SOCCER
FOOTBALL Victoria dumped Western United from all FV competitions last week effective immediately.
The move followed the Federal Court’s decision to order WMG Football Club Limited to be wound up in insolvency.
WMG held the franchise for Western United’s A-League participation and was the entity through which it competed in FV competitions.
The decision has important consequences for local clubs especially through its impact on promotion and relegation in VPL1 the league in which Langwarrin competes.
There will be a flow-on effect of Western United’s demise throughout the State Leagues where most local clubs compete.
In a statement released by FV late last week it claimed to have exhausted all avenues through which it could allow Western United to fulfil its remaining 2026 fixtures.
“FV has explored every available option to identify a pathway that would enable WUFC’s teams to complete the 2026 season,” the statement said.
“Unfortunately, following the Court’s decision and after thoroughly reviewing the requirements of the FV Constitution, Club Compliance Bylaw and Club Insolvency Policy, there is no longer a viable pathway for WUFC to continue participating in FV competitions.”
In VPL1 (the league in which Western’s FV team competed) the highest ranked relegated club will remain in the league.
Three clubs were due to be relegated but now just two will face the drop into VPL2.
Langwarrin is third last and the change to relegation rules gives it some respite but head coach Jamie Skelly recognised the task still facing his team.
“At the moment we are three points clear of North Sunshine and four clear of Port Melbourne,” he said.
“They both play on Saturday before our game against Melbourne Knights on Sunday so we will know leading into our last two games what we need to do to survive.
There is no change to promotion from State 1 so Mornington’s best hope is to cling onto second spot and face a play-off against the runner-up in North-West 1 for a place in next year’s VPL2 competition.
Currently State 1 South-East and State 4 South-East only have 11 teams each and FV has set out the promotion rules throughout the remaining State Leagues with current relegation rules still in place (two down).
The changes to promotion see the top three teams in State 2 to State 4 being promoted while in State 5 to State 7 the top three will be promoted with the fourth team facing a promotion play-off with its North-West counterpart.
In State 1 last week Mornington maintained its grip on second with a comfortable 4-0 home win over Old Scotch on Saturday while Skye United all but sealed relegation when hammered 7-0 away to Collingwood City on Friday night.
Mornington turned in a dominant display and its task was aided by the red card shown to Old Scotch’s Stace Valiakas in the 36th minute.
Seven minutes later Shaun Kenny unleashed a thunderous drive from outside the area that Old Scotch keeper Matty Lionakis had no hope of saving.
James Kelly doubled the lead in the 55th minute with a header and in the 66th minute Campbell Steedman hit the post but Callum Goulding reacted quicky to smash home the rebound to make it 3-0.
The contest was well and truly out of the visitors’ reach and Lachie Candy’s good finish following an excellent passage of play through midfield was the final nail in the coffin.
In State 2 Peninsula Strikers drew 0-0 with Chisholm United at Centenary Park on Saturday.
In State 4 Baxter’s relegation battle with Monash University ended in a 0-0 away draw on Saturday while Rosebud lost Saturday night’s home match 2-0 to Riversdale.
The Budders deserved something out of this game as they turned in one of their better performances of the season hitting the bar and post and missing several chances.
In State 5 Somerville Eagles enjoyed a 4-2 home win over Mount Waverley City last weekend while Seaford United had a gritty 1-0 away win over Templestowe Wolves.
Somerville struck just before the interval with a deflected Max Watson strike.
Goals from Mount Waverley’s Taiga Britt and Tommy Kourambas in the 56th and 69th minutes put the visitors 2-1 up but Joe Hitchcoach equalised in the 73rd minute with a shot into the top corner from outside the box.
Somerville regained the lead in the 80th minute through a Trey Dekker shot and Tom Simmons’ strike in the 89th minute settled the issue and maintained his claim for league top scorer honours.
Mount Waverley’s Chris Altidis was sent off in the 92nd minute.
In a game of few chances Seaford had the better of the first half against Templestowe with Dylan Waugh hitting the bar and later missing the chance to lob the Templestowe keeper.
The decisive moment came early in the second half when Waugh’s perfectly weighted ball found Jayden Lebron on the left of the box and he converted with a low strike.
Seaford then withstood the expected Templestowe onslaught all but ending the home side’s title aspirations.
In State 6 Mount Eliza had to wait until the 80th minute to make its mark against already relegated Mentone last weekend with a 1-0 away win.
The pivotal move started with a Jacob Biggs’ throw-in to Josh Luca who sent substitute Biggs down the left wing and his cross was slotted home by Troy Buchanan-Ferguson.
Despite a fine first-half performance Frankston Pines failed to capitalise on four good chances and found itself 1-0 down at half-time after being caught on the break.
Pines conceded two more goals after the interval when chasing the game.
In State 7 the shock result of the round was Mount Martha’s 2-1 away win over Cleeland United.
It was just the third time this year that Mount Martha was able to sing the club song at game’s end.
Under head coach Gary Talbot the under-18s have been training with the senior squad and teenagers Mitch Batten and Mitch Brown made their senior debuts on Saturday.
Cleeland led 1-0 at half-time but when Batten was brought down in the box captain Adam Steele stepped up and converted the resultant penalty.
In the 75th minute Batten made his mark when the debutant lobbed the Cleeland keeper for the winner.
Aspendale’s fate is in its own hands and Jason Grieve’s men sit third with a genuine chance of promotion.
Friday night’s 4-1 away win over Lilydale Montrose United gives it a three-point buffer over fourth-placed Keysborough District with a nine-goal superior goal difference.
Mitch Hodder’s penalty put Aspendale 1-0 up on Friday and in the 12th minute Nathan Padinis headed home from an inswinging Tom Machin corner.
Jacob Perez pulled one back in the 30th minute but right on half-time the visitors’ two-goal cushion was restored when Ryan Mravljak’s shot was deflected off Felipe Cabeza for an own goal.
When Mravljak was brought down inside the area in the 60th minute Hodder made no mistake with his second penalty of the night.
THIS WEEK’S GAMES
Friday 21 August, 8.30pm
Skye Utd v South Springvale, Skye Recreation Reserve
Noble Park Utd v Peninsula Strikers, Parkfield Reserve
Saturday 22 August, 3pm
Baxter v Springvale City, Baxter Park
Kings Domain v Chelsea, Fawkner Park North Pavilion
Seaford Utd v Somerville Eagles, North Seaford Reserve
Mount Eliza v Whitehorse Utd, Emil Madsen Reserve
Knox Utd v Mentone, Carrington Park
Casey Panthers v Frankston Pines, Monterey Reserve
Aspendale v Cleeland Utd, Aspendale Gardens Sports Ground
Mount Martha v Keysborough District, Civic Reserve
Saturday 22 August, 5.15pm
Ringwood City v Chelsea, Jubilee Park
Sunday 23 August, 3pm
Melbourne Knights v Langwarrin, Tompsett Stadium
Mornington BYE
