SOCCER
CHELSEA has set the State 4 South title race alight by becoming the first team since 2022 to inflict a loss on table-topping Hampton Park United. A solitary goal was all that separated these sides at KM Reedy Reserve on Saturday and league top scorer James Stinson was on the mark once more. The English ace emphasised his importance to the Chelsea cause when a pinpoint through ball from Adam Bartosy in the 52nd minute allowed Stinson to round Hampton Park keeper Michael Almeida and calmly finish the move.
The home side would have hit back soon after if not for a point-blank save from Chelsea keeper Rhys Davies and in the 70th minute Harry Parker and Stinson combined to set up Christian Murray who shot just wide with the goal at his mercy. Chelsea endured a nervy final 10 minutes but managed to keep Hampton Park at bay much to the delight of the travelling fans and head coach Gus Macleod.
“We’re definitely doing better than we anticipated and it’s obviously very enjoyable when you’re winning,” Macleod said. “We’ve still got a wee bit to go to catch the top two but I think this win will give the boys a lot of confidence. “We play Baxter this week and that will be a tough one in every shape and form.”
Early in the season there were doubts about Chelsea’s depth and its ability to maintain a promotion push but the recent re-signing of midfield dynamo Connor Scott and defender Sam Dunn has strengthened the squad.
Both came off the bench in Saturday’s contest. Chelsea also has signed experienced keeper Chris England as a replacement for Tom Carter who has joined Aspendale. Chelsea is now three points behind league leader Monash University and two points behind Hampton Park.
Baxter goes into Saturday’s derby at Edithvale Recreation Reserve with just one win in its last five games and last weekend it went down 3-2 away to Endeavour United. Fijian international Anish Khem has found his scoring touch with Baxter and his double against Endeavour brings his tally to five in four appearances. He should be joined shortly by fellow Fijian Edward Aaron who was due to arrive in Melbourne as we went to press. Aaron, 32, plays with Lautoka and is a left-sided defender or midfielder.
In other State 4 results Somerville Eagles hit back from the previous week’s disappointment to record a 2-0 away win over Keysborough on Saturday. The visitors led at the interval thanks to Alessio Izzo who was brought down inside the area and converted the resultant penalty. Keysborough keeper Austin Kearney kept his side in the contest in the second half until substitute Marcus Anastasiou pounced on a goalmouth scramble to give Somerville a two-goal cushion. Anastasiou was back after a six-week injury break and the Eagles talisman no doubt will play a vital role in their prospects for the remainder of the season.
Mentone beat Lyndale United 3-2 with goals from Daniel Passente, Adam Leander and Dylan Taylor.
In VPL1 news Langwarrin moved into fifth spot on the ladder leapfrogging FC Bulleen Lions who were outplayed by the locals 4-2 at Lawton Park on Friday night. Top scorer Archie Macphee opened the scoring in the 9th minute with a lethal left-foot free-kick and youngster Dante Avian made it 2-0 in the 32nd minute. Bulleen failed to deal with a Luke Goulding corner and Avian finished off a one-two with Luke Adams from close range.
The visitors hit back seven minutes later when Dante Conte’s cross from the right was skilfully taken down by Phineus Harbinson and slotted wide of advancing Langy keeper Griffin Bambach. Bulleen missed a gilt-edged opportunity to level in the 52nd minute. Dennis Menelaou had only been on as a sub for a few seconds when he skinned Adams and Barath Suresh only to be denied by a superb reflex save from Bambach.
Ryo Takahashi made an indelible mark on this contest in the 73rd minute after a slick interpassing exchange between Suresh, Avian and the Japanese import ended with Bulleen keeper James Siekris grasping at thin air as Takahashi’s strike from just outside the area brought roars of approval from the home team’s supporters.
But Langy didn’t enjoy a two-goal breather for long because Bulleen substitute Hussain Al Sharifi was at the back post five minutes later to head home a pinpoint chipped cross from Conte on the left to make it 3-2.
It was time for Takahashi to show everyone that he’s lethal with either foot and in the 82nd minute he unleashed a low right-foot drive from outside the area to seal Bulleen’s fate. Langy’s Rogan McGeorge and James Kelly were suspended but are available for selection this weekend.
In State 1 news Mornington continues to struggle and Saturday’s 2-0 home loss to Mazenod leaves the local club in a relegation dogfight.
In State 2 news Peninsula Strikers maintained their promotion push with an excellent 4-2 away win over Chisholm United last Friday night.
It was clear early that Campbell Steedman’s pace was a problem for the Chisholm right back and Steedman struck in the 23rd minute. A superb through ball from man-of-the-match Jaiden Madaferri split open the home team’s defence and Steedman calmly slotted the ball past advancing Chisholm keeper Rani Dowisha.
Tommy Wood couldn’t capitalise on a one-on-one with Dowisha two minutes later and Chisholm striker Malle Samson equalised with a firm strike from outside the box in the 42nd minute. Gerasimos Kavadas put Chisholm 2-1 up from the penalty spot in the 52nd minute but two minutes later the home side failed to clear from a corner and Stevie Elliott hammered home a volley to level.
Good lead-up work by Riley Anderton in the 75th minute was rewarded when Wood rolled his defender then buried the ball in the bottom corner. There was no way back for Chisholm three minutes later after Cooper Andrews was fouled in the box and Anderton converted from the spot. Skye United asked questions of league leader Bayside Argonauts but eventually went down 3-2 at Shipston Reserve on Saturday. Daniel Attard and Alex Roberts scored for Skye.
In State 5 news Rosebud extended its lead at the top of the table with a tough 1-0 away win over Endeavour Hills Fire. Stuart Johnston’s side remains unbeaten this season and came up against an Endeavour Hills outfit with a defensive plan in place. Experienced Rosebud strikers Mark Pagliarulo and Dave Greening both missed chances to break the deadlock in the first half and central defender Dougie Cunnison was forced off at half-time due to injury.
But the title favourite found a way to win and the decisive moment came in the 84th minute when Jack Wyer was on the end of an Andy Jerez corner and after taking a touch hammered a low strike into the bottom corner of goal much to the delight of Rosebud’s travelling faithful.
Seaford United and Aspendale both are zeroing in on a second-placed finish and emphasised their credentials with impressive wins last weekend. Aspendale hammered second-placed FC Noble Hurricanes 4-1 at Aspendale Gardens Sports Ground in a match highlighted by Gianluca Bozzo’s first-half hat-trick. Just two minutes had elapsed when Bozzo ran onto Lewis Marco’s pass and finished well past Hurricanes keeper Elvis Alimovski.
In the 35th minute Bozzo skipped past two defenders then struck his shot into the bottom corner and six minutes later effectively ended the contest when Jordy Athanassiou found him on the wing and he cut inside then slotted the ball past Alimovski for a third time. Early in the second half an Athanassiou cross was handled inside the area and Koray Yildirim converted to make it 4-0. By the time the Hurricanes replied their fate had been sealed.
Seaford’s 5-1 home win over Casey Panthers leaves Paul Williams’ side with its eyes firmly fixed on a promotion pathway. In the 22nd minute an inswinging free-kick from Blake Hicks found the back of the net and a quickfire double from Cory Osorio which included a penalty gave the visitors a mountain to climb in the second half.
Josh Vega made it 4-0 in the 56th minute when he pounced on the rebound after a Hicks effort was saved by the Casey keeper and Hicks made it 5-0 shortly after when Casey failed to deal with a corner. The visitors’ consolation goal came from the penalty spot after Rosh Livera brought down an opponent inside the box.
Mount Martha had its best win of the season when downing neighbouring Mount Eliza 3-2 at Civic Reserve on Saturday in a match that doubles as the Mental Health Safety Net Cup. The visitors led at half-time thanks to a converted penalty from Austin Mcewen but three second-half goals by the home side turned this contest on its head. The equaliser came in the 60th minute when big Davey Jones slid in to finish a ball played in from the left and nine minutes later Marcus Poda scored from the spot after being brought down inside the area. Mount Martha went further ahead in the 79th minute after Jayden Taberner was put through and slipped the ball past Mount Eliza keeper Luke Armao. In the dying moments of the game James Powell made it 3-2 but Mount Martha couldn’t be denied a second straight win.
NEXT WEEK’S GAME
Friday 19 July, 8.30pm:
Frankston Pines v St Kilda, Monterey Reserve
Saturday 20 July, 3pm:
Malvern City v Mornington, Kooyong Park
Berwick City v Skye Utd, Jack Thomas Reserve
Chelsea v Baxter, Edithvale Recreation Reserve
Somerville Eagles v Sandown Lions, Westernport Secondary College
Mount Martha v Aspendale, Civic Reserve
Pakenham Utd v Seaford Utd, IYU Recreation Reserve
Saturday 20 July, 3.30pm:
Barton Utd v Mount Eliza, Barton Recreation Reserve
Saturday 20 July, 5pm:
Mentone v Hampton Park Utd, Mentone Grammar Playing Fields
Saturday 20 July, 7pm:
Bunyip District v Rosebud, Bunyip Recreation Reserve
Sunday 21 July, 3pm:
Melbourne Victory v Langwarrin, Epping Stadium
Peninsula Strikers v North Caulfield, Centenary Park
