SOCCER
NEW signings and player axings stole the limelight last week with Baxter featuring prominently.
Noah Green, Joey Bucello and Robbie O’Toole were released by Baxter while Ryan Brown has left on a pre-planned overseas trip.
Green had a stellar season last year and will likely join a club closer to his Southbank home.
It’s believed that there has been an undercurrent of unrest among a section of the playing group throughout the season and head coach Kevin “Squizzy” Taylor decided that action had to be taken.
That resulted in last week’s cull.
But Taylor already has plans to reinforce the senior squad.
Last week he signed 22-year-old midfielder Davide Sbalchiero from USMA Padova, a youth sports academy based near Padua in northern Italy.
“Davide arrived in Australia on 12 June then trained a couple of times with Mornington before joining us last Tuesday,” Taylor said.
“He can play anywhere across the midfield, is technically very good, fit, strong and has a massive, massive engine.
“We’ve applied for an ITC (International Transfer Clearance) so hopefully it comes through quickly.”
There is another overseas player on Taylor’s radar but he’s keeping tight-lipped at this stage.
The changes at Baxter Park aren’t confined to the senior squad with news that Peter Blasby has replaced Stuart Mitchell who has resigned as goalkeeping coach.
Blasby has an extensive playing and specialist coaching CV and takes up his new role this week.
Peninsula Strikers have signed former Bentleigh United Cobras, South Springvale and Springvale White Eagles player Justin Eiman.
The New Zealand-born Eiman can play as a left winger or attacking midfielder.
Strikers also have signed Kyron Kerr from Berwick who can play as a central midfielder or at the back but winger Taylan Geylan has returned to Dandenong South.
State 2 rival Skye United failed in a determined bid to sign former striker Leo McLeod who had been playing with Casey Comets but is believed to have joined Knox City.
However Skye gaffer Phil McGuinness was able to clinch the signature of ex-Langwarrin defender or wing back Nic Millar from Comets.
In VPL1 Langwarrin lost 2-1 at home to Kingston City on Friday night.
The home team got off to a flyer when Brad Blumenthal capped off Tom Youngs’ brilliant solo run and cutback with a first-time finish at the back post after four minutes.
Ironically kamikaze defending in the 32nd minute from experienced central defender Luke Adams gifted the equaliser to Kingston’s Japanese striker Rei Ono whose artful curled finish from just inside the box gave Langy keeper Griffin Bambach little chance.
Four minutes later Mo Rahimi played a one-two on the edge of the area then bent his shot with the outside of his right foot and Kingston had a lead it would not relinquish.
In State 1 news Mornington let slip a 4-1 lead when losing 5-4 away to South Springvale on Saturday.
Ryan Paczkowski (2), Halil Reki and an own goal from Kelsey Dal Rozzo accounted for Mornington’s haul and the pre-season promotion fancy is now fully embroiled in a relegation dogfight.
Daniel Brooks made his second appearance for the Seagulls since returning from VPL2 outfit Beaumaris while Kostas Droutsas completely blindsided the local club when he signed for State 2 league leader Bayside Argonauts last week.
Droutsas was one of Mornington’s marquee off-season captures but suffered an ACL injury before the opening round.
The club reported that it was season-ending hence its surprise at his transfer.
In State 2 news Skye United’s 4-1 home win over North Caulfield last Thursday night could prove to be one of its most important results of the season as it strives to escape the relegation zone.
Skye led at half-time thanks to Charlie Jeffs who followed up Mitch Blake’s initial attempt in the 40th minute.
North Caulfield’s Michael Schneider levelled at the second attempt seven minutes into the second stanza but Alex Roberts restored Skye’s lead in the 61st minute when he knocked in a Mark O’Connor cross.
In the 68th minute Roberts turned provider to put through substitute Alex Van Heerwaarden and the big man finished well into the bottom corner.
The icing on Skye’s cake came in the 85th minute when Arash Sadeghi’s dangerous cross was inadvertently turned in by North Caulfield defender Samuel Cropman.
Peninsula Strikers kept their promotion push on track with an impressive 5-2 home win over Mooroolbark on Saturday.
This one was done and dusted by half-time with Strikers leading 3-0.
Wayne Gordon pounced on a goalmouth scramble in the 13th minute to open the scoring.
It was 2-0 in the 24th minute when Billy Rae and Cooper Andrews combined with the latter’s early low ball into the box finding Tommy Wood who took a touch then coolly slotted the ball into the bottom corner.
Alert Strikers keeper Faraz Zenoozi took a quick free-kick in the 36th minute releasing Campbell Steedman whose superb first touch took him past the Barkers full back.
Steedman then whipped in a wicked cross that Wood met with a side-footed volley for a gem of a goal.
Mooroolbark hit back early in the second half through Ross Clark but Steedman made it 4-1 in the 70th minute after being put through by Gordon.
Substitutes Jai Power and Josh Botha combined in the 89th minute with Power greeting Botha’s first-time cross with a left-foot finish.
The Barkers gave another yelp in injury time through a fierce strike from substitute Anthony Di Crea but by then the visitors were well beaten.
In State 3 news Frankston Pines lost 2-1 to Rowville Eagles at Monterey Reserve on Friday night with Cal Bradbury scoring for Pines.
Former Pines attacking midfielder Thomas Dunn is trialling with A-League outfit Sydney FC.
Dunn played for Pines in 2022 before returning to Fiji and becoming a national team regular.
In State 4 news Chelsea had a resounding 4-1 home win over Endeavour United on Saturday to move into third place on the table just three points behind Monash University.
The game doubles as the Carlo Melino Cup and Chelsea’s scorers were Daniel Vella (2), Daniel Lewis and ace hitman James Stinson who now has a three-goal lead over Hampton Park United striker Naseem Rasekh in the race for league Golden Boot honours.
Baxter did Chelsea a favour when it drew 2-2 with Monash University.
Baxter’s scorers were Brody Taylor and Logan Wilson who notched his first goal at senior level after being a late inclusion in the matchday squad.
Somerville Eagles and Mentone both lost to lower ranked opponents last weekend.
Somerville was at home but went down 4-3 to Lyndale United while Mentone lost 1-0 away to Sandown Lions.
Josh Simmons (2) and Corey Riddle scored for Somerville.
In State 5 news Rosebud remains unbeaten on top of the ladder after a hard-fought 2-1 win over Aspendale at Olympic Park on Saturday evening.
Ageing Rosebud striker Mark Pagliarulo was at pains to claim the opening goal after referee Richard Lewis mistakenly put Andy Jerez down as the scorer.
That was early in the second half and a couple of minutes later Aspendale responded through Luca Bozzo whose curling shot found the top corner.
But six minutes later the league pacesetter struck the killer blow when a Ben Symonds header sealed the win.
Seaford United and Mount Eliza shared the spoils in an entertaining 1-1 draw at North Seaford Reserve last weekend.
The best chance of the opening exchanges came in the 23rd minute after Seaford defender Paul Aitchison gave the ball away and big Ray Amiri had a one-on-one with Seaford keeper Alfonso Cardinale.
The Seaford custodian was up to the task and his excellent reflex save kept Amiri at bay.
A minute later a top-class finish from Logan Johnston broke the deadlock when he got free on the right and angled a low strike across Mount Eliza keeper Luke Armao and inside the far post.
If there’s a chink in the armour of former Fijian international Nickel Chand it is his temperament but despite attempts to wind him up he remained on the pitch and the biggest threat to the home team.
Two pivotal moments in the second half were Cardinale’s send-off for inexplicably handling outside his area and minutes later Chand’s clever free-kick that beat Seaford’s defensive wall and back-up keeper Bayleigh Caulfield for the equaliser.
It was no less that the visitors deserved in a performance that tested their higher-ranked opponent every step of the way.
Seaford featured new signing Danny Topping who slotted seamlessly into a defensive midfield role and is a former Bentleigh Cobras, Richmond and Ringwood City player.
Mount Martha won its second game of the season when it downed home team Casey Panthers 2-0 on Saturday.
A goal in each half capped an excellent team performance from the Mariners heading into next weekend’s derby showdown with Mount Eliza.
David Jones opened the scoring in the 5th minute when he slid in to finish an excellent cross and Dan Bancroft increased the lead in the 63rd minute.
The club’s leading scorer took on a defender then cut inside and struck a well-placed shot into the corner of goal.
In other news Football Victoria emailed State League clubs last week to inform them that the final round of the league season has been rescheduled to Saturday 7 September with kick-off times of 11am for the reserves game and 1pm for the senior game.
The only fixture exempt from this decree is the North Caulfield v Mooroolbark game as North Caulfield is a Jewish club and doesn’t play during daylight hours on Saturdays.
FV’s email said that it has taken this step to enable the wider football community to attend its showcase NPL finals.
No consultation was conducted with clubs prior to the email landing in their inbox and no feedback was invited.
It’s a done deal and seems sure to trigger an earlier than expected start to end-of-season parties for local clubs with little likelihood that they’ll make the long trek to the NPL finals venue at La Trobe University.
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NEXT WEEK’S GAME
Friday 12 July, 7.30pm:
Langwarrin v Bulleen, Lawton Park
Friday 12 July, 8.30pm:
Chisholm Utd v Peninsula Strikers, Jack Edwards Reserve
Saturday 13 July, 3pm:
Mornington v Mazenod, Dallas Brooks Park
Bayside Argonauts v Skye Utd, Shipston Reserve
Frankston Pines BYE
Hampton Park Utd v Chelsea, KM Reedy Reserve
Mentone v Lyndale Utd, Mentone Grammar Playing Fields
Endeavour Utd v Baxter, Reema Reserve
Aspendale v FC Noble Hurricanes, Aspendale Gardens Sports Ground
Mount Martha v Mount Eliza, Civic Reserve
Seaford Utd v Casey Panthers, North Seaford Reserve
Endeavour Hills Fire v Rosebud, Power Reserve
Saturday 13 July, 6.30pm:
Keysborough v Somerville Eagles, Coomoora Reserve
