SOCCER
A GOAL in the 93rd minute denied Langwarrin a memorable away win on Friday night against NPL2 championship challenger Preston Lions.
The home side led after 18 minutes when Connor Bell neatly angled a low Andy Stubley cross from the right inside the far post.
Langy hit back nine minutes later when Luke Goulding’s cross from the right was headed firmly by Brad Blumenthal.
The visitors hit the front in the 80th minute with an Archie Macphee header following a Lucas Portelli cross from the right to make it 2-1.
The last minutes of this thrilling contest kept fans on their toes as Preston threw everything it could at its opponent desperately seeking an equaliser.
It was rewarded in time added after Langy failed to deal with a cross into the box and the ball fell to Preston substitute Rob Stambolziev who slid down and converted from close range.
But the final whistle wasn’t the end of the action.
Referee George Lakrindis immediately ran towards Portelli and sent him off for dissent.
It’s Portelli’s second red card this season.
In State 1 news Mornington signed Navin Velupillay late last week.
The former Langwarrin player switched from Casey Comets and was a second-half substitute in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Old Scotch at Dallas Brooks Park.
Shaun Kenny scored for Mornington.
The big news in State 2 was Peninsula Strikers emerging 1-0 winners over neighbouring Frankston Pines in a dour derby at Centenary Park on Saturday.
Strikers created a number of chances in the first half forcing Pines keeper Ryan Ramsden into some excellent saves.
For Strikers Riley Anderton was in the thick of the action volleying wide from a Cooper Andrews cross and heading onto the post following a Wayne Gordon corner.
Two pivotal moments in this contest came in the second half when referee Ben Lepileo sent off Pines defender Deniz Karabadjak and Ramsden just a few minutes apart.
Karabadjak was red carded after a challenge on Jamie Davidson while Ramsden was dismissed for bringing down Campbell Steedman inside the box.
The resulting penalty from the Steedman infringement was tucked away by Anderton for the only goal of the game.
Despite being down to nine men Pines could have snatched a late equaliser if not for a fine Faraz Zenoozi save from a Ben Lund shot.
Skye United came away from Dendy Park with a precious point after a 1-1 draw with promotion hopeful Hampton East Brighton on Saturday.
After an even first half the home side got on top after the break and put Skye under pressure.
Anthony Bran gave Hampton a deserved lead and it would have gone further ahead if a shot hadn’t rebounded off the post.
Leo McLeod’s entrance off the bench for the last half-hour had a significant impact according to Skye gaffer Phil McGuinness.
“He changed the game for us,” McGuinness said.
“He missed a chance to equalise but he didn’t miss a second time after young Seb Stevens played a great through ball which Leo tucked away.”
Stevens is just 17 and was making his senior debut.
In State 4 the much anticipated derby showdown between Somerville Eagles and Baxter fell victim to an unplayable pitch at Tyabb Central Reserve.
Despite the postponement there is significant player news from Baxter with Aaran Currie rejoining Frankston Pines while Liam Baxter has signed with NPL side Moreland City.
The only local outfit to feature at this level was Chelsea which emerged from Saturday’s trip to face Sandown Lions with a 3-3 draw.
Diego Herrera and Adam Bartosy gave Chelsea a 2-0 lead after 26 minutes but a penalty awarded for handball and a headed goal levelled the scores at half-time.
Sandown hit the front in the 80th minute when Dobuol Kong scored his second with a near post header from a corner but Chelsea couldn’t be denied.
In the 94th minute Herrera’s cross was flicked on by Piers Brelsford and Bartosy’s first time strike into the top corner ensured a share of the spoils.
In State 5 news Mentone won the local derby 1-0 against Aspendale, Seaford United made it six straight wins with a 1-0 result against Casey Panthers, Mount Martha easily accounted for visitor Barton United 4-0 while Rosebud lost 2-0 away to champion elect Hampton Park United.
A stunning free-kick from Mentone’s Tyler Pollard in the 26th minute proved the difference in Saturday’s derby at Mentone Grammar Playing Fields in Keysborough.
Aspendale should have taken the lead earlier after James Hilton was penalised for handball but Keiran Hughes’ attempt struck the outside of the post.
Mentone keeper Quinn Carter was in tremendous form with two point-blank saves in the second half as Mentone held on for a vital three points.
Harry McCartney reports that the breakthrough for Seaford came in the 35th minute when Josh Vega’s low cross from the right was met by Emmat Ehsani who tapped in from close range.
The second half was an arm wrestle with the referee intervening via a yellow card barrage in an attempt to keep control of the contest.
Two goals in each half did the trick for Mount Martha at Civic Reserve on Saturday.
Both first-half goals came from Mitch Hawkins the first when Jaden Tabener drove in from the left and played the ball low for Hawkins to finish at the back post in the 32nd minute.
Three minutes later Ethan Sanderson did the same for Hawkins to tap it in again.
James Price got on the end of a Josh McMillan header for the third in the 68th minute and the pair combined again on 88 minutes when McMillan found the bottom corner after a Price header.
Rosebud travelled to unbeaten Hampton Park and gave a great account of itself against the runaway league leader.
Despite being 1-0 down and having Tom Donaghue shown a straight red in the second half the visitors challenged all the way.
“We were awarded a penalty for an obvious handball but the referee overturned his decision after speaking to the Hampton Park linesman,” Rosebud head coach Jason Symonds said.
The game was in the balance till the dying minutes when the home side put the result to bed with a late goal.
Noah Musso, Jacob Biggs and Julien Dos Santo were outstanding for the Buds.
NEXT WEEK’S GAMES
Friday 7 July, 8.30pm:
Chelsea v FC Noble Hurricanes, Edithvale Recreation Reserve
Saturday 8 July, 3pm:
Langwarrin v Dandenong City, Lawton Park
Mornington v Springvale White Eagles, Dallas Brooks Park
Mazenod v Skye Utd, Brandon Park Reserve
Mooroolbark v Frankston Pines, Esther Park Reserve
Endeavour Utd v Baxter, Reema Reserve
Mount Eliza v Mount Martha, Emil Madsen Reserve
Aspendale v Casey Panthers, Jack Grut Reserve
Mentone v Bunyip District, Mentone Grammar
Seaford Utd v Hampton Park Utd, North Seaford Reserve
Saturday 8 July, 6pm:
Keysborough v Somerville Eagles, Coomoora Reserve
Saturday 8 July, 6.30pm:
Rosebud v Barton Utd, Olympic Park
Sunday 9 July, 3pm:
North Caulfield v Peninsula Strikers, Caulfield Park
