SOCCER
PENINSULA Strikers brought State 2 leader Knox City’s unbeaten run to a halt with Saturday’s 4-3 win at Centenary Park.
Knox broke quickly in the fifth minute after Strikers lost possession in midfield and Alex Dimitriou had no problem converting from a one-on-one with Strikers keeper Jamie Walker.
The home team hit back in the 22nd minute when an Oscar Colgate-Jones cross was headed home by Riley Anderton.
The Kiwi striker was on target again in the 34th minute.
Max Civil sent Matt Harrington down the wing and his cross found Colgate-Jones whose shot was blocked with Anderton pouncing on the rebound to make it 2-1 from close range.
Two minutes into the second half Colgate-Jones laid the ball off for Harrington who found space then slotted the ball home and Strikers enjoyed a two-goal buffer.
Things went from bad to worse for the visitors seven minutes later when Angelo Agama was shown a straight red following a scuffle and in the 59th minute Knox had a mountain to climb.
Anderton played Harrington in who drew out the Knox keeper then laid the ball off to Civil who made it 4-1.
In the 70th minute Dimitriou struck a hard and low free-kick into the bottom corner to make it 4-2 and four minutes into time added he completed his hat-trick but it was too little too late.
Strikers claimed an important scalp and one that should give the squad confidence that it can start to climb into the top half of the table.
In other Strikers news Joel Bowen has left the club and was expected to join White Star Dandenong as we went to press.
In VPL1 Langwarrin thumped Manningham United 4-1 at Lawton Park on Saturday.
The home side got off to a flyer with Tommy Youngs and Joe Tweats combining in the fifth minute to set up Brad Blumenthal on the right and his strike nestled inside the far post with Manningham keeper Jordan Olds well beaten.
Manningham hit back 10 minutes into the second half when a poor clearance fell to Eoghan Stokes who took a touch then smashed a fierce shot from just outside the box into the far corner of goal.
In the 62nd minute Welsh striker Alun Webb broke clear only to be pulled back by Manningham’s George Tsakilidis who was red carded for denying a goalscoring opportunity.
Langy regained the lead in the 71st minute when Tweats was sent clear on the left of the area and his brilliant curling shot into the far top corner made it 2-1.
Three minutes later it was 3-1.
Webb checked his run then was sent through and deftly dinked the ball over Olds to send the Langy fans into raptures.
Midfielder Noah Holmes iced this one in the 89th minute when he received a short free-kick then thumped a stinging low drive past a despairing Olds.
In State 1 Mornington produced one of its grittiest performances of the season overcoming an early red card to defeat Doveton 2–0 in wet and challenging conditions at Civic Reserve on Saturday.
The game took a dramatic turn in the 13th minute when Kieron Dover was sent off following an off-the-ball incident.
The Seagulls responded in style and took the lead in the 21st minute.
Patient build-up play from the back four into midfield released Luke Goulding down the flank and his pinpoint cross found James Kelly who made no mistake.
Despite Doveton throwing everything it could at Mornington the Seagulls’ resilience, organisation and experience shone through.
On the stroke of half-time Callum Goulding doubled the lead with a superb half-volley from the edge of the area that took a slight deflection on its way into the net sending Mornington into the break with a commanding 2–0 lead.
The second half was a fiercely contested affair with tackles flying in and both sides battling for every ball.
Doveton looked to find a way back through set pieces and deliveries into the box but Mornington controlled the game superbly and limited its opponent to few clear-cut chances.
Mornington’s substitutes played a crucial role when called upon working tirelessly alongside their teammates to maintain the intensity and discipline required in what was a memorable victory for the home side.
Skye United lost 4-0 away to Banyule City on Saturday.
Skye has signed midfielder Bonel Obradovic from Endeavour United.
In State 4 Baxter enjoyed a 1-0 away win over Rosebud while Chelsea had a 4-1 home win over Riversdale last weekend.
Substitute Kyle Eichenberger grabbed a second-half winner for Baxter.
Chelsea talisman James Stinson opened the scoring against Riversdale with a near post header in the fourth minute.
Liam Bursford struck twice to give Chelsea a handy three-goal lead but a second caution for Stinson saw the start striker sent off in the 30th minute.
Right on half-time Josh Aubry’s back post header made it 3-1 but the goal of the game came from Michael Swinnerton in the 77th minute.
The right back charged forward then unleashed a stinging drove from just outside the box that gave Riversdale keeper Justin Carlier no chance.
In State 5 Somerville Eagles had a 1-0 away win over Yarra Jets while Seaford United lost 3-2 away to Fortuna 60.
Somerville was reduced to 10 men in the 58th minute when Tom Pollock was red carded but four minutes later Nick Simmons nabbed the winner.
Seaford striker Dylan Waugh put the visitors ahead with a vintage strike in the 17th minute, a 35-metre half-volley that soared over Fortuna keeper Brodie Inglis.
Seven minutes later Seaford led 2-0 with Waugh’s floated cross headed home by Zain Ahmad.
Fortuna’s comeback started in the 30th minute when Robbie Stephen pounced on a goalmouth scramble and a minute later it was 2-2 via a superb strike from Jordan Campbell.
Both Waugh and Sean Crespo missed headers in the second half that they should have converted and the turning point in the contest came in the 91st minute.
Matt Cobb missed a close-range chance by putting the ball over the bar but when play quickly transferred to the other end of the pitch Fortuna’s Lachlan Frendo scored the winner.
In State 6 Mount Eliza drew 0-0 away to Old Melburnians, Frankston Pines lost 3-0 away to Old St Kevins and Mentone lost 3-0 at home to Casey Panthers.
In State 7 both Aspendale and Mount Martha lost.
Jack Gallagher scored for Aspendale in its 3-1 home loss to Boronia while Mount Martha went down 4-1 away to Endeavour Hills.
Lucas Harding scored for Mount Martha.
NEXT WEEKEND’S GAMES
FRIDAY 19 June, 7.30pm
Langwarrin v Port Melbourne, Lawton Park
SATURDAY 20 June, 3pm
Collingwood City v Mornington, Kevin Bartlett Reserve
Waverley City v Peninsula Strikers, Larpent Reserve
Ashburton Utd v Rosebud, Ashburton Park
East Kew v Chelsea, Willsmere Park
Seaford Utd v Sandown Lions, North Seaford Reserve
Fortuna 60 v Somerville Eagles, Crinigan Road South Reserve
Mentone v Frankston Pines, Mentone Grammar Playing Fields
Mount Eliza v Old Ivanhoe, Emil Madsen Reserve
Aspendale v Croydon Ranges, Aspendale Gardens Sports Ground
Mount Martha v Keysborough, Civic Reserve
Skye Utd BYE
Baxter BYE
