SOCCER
SEAFORD United, Somerville Eagles and Mentone won their derby battles last weekend in a round of State League matches with some surprising outcomes.
In a keenly contested clash at North Seaford Reserve the home side emerged a 2-0 victor over high-flying Aspendale thanks to second-half strikes from Andrew Packer and substitute Luke Murray.
Aspendale came close in the first half when left winger Kailan Smith struck the far post only for the rebound to be cleared.
The Seaford defence was excellent throughout and goalkeeper Hayden Hicks proved a formidable barrier.
The goal that broke the deadlock came in the 55th minute when Packer sent over a high looping cross from the left that had Aspendale keeper Josh Mravljak backpedalling in vain as the ball nestled in the top far corner.
In the 85th minute Seaford fans erupted after Cory Osorio hooked the ball across goal from the right of the area where it fell for Murray to hit a volley on the turn that ended this as a contest.
In other State 5 news Mentone beat Mount Martha 2-1 at Civic Reserve, Rosebud downed Bunyip District 2-0 at Olympic Park while Mount Eliza had a result to forget on the wrong end of a 10-0 drubbing from championship favourite Hampton Park United at Emil Madsen Reserve.
Mentone talisman Marcus Spivey proved the difference when he broke onto a ball over the top in the 87th minute to score the winner while both of Rosebud’s goals came from leading scorer Noah Musso.
His second was the pick of his double when he outpaced everyone in the 78th minute to get onto the end of a fine ball in behind the defence before finishing in style.
In State 4 Somerville Eagles kept their unbeaten record intact with a come-from-behind 5-2 home win over Chelsea on Saturday.
Chelsea bossed the first half-hour and led 2-0 after goals from Kyan Bissett and captain Nathan Boccari.
The home side hit back in the 31st minute when a Coby Vowels cross was flicked on by Xavier Apela and a Tom Simmons half-volley made it 2-1.
Conor Mcfall’s 25-metre strike in the 71st minute went in off the underside of the bar to make it 2-2 and three goals in the last five minutes of normal time were decisive.
A piece of individual skill from Marcus Anastasiou from a tight angle made it 3-2, substitute Sam Beadle scored a remarkable long-range free-kick that caught Chelsea keeper Rhys Davies off his line and Tom Simmons was at the back post to hammer home the final goal after a Mcfall cross wasn’t cleared.
Baxter continued its rise up the ladder with a 3-1 away win over Noble Park on Friday night.
Goals from Alex Dukic (2) and Jack Elliott sealed the points in a dour contest.
In State 1 Mornington is still on top of the ladder after a 2-0 home win over Collingwood City last weekend.
Despite dominating play in the first half and creating numerous chances the home side couldn’t find a way past Collingwood keeper Irfan Hrleja.
It was a different matter in the second half.
In the 73rd minute substitute Adam Hester crossed from the right to the back post for Rory Currie to head back into the far corner.
Two minutes later Seagulls fans were more at ease after man-of-the-match Rhys Craigie dispossessed a defender inside the area then slotted a low shot into the bottom corner.
In State 2 Skye United was the only local side to get a point when it recovered from 2-0 down at home against Doncaster Rovers on Friday night to draw 3-3.
Doncaster had a two-goal cushion after 20 minutes but a long-range strike from George Jeff in the 30th minute crashed onto the bar then over the line.
Five minutes later it was 2-2 thanks to Nham Than who headed home a Michael Rovinson cross.
When Luke Barrueto grabbed his second with a headed goal in the 76th minute the visitors were back in front but a handball inside the box in the seventh minute of time added was converted from the spot by Skye striker Mitch Blake to snatch a point.
Skye has one of the worst defensive records in the league so the return this week of Alex Van Heerwarden from a hamstring injury will be welcomed by head coach Phil McGuinness.
Peninsula Strikers lost 3-1 away to Knox City on Saturday after blowing a number of gilt-edged chances.
The main culprits in the first half were Cal Bradbury and Huss Chehimi with Bradbury rounding the Knox keeper only to shoot into the side netting while Chehimi’s shot struck the keeper when through on a one-on-one.
Bradbury also blasted a second-half chance over the bar before Ray Markley broke the deadlock from close range in the 56th minute.
Then Knox winger Daniel Aye pounced on a mistake to hit a piledriver over the head of Strikers’ keeper Faraz Zenoozi 10 minutes later to make it 2-0 and the home side was in cruise control when Aye grabbed his second in the 83rd minute catching out Strikers on the break.
Strikers’ substitute Cassius Delaney was taken down inside the area in the 88th minute and Anderton’s penalty conversion completed the scoreline.
Strikers have signed attacking midfielder Ahmad Jawadi from Frankston Pines.
Speaking of Pines they lost 3-2 away to struggling Berwick City on Friday night.
Christian Malgioglio and Sava Baledrokadroka scored for Pines.
In other news Thomas Dunn, the teenage Fijian midfielder who played with Pines last season then returned to his homeland is co-captain of Fiji’s under-20 squad for the world finals starting in Argentina this week.
Fiji has been drawn in Group B alongside the US, Ecuador and Slovakia.
The Young Socceroos failed to qualify.
NEXT WEEK’S GAMES
Saturday 27 May, 3pm:
Langwarrin v Northcote City, Lawton Park
Mornington v Malvern City, Dallas Brooks Park
Peninsula Strikers v Brandon Park, Centenary Park
Frankston Pines v Knox City, Monterey Reserve
Berwick City v Skye Utd, Jack Thomas Reserve
Baxter v Keysborough, Baxter Park
Sandown Lions v Somerville Eagles, Frederick Wachter Reserve
Sandringham City v Chelsea, Spring Street Oval
Aspendale v Mount Martha, Jack Grut Reserve
Barton Utd v Mount Eliza, Barton Recreation Reserve
Bunyip District v Seaford Utd, Heatherbrae Recreation Reserve
Casey Panthers v Mentone, Prospect Hill Reserve
Rosebud BYE
