SOCCER
JOSH Hine’s four-goal haul underpinned a whitewash at Comets Stadium on Saturday as Mornington hammered the home side 6-0.
English striker Hine was unstoppable.
His first goal came in the 13th minute from the penalty spot after he was brought down inside the area.
Hine’s second in the 33rd minute was from a back post header following great work out wide and an excellent cross from Sammy Orritt.
Hine completed his hat-trick in the 68th minute after a superb move started by Mornington keeper Taylor Davidson and ending when Kane Bentley set up Hine for a tap in.
His fourth goal came three minutes later when he was sent clear into a one-on-one with Comets’ keeper Michael Sivulja and made no mistake.
Mornington’s other scorers were Orritt (8th minute) and substitute Sam Catherine (73rd minute).
“It was a brilliant display all over the park and easily the best we’ve played all year,” Mornington gaffer Adam Jamieson said.
Scottish striker Liam Baxter who switched from Mornington to Mazenod Victory in May is negotiating a return and is expected to sign back at Dallas Brooks Park this week.
In NPL2 news Langwarrin had super sub David Stirton to thank for Saturday’s 2-1 home win over Murray United.
Stirton came off the bench in the 82nd minute and two minutes later his precise header sent the ball sailing over Murray United keeper Abdulkerim Koc and into the top corner of goal.
The visitors had taken an 8th minute lead when Aaron Midon’s free kick was deflected and went in off the far post and wide player Tom Youngs was a constant menace.
But Langy hit back in the 38th minute when the visitors failed to deal with a long throw from the left, the ball eventually falling to unmarked Lucas Portelli at the back post and his close range volley made it 1-1.
Stirton replaced Jordan Templin as the clock ran down and it proved to be a masterstroke as Langy cemented its spot in the top six of NPL2 East.
Meanwhile Stephen Fisher has formally resigned as technical director of Langwarrin effective at season’s end.
Fisher is widely recognised as one of the better TDs in NPL ranks and during his two seasons at Lawton Park has stepped in to fill the coaching breach at the club’s underage sides to great effect.
In NPLW news Southern United lost 9-0 away to South Melbourne in both the seniors and under-19s last weekend.
Southern’s under-16s fought back from two goals down to draw 3-3 with Southern’s goals coming from Sage Kirby, Taylah Hennekam and Erica-Derrick Sarfo-Sarpong.
The under-14s, under new coach Emma Bracken, lost 2-1 with Macey Butler scoring for Southern.
US import Jennifer Lum is due to arrive today (Tuesday) and the attacking midfielder is expected to make her senior Southern debut in Sunday’s clash with Bulleen.
In State 2 news Peninsula Strikers maintained their promotion push with a 2-0 home win over Monbulk Rangers last weekend.
When Alpha Turay was tripped in the 28th minute John Prescott converted from the spot to give Strikers the lead and Turay capitalised on good lead-up play by substitute Jai Power-Reeves in the 70th minute to score from close range.
Strikers square up to runaway league leader Boroondara-Carey Eagles at Carey Sports Complex on Saturday in what looms as a season-defining clash for Danny Verdun’s men.
In State 3 news Skye United’s title tilt gained impetus with a 4-0 home win over Ashburton United on Friday night and the local side can join league leader Collingwood City on 34 points if it wins tonight’s (Tuesday’s) catch-up match against Whitehorse United at Skye Recreation Reserve.
Injury to Mitch Blake gave Maxim Avram his first start for Skye while midfielder Alex Rojas also missed the Ashburton clash through injury.
Midfielder Marcus Collier was back in the matchday squad after 12 months off with an ACL injury but was an unused substitute.
It took less than seven minutes for Skye to hit the lead when captain Jason Nowakowski sent a cross to the back post and Avram cleverly headed back into the opposite corner to put the hosts in front.
Skye forced a turnover from the restart and although Ashburton keeper Nicholas Bucello parried a Jason Nowakowski shot from outside the box Mikey Turner was on hand to tuck home the rebound and give Skye a 2-0 lead at the break.
Two minutes into the second half Skye put this one to bed as Mark O’Connor released Daniel Attard into a one on one and the big man made no mistake.
Nowakowski got on the scoresheet in the 70th minute after a toe poke from outside the box found its way into the top corner and Ashburton’s frustrations were compounded in the final 15 minutes as it was reduced to nine men with the dismissals of Marko Gluscevic and Tomas Piszczyk.
Skye’s home clash with Elwood next Saturday is the Chris Attard memorial match to celebrate the life of the late club president.
Frankston Pines lost 2-0 to Whitehorse United last Friday under the Monterey Reserve lights in a contest that never reached great heights.
Whitehorse striker Masee Namdar cut inside a defender on the left of the area in the 9th minute and hit a firm drive past Pines keeper Alfonso Cardinale to open the scoring.
Pines central midfielder Alex Bevacqua lost possession in the 24th minute and the ball was crossed to the far post where Cardinale did well to parry a header but was helpless as Namdar followed up and headed into the unguarded goal.
Pines gave the ball away too easily in the first half and an improved second half showing was to no avail.
Lachlan McMinimee replaced injured CJ Hodgson in the Pines’ starting line-up, Meron Negassi was injured, Callum Khiath suspended and Connor McAndrews unavailable.
Teenage defender Aiden McKenna was on the bench after being signed last week from Langwarrin.
In State 4 news Harry McCartney reports that Seaford United edged out visitors Dingley Stars with a 4-3 victory last weekend.
Mitch Lander opened the scoring in the 43rd minute after breaking clear and a minute later Dylan Waugh slotted the second past Dingley keeper Josh Green despite claims of offside.
Dingley hit back in the 52nd minute when Jordon Liaskos, the smallest man on the park, broke away from his marker to head home at the near post from a Erman Sepetci corner.
Five minutes later Lander again broke through and under pressure was able to drill the ball home with a clinical finish.
In the 62nd minute a cross from Sepetci and a clever dummy by Mohsen Chehimi left Dallas McNeill with space to side foot home past Anthony Madafferi to make it 3-2.
In the 82nd minute Liaskos was again involved when his pinpoint pass to Chehimi ended with the visitors back on level terms.
But a minute later Seaford’s dynamic duo were at it again when Lander motored down the right and Waugh was on the end of his low cross to make it 4-3.
Seaford player-coach Matt Morris-Thomas decided to take off both strikers and lock down the defensive half in a move that proved successful.
Baxter went down 4-2 at home to league leader Rowville Eagles last weekend with Nico Juric and Abdull Darmanii scoring for Baxter.
The big news in State 5 South was Somerville’s magnificent 2-1 away win over league leader Old Mentonians last weekend.
The result opens up the promotion race as only the champion goes up this season.
The Eagles handed a first senior start of the season to Eric Manhanong who had a superb game at left back and the visitors came flying out of the blocks when Callum Richardson pounced on a goalkeeping fumble to put them in front.
They soon doubled their lead after great work by Nathan Grimshaw on the right who crossed for Callum Richardson to volley instinctively on the turn to make it 2-0.
The second half saw Somerville keeper Nathan Brown deny leading league scorer Rannesh Krishnan with an incredible save before a long-range strike from Marcus Spivey gave the home team hope.
Mark Pagliarulo and Carlo Cardoso missed chances to extend the lead and despite Old Mentonians throwing everything at Somerville in the dying minutes they couldn’t break down the Eagles’ defence.
Aspendale Stingrays drew 3-3 away to Tullamarine last weekend while Rosebud’s 2-2 draw away to Casey Panthers was called off in the 80th minute due to a head injury suffered by Rosebud’s Tyrone Vanderspek.
Teenage striker Nathan Barnet scored twice on debut for the Stingrays whose other scorer was Anthony Segavac.
Rosebud’s goals came from Beau Sharpe and Blake Hicks.
This week’s games:
TUESDAY, 8.30pm: Skye Utd v Whitehorse Utd (Skye Recreation Reserve).
FRIDAY, 8.30pm: Collingwood City v Frankston Pines (Kevin Bartlett Reserve).
SATURDAY, 3pm: Mazenod Victory v Mornington (Brandon Park Reserve), Boroondara-Carey Eagles v Peninsula Strikers (Carey Sports Complex), Skye Utd v Elwood City (Skye Recreation Reserve), Dingley Stars v Baxter (Chadwick Reserve), Endeavour Utd v Seaford Utd (Reema Reserve), Aspendale Stingrays v Rosebud (Jack Grut Reserve), Somerville Eagles v Pakenham Utd (Tyabb Central Reserve).
SUNDAY, 7pm: Bulleen v Southern Utd (Veneto Club).
MONDAY, 8.30pm: Bulleen v Langwarrin (Veneto Club).
