SOCCER
ROSEBUD took a giant step towards promotion from State 5 South with Saturday’s gritty 2-1 win over title rival Seaford United at North Seaford Reserve. Neither side was at full strength in this all-action affair but that took nothing away from a great spectacle in front of a large crowd.
Seaford keeper Hayden Hicks left the senior squad the night before the game, Michael Nobbs and Nathan Meade were holidaying while Wisey Barakzoi and Sam Luxford were injured. For the first time in Logan Johnston’s short senior career the youngster joined experienced Paul Aitchison in a makeshift central defensive unit in front of new first-choice keeper Alfonso Cardinale.
Rosebud was without Dave Greening, who was competing in an international masters athletics meet in Fiji while Nathan Yole and Frank Barrett were overseas. That left Mark Pagliarulo to fly the flag up front flanked by the pace and guile of Caleb Davies on the right and Davis Markulin on the left. In the 24th minute Seaford struck the opening blow.
Rosh Livera drove in a teasing cross that Naseer Mohammad headed on and Josh Vega reacted quickly to head in past Rosebud keeper Colin McCormack from close range.|
McCormack was the busier of the two keepers in the first half and in the 34th minute outstanding Seaford midfielder Backy Barakzoi forced the Rosebud custodian into a point-blank parry from a tight angle on the left. In the 42nd minute the first real threat to the Seaford goal came from Rosebud midfielder Jhai Watts who whipped in a firm curling free-kick across the defence and threatening to sneak in at the far post until Cardinale tipped the ball wide at full stretch. But three minutes later Cardinale charged off his line and grabbed the ball in both hands while clattering into two players. The ball jarred loose eventually setting up Pagliarulo for a tap-in and an unlikely equaliser right on half-time.
The second half was just six minutes old when the timing and athleticism of Davis Markulin had a major bearing on the outcome. Cardinale didn’t react quickly enough as a high floating cross came over from the right but Markulin had read the flight perfectly rising high to head home before Cardinale could get there. Five minutes later Seaford should have levelled. Referee Con Alba pointed to the spot after Davies handled inside the area.
Seaford striker Blake Hicks watched in disbelief as his first attempt to convert was saved by McCormack and Hicks sent the rebound into orbit. In the 82nd minute the tireless Barakzoi played in Johnston but he couldn’t connect cleanly and McCormack blocked then gathered but the miss of the match came two minutes later. Hicks was on the right when he sent over an inch-perfect cross and with the goal at his mercy Mohammad somehow headed wide. That was Seaford’s last chance to grab a point leaving table-topping Rosebud to celebrate a crucial win in an intriguing championship chase.
In other State 5 games Mount Eliza had a fine 5-2 away win over Pakenham United with goals from Ray Amiri (2), Fraser Keon, Cohan King and Austin McEwen while Aspendale strolled to a 5-0 away win over Endeavour Hills Fire.
Aspendale got off to a flier in the second minute through captain Matthew Bruce who finished a slick interpassing move involving Gianluca Bozzo and Dom Paul.
But it was in the second half that the visitors did the most damage. Bruce pounced on a defensive error in the 46th minute then squared the ball to Paul who made it 2-0 from just inside the box. In the 62nd minute Taylan Yidirim’s measured cross set up Bozzo who stabbed the ball home to make it 3-0 and the first of substitute Koray Yildirim’s double came in the 73rd minute when the ball was squared to him for an easy finish. His second goal came in the 86th minute when he gained possession inside the area then rounded Endeavour keeper Josh Permal before sliding the ball home from a tight angle.
Mount Martha lost 3-1 away to FC Noble Hurricanes with Daniel Bancroft scoring for the visitors. The scoreline flattered the home side and was aided by a penalty in injury time that led to the second caution and sending off of Mount Martha captain Adam Steele. Mount Martha senior assistant Charlie Platt claimed that Steele asked the referee what the penalty was for and this was interpreted as dissent.
In VPL1 Langwarrin won its first game at Lawton Park since February when it defeated George Cross 3-2 on Friday night which is symptomatic of an unusual amount of away fixtures rather than poor form. Langy striker Archie Macphee gave the home side a 1-0 lead in the 21st minute when he deftly angled a low cross from the right past Georgies keeper Aydin Sayan.
In the 36th minute Langy captain Rogan McGeorge intercepted a pass in midfield then sent Brad Blumenthal down the right. Blumenthal’s cutback found Macphee who took a touch then hit a low right-foot shot past Sayan to make it 2-0. George Cross hit back in controversial fashion in the 44th minute. The referee ignored an offside flag and when Jordan Tucker’s cross from the right wasn’t dealt with by Langwarrin’s defence Otman Benhaddou was at the far post to finish from point-blank range.
It was game on when the visitors equalised in the 54th minute thanks to an unexpected howler from Langy keeper Griffin Bambach who allowed a long-range Lochlan Reus free-kick to go in between his legs and into goal.
But Langy had an answer in the form of Japanese import Ryo Takahashi and what a reply this was.
In the 60th minute Luke Goulding played a long diagonal ball from the right to Tom Youngs. He laid it off to James Kelly who sent Takahashi scooting down the left. Takahashi cut inside an opponent and let fly from just inside the box sending the ball rocketing into the far corner with Sayan helpless to stop it.
That completed a double for the home side who had beaten Georgies 2-1 at City Vista Reserve earlier in the season.
In State 1 news Mornington’s disappointing year continued with a 2-1 away loss to Banyule City last weekend.
Jack Allan scored for Mornington.
In State 2 news Peninsula Strikers drew 0-0 with Hampton East Brighton at Dendy Park on Saturday.
The best chance of the match fell to Noah Musso in the 80th minute. His angled run was matched by a Taylan Geylan through ball but Musso’s first-time shot was saved by Hampton keeper Bernie Paris who flung out a leg and blocked.
Skye United lost 1-0 away to Bentleigh United Cobras on Saturday and is embroiled in a relegation battle in second-bottom spot on the table.
In State 3 news Frankston Pines remains winless and last in the league six points behind second-bottom Elwood City who beat Pines 3-2 at Monterey Reserve last Friday night. Mathieu Mahindo and Reshad Nahimzada scored for Pines.
In State 4 news a second-half blitz saw Baxter overrun Keysborough in a 5-2 victory at Baxter Park on Saturday with striker Jack Elliott stealing the plaudits with a four-goal haul. Daniel Taylor was Baxter’s other goalscorer.
Head coach Kevin “Squizzy” Taylor signed Fijian international Anish Khem late last week.
Khem, 30, is a former Suva and Rewa winger or full-back who has played for Fiji at full international and under-23 levels. Khem first hit the Victorian scene in February last year when he signed for Frankston Pines.
Chelsea blew a two-goal lead when drawing 2-2 with visitor Springvale City on Saturday. Adam Bartosy scored for Chelsea.
Monash University maintained its title push with a come-from-behind 4-3 win over Somerville Eagles at Monash last weekend. A Howie Anderson volley and a Conor Mcfall shot from the edge of the box had the Eagles 2-1 up at half-time but Monash emphasised its title credentials with a second-half onslaught that proved too much for the visitors.
Monash stormed to a 4-2 lead before Tom Simmons was brought down inside the area and Mcfall converted.
Mentone lost 2-1 away to promotion hopeful Endeavour United at Reema Reserve on Saturday. The visitors had the worst possible start conceding in the first minute when Endeavour skipper Dario Maia’s pace got him past Cameron Ironside and Mentone keeper Quinn Carter before finishing well.
Mentone responded almost immediately equalising four minutes later after excellent interpassing ended with striker Marcus Spivey taking a touch before arrowing a fine low shot past home team custodian Christian Morales. Despite Mentone having the majority of the play it was the home side that went in front after 33 minutes when Maia’s cut back found Dejan Radojicic who bundled the ball home. Mentone’s Tyler Pollard hit the bar before half-time with Endeavour’s defence holding firm in the second half to secure the win.
Next weekend is a catch-up round throughout the State Leagues and with no local club in action the only show in town is the VPL1 clash at Lawton Park on Saturday with home side Langwarrin expecting a large attendance.
NEXT WEEK’S GAME
Saturday 15 June, 3pm:
Langwarrin v Melbourne City, Lawton Park
