SOCCER
RILEY Anderton treated onlookers to a volleying masterclass on Saturday as he single-handedly broke Berwick City’s resolve with a breathtaking four-goal display.
The Peninsula Strikers ace was the catalyst for a second-half turnaround at Centenary Park that saw a 1-0 deficit transformed into a resounding and unexpected 5-1 win.
Until the Kiwi first struck in the 55th minute Berwick was the better side and deserved its slender lead but Anderton levelled when he spun on a deflected cross and volleyed with his right foot into the roof of the net.
Within minutes he demonstrated a deft touch at the far post sidefooting his volley over Berwick keeper Nick Caccamo to make it 2-1.
Anderton notched his hat-trick in the 75th minute with a much more mundane effort running onto Jamie Davidson’s through ball and touching it past Caccamo to make it 3-1.
It was back to the spectacular a few minutes later with perhaps his most remarkable strike.
He was outside the box when he let fly with his left foot pairing timing with precision to produce a volley of such velocity that a helpless Caccamo could only look on in wonder as the ball rocketed into the top far corner.
Cooper Andrews jinked his way past multiple opponents in the 85th minute then hit a low strike inside the area to put an exclamation mark on a scoreline no-one could have tipped at half-time.
Strikers featured two debutants with Faraz Zenoozi in goal and late in the contest 17-year-old Billy Rae replaced veteran Wayne Gordon.
In other State 2 matches Frankston Pines broke through for a first win of the season when defeating Doncaster Rovers 3-2 away on Friday night but Skye United lost 5-2 away to Heatherton United the following evening.
Pines opened the scoring after nine minutes when a Cal Batey far post corner was headed back across goal by Anish Khem and Aaran Currie headed in from point blank range.
The visitors increased their lead in the 27th minute when an alert Kaspar Fry robbed a defender then laid the ball into the path of Khem whose low shot nestled inside the far post.
Doncaster hit back in the second half with a far post header from Michael Papanicolaou and a stunning strike from a tight angle by Daniel Piazza.
Savenaca Baledrokadroka was making his first appearance back in Pines’ colours after transferring from Beaumaris and he pounced on a poor defensive pass to drill a low shot inside the far post for an 87th minute winner.
In NPL2 Langwarrin lost 3-2 away to Brunswick Juventus on Friday night.
Langy was 3-0 down at half-time and reduced to 10 men after Tom Youngs was shown a straight red just before the interval.
Despite the disadvantage Langy hit back twice in the second half through Josh Varga and a remarkable Lucas Portelli strike from distance that caught Juve keeper Fraser Chalmers off his line.
In State 1 Mornington reclaimed top spot on the ladder with a deserved 2-1 away win over Eltham Redbacks on Saturday.
The Seagulls are now unbeaten in their last seven matches and Rhys Craigie gave them the lead in the 19th minute after forcing a defensive error and finishing from the edge of the box.
Eltham’s Nick Edwards equalised soon after with a superb free-kick but the goal that split these sides came in the 53rd minute from Brady Pollard who lobbed Eltham keeper Abdul Koc from outside the area.
Despite late Eltham pressure Mornington defended well led by keeper Kane Runge, Ziggy Razuki, Josh Heaton and Satoshi Kurokawa.
In State 4 Somerville retained an unbeaten record with a hard-fought 1-0 away win over Lyndale United on Saturday.
It took until the 67th minute for the stalemate to be broken.
Conor Mcfall beat his opponent on the right then hammered the ball low across the face of goal for Marcus Anastasiou to prod home.
Somerville then had to resist a defiant Lyndale but held on by the skin of its teeth.
Baxter’s revival continued with a 5-1 away win over FC Noble Hurricanes on Friday night.
A Jack Elliott brace and goals from Izaak Barr, Liam Baxter and Dallas Mcneill did the damage.
Chelsea had to settle for a 0-0 draw at home against Springvale City also on Friday night.
Carlo Melino’s side has now recorded five draws in eight games with just one loss.
In State 5 Aspendale remained in the promotion chase and grabbed second spot on the ladder with a 1-0 win over Rosebud on Saturday.
The decisive moment came in the second half when first-half substitute Sam Timuska-Carr raced down the right and sent an inch-perfect cross to Jack Runciman who steered it home.
Mount Martha hammered Seaford United 5-0 at North Seaford Reserve last weekend.
Mitch Hawkins opened the scoring in 43rd minute after the visitors had defended a bombardment of corners.
The former Seaford player hammered his shot into the top corner from the right-hand side of the box.
Eighteen-year-old Eli Masterson grabbed the first of his hat-trick when he tried to outdo Hawkins with an equally impressive top corner strike on 54 minutes.
The teenager struck again nine minutes later with a tap-in following a well-saved Hawkins shot.
Ethan Sanderson then split the defence with a great through ball for Jaden Tabener to finish well past Seaford keeper Hayden Hicks in the 84th minute.
And Masterson completed his hat-trick shortly after by converting the penalty awarded after Michael Durrance was upended in the box.
Mentone had a comfortable 4-0 home win over bottom side Pakenham United.
Tyler Pollard put Mentone in front after 17 minutes with a calm side-foot finish before Marcus Spivey’s 40-metre wonder strike seven minutes later had the home side 2-0 up.
Second half goals from Frankie Varsamis and another from Spivey completed the scoring.
Mount Eliza lost 3-0 away to Casey Panthers despite having most of the possession.
The visitors failed to finish a number of chances and player-coach Bryce Ruthven is hoping to add a proven goalscorer to his squad shortly.
NEXT WEEK’S GAMES
Friday 19 May, 8.30pm:
Skye Utd v Doncaster Rovers, Skye Recreation Reserve
Berwick City v Frankston Pines, Jack Thomas Reserve
Noble Park v Baxter, Norman Luth Reserve
Saturday 20 May, 3pm:
Mornington v Collingwood City, Dallas Brooks Park
Knox City v Peninsula Strikers, Egan Lee Reserve
Somerville Eagles v Chelsea, Tyabb Central Reserve
Mount Martha v Mentone, Civic Reserve
Seaford Utd v Aspendale, North Seaford Reserve
Mount Eliza v Hampton Park Utd, Emil Madsen Reserve
Saturday 20 May, 6.30pm:
Rosebud v Bunyip District, Olympic Park
Monday 22 May, 8.15pm:
Kingston City v Langwarrin, The Grange Reserve
