SOCCER
CHAOS descended on Mount Eliza after Friday night’s controversial ending to the local team’s State 5 home game against Barton United.
The trigger for referee Farhad Sharif’s decision to abandon the contest was the dismissal of Mount Eliza’s Nickel Chand after an off-the-ball incident late in the first half. Barton led 1-0 at the time and Mount Eliza head coach Alex Halikias was incensed at the red card decision. Referee Sharif approached the home team’s bench and after an exchange with Halikias sent off the irate coach. Sharif’s report claims that he was racially abused and threatened and it is believed that the onlookers included Football Victoria CEO Chris Pehlivanis and a referee’s inspector. On Sunday rumour was rife that the local outfit had parted company with Halikias but president Justin Sheppard refused to confirm that the coach had left.
Sheppard praised Halikias for his work with the senior men’s program and said talks with him were ongoing so confusion reigned as we went to press. “We haven’t made anything public and we obviously are still talking with Alex on the club’s position moving forward as we have been very happy with the progress of the team under him,” Sheppard said.
In other State 5 news Seaford United hammered Pakenham United 8-1 at North Seaford Reserve on Saturday to maintain its perfect record atop the ladder. It’s scary to contemplate the possible scoreline had Seaford not been without injured Hayden Hicks, Wisey Barakzoi and Nathan Meade while Josh Vega was suspended and Jonas Harrasser only fit enough for the bench.
The opening goal was little more than a training run as Cory Osorio sent Naseer Mohammad motoring clear on the right and he squared it across goal for a Mike Nobbs tap-in. Mohammad set up Nobbs for a second and Seaford led 2-0 at half-time. The floodgates opened after the interval with Mohammad and Sam Luxford both bagging braces then a soft penalty to Pakenham was converted by Khoo Mohammadi. Hicks sent Mitch Hawkins clear and his fine finish on the turn made it 7-1 before Jonas Harrasser sent Hicks through and he made no mistake with a trademark left-foot strike.
Rosebud was 2-0 down after 20 minutes but staged a stirring comeback to beat Bunyip District 4-2 at Olympic Park on Saturday evening and continue its neck-and-neck title tussle with Seaford. Rosebud’s fightback started 10 minutes before half-time via a superb interplay between Mark Pagliarulo and Barney Johnson with the latter scoring his fourth goal in five games. Five minutes into the second period Rosebud’s coaching staff made a triple change which included bringing on scoring legend Dave Greening.
Soon after it was 2-2 when the first of Frank Barrett’s three assists set up Caleb Davies to get his first for the club.
Chances were now coming thick and fast and the go-ahead goal came from Greening who finished well from a Barrett cross. Rosebud’s nerves were settled by Greening’s third goal of the season when he chested down another Barrett cross then rifled in a left-foot rocket that sealed Bunyip’s fate. Man-of-the-match Ethan Hunt was instrumental in controlling the midfield for Rosebud as the home side ran out a worthy winner.
Aspendale got back to winning ways with a 4-2 win in Saturday’s home clash with Mount Martha. Mount Martha struck first when a defensive error in the 40th minute sent Harry Aylett clear and he made no mistake. Aspendale hit back five minutes later through captain Matthew Bruce with a low shot from the edge of the box and it was 1-1 at half-time. Bruce was again on target three minutes into the second half and shortly after completed his hat-trick.
Mount Martha substitute Jacob Platt capitalised on a goalmouth scramble to make it 3-2 and ushered in some nervous moments for the home team. Until another substitute made his mark with Alec Bunn’s late goal settling the issue.
In VPL1 Langwarrin suffered its biggest loss of the season when it travelled to Tarneit and went down 7-0 to Western United on Sunday. There was no way back for the visitors after going in 4-0 down at half-time. On Tuesday head coach Jamie Skelly will take a young squad to Strathnaver Reserve to face FC Strathmore in the Dockerty Cup. Big Lucas Portelli continues his recovery from a dislocated kneecap and is expected to be available later next month.
In State 1 Mornington drew 1-1 with visitor Malvern City despite the early dismissal of Ryan Paczkowski. Zachariah Ahmad put Malvern ahead in the 37th minute before big Josh Heaton equalised nine minutes from time.
In State 2 Peninsula Strikers maintained their promotion push with a 4-2 away win over North Caulfield on Sunday.
The sides went in at half-time locked at 1-1. Scorers for the local side were Tom Wood, Taylan Geylan, Riley Anderton and substitute Noah Musso.
Skye United’s run of outs continued when it was convincingly beaten 5-2 at home by Berwick City on Friday night.
Skye’s goals came from Daniel Walsh and a Berwick own goal and Phil McGuinness’s side will go into this weekend’s derby with Strikers having lost four games in a row.
In State 3 Frankston Pines remains on the bottom of the ladder after Saturday’s 3-1 away loss to St Kilda.
Reshad Nahimzada scored for Pines.
In State 4 news Chelsea emerged a 3-2 victor after Saturday’s entertaining derby battle with Baxter at Baxter Park.
Baxter keeper Jarrod Nardino paid dearly when he missed an attempt to punch clear in the 18th minute. The ball fell to talented teen Christian Murray who played it back into the goalmouth and James Stinson cheekily flicked it into goal with the side of his foot. A minute later scores were level. A long ball floated to the back post was headed back across goal to an unmarked Daniel Taylor and he headed in from point-blank range.
Chelsea regained the lead in the 24th minute in spectacular fashion when Nathan Boccari unleashed a dipping volley from 30 metres that beat a diving Nardino and nestled in the far corner. Two minutes later a superb ball from Noah Green put Aleks Dukic in but his first-time strike was straight at Chelsea keeper Rhys Davies. Murray set up Stinson in the 32nd minute but the league top scorer could only hit the side netting from close range.
Although Chelsea was clearly superior in the first half Baxter hit back in the 54th minute when Green’s long-range cross from the right sailed over Davies and into the top far corner. Two minutes later Nardino pulled off a fine save from a one-on-one with Stinson but the classy English striker couldn’t be contained for much longer. The winner came in the 65th minute when an Adam Bartosy corner was greeted by a bullet-like header from Stinson. Nat Daher had come off the Baxter bench following Stinson’s goal and in the 76th minute was dragged to the ground inside the area by Chelsea’s Harry Parker but play was waved on.
Green and Chelsea captain Luke D’Alessandro clashed heads shortly after and play was held up for some time before D’Alessandro was stretchered off. Chelsea was awaiting a medical update as we went to press. Baxter featured new signing Duncan Mcpherson but Aaran Currie has stepped away from the sport and is unlikely to play against this season. Mcpherson has only been in Australia for a couple of months and played for Yorkshire Main in the Central Midlands Alliance League. He made a handful of appearances for Yarra Jets in State 4 East.
Somerville Eagles lost 5-4 away to Sandown Lions on Saturday evening. Somerville failed to put the game to bed when it wasted chances to increase a 3-2 lead and was duly punished. Alessio Izzo (2), Marcus Anastasiou and Tom Simmons scored for the Eagles.
Mentone lost 3-1 away to league leader Hampton Park United last weekend.
Marcus Spivey’s third goal of the season in the 82nd minute was a consolation effort for the visitors.
NEXT WEEK’S GAMES
Tuesday 30 April, 8pm:
FC Strathmore v Langwarrin, Dockerty Cup, Strathnaver Reserve
Friday 3 May, 8.30pm:
Cleeland Utd v Mount Eliza, Thomas P Carroll Reserve
Pakenham Utd v Mount Martha, IYU Reserve
Saturday 4 May, 3pm:
Langwarrin v Northcote City, Lawton Park
Mornington v Casey Comets, Dallas Brooks Park
Peninsula Strikers v Skye Utd, Centenary Park
Ashburton Utd v Frankston Pines, Monash University Playing Fields
Hampton Park Utd v Somerville, KM Reedy Reserve
Lyndale Utd v Baxter, Lyndale Secondary College
Monash University v Chelsea, Monash University Playing Fields
Aspendale v Casey Panthers, Aspendale Gardens Sports Ground
Endeavour Hills Fire v Seaford Utd, Power Reserve
Saturday 4 May, 3.30pm:
Barton Utd v Rosebud, Barton Recreation Reserve
Saturday 4 May, 5pm:
Mentone v Keysborough, Mentone Grammar Playing Fields
