the better side in the first half.
The home team took a 3-0 lead before Chelsea responded just before half-time when Dubuol Kong took a touch at the back post and finished well.
Adam Bartosy made a guest appearance for Chelsea coming off the bench in the second half and it didn’t take long for the former first teamer to make his mark hammering home a low firm strike from the edge of the box to make it 3-2.
With a few minutes to go Liam Pavlov grabbed the equaliser with a close-range finish following a well-worked move down the left.
In State 6 news Frankston Pines have signed former Heatherton United central defender Emir Mujanic.
The 28-year-old debuted in Pines’ recent 1-1 home draw with Pakenham United.
Mujanic started with Berwick City juniors then switched to South Melbourne then Richmond before signing with Heatherton.
He didn’t play last year due to niggling injuries but he showed against Pakenham that he’ll be an asset to the local side.
“Kenan (Akalan) spoke to me and said I should come down so I had a couple of training sessions and the coaches seemed to like what they saw and felt that I could fit it,” Mujanic said.
Although he’s only been at Pines for a short period Mujanic is confident that he’s made the right move.
“This club is heading in the right direction and if not this year then definitely next year we can go for promotion.”
Pines head coach Al Baldwin had no hesitation in pitching Mujanic straight into the starting line-up.
“Emir impressed in training, looked comfortable on the ball, fit and composed,” Baldwin said.
“We thought he’d be suited to a change in formation for us and he fitted in superbly.”
NEXT WEEKEND’S GAMES
Saturday 13 June, 3pm
Langwarrin v Manningham Utd Blues, Lawton Park
Mornington v Doveton, Civic Reserve
Banyule City v Skye Utd, Banyule Flats Reserve
Peninsula Strikers v Knox City, Centenary Park
Chelsea v Riversdale, Edithvale Recreation Reserve
Fortuna 60 v Seaford Utd, Crinigan Road South Reserve
Yarra Jets v Somerville Eagles, Fairfield Park Senior Field
Mentone v Casey Panthers, Mentone Grammar Playing Fields
Old Melburnians v Mount Eliza, Robert Menzies Reserve
Old St Kevins v Frankston Pines, Howard Dawson Reserve
Aspendale v Boronia, Aspendale Gardens Sports Ground
Endeavour Hills v Mount Martha, Power Reserve
Saturday 13 June, 6pm
Rosebud v Baxter, Olympic Park
