SOCCER
HAYDEN Taylor is the new senior coach of Baxter after Saturday’s shock 5-4 loss to visitor Brighton. He replaces his father in a caretaker capacity following Kevin “Squizzy” Taylor’s dramatic resignation amid chaotic scenes during this State 4 South clash.
Baxter went into this contest a clear favourite against a side which had won just two games and lost 14 but by the final whistle Brighton had earned another precious win and given itself a faint hope in the relegation battle. Contrast that with Baxter’s roller-coaster season and a dismal first-half display providing a backdrop for a head coach about to self-combust in the technical area.
Baxter was 4-2 down at half-time and as the teams walked off the pitch Taylor unleashed a verbal salvo at his players while also giving the visitors an insight into his disdain of their football ability. Baxter midfielder Duncan McPherson pulled off his strip with Taylor’s words ringing in his ears and marched into the rooms in obvious disgust. He was substituted during the break and soon-to-be ex-coach Taylor never re-emerged for the second half choosing the less brain-numbing surrounds of the dressing room to the sidelines.
Baxter staged a fightback of sorts in the second period but it wasn’t enough and its cause wasn’t helped by refereeing decisions. One of a number of controversial calls came in the 81st minute when attacking midfielder Davide Sbalchiero was subjected to an assault from behind that left him sprawling on the ground inside the penalty box. It was a challenge that would have left Channel 9s NRL commentary team salivating yet play was waved on.
Keegan Myatt hit the bar and Aaran Currie hit the post in a game that could have produced at least a dozen goals but in the end may be best remembered by Baxter fans for all the wrong reasons. For the record Baxter’s scorers were McPherson, Brody Taylor, Tom Hawkins and substitute Dylan Murchie.
Taylor resigned on Saturday evening and was typically blunt when queried about his decision. “It’s time for me to step away from the game for a while,” he said. “When I reach the point I did where all my frustrations boil over into yelling, screaming and outright anger where’s the enjoyment? “Not just for myself but the players, supporters and the club. “They don’t want it. We all do this for enjoyment and satisfaction and when there is none it’s time to go.”
The other State 4 highlight and the high point of Mentone’s season was its unexpected 3-1 home win over high-flying Chelsea on Saturday. Mentone opened the scoring in the first minute through midfielder Adam Leander.
Luka Varga’s initial shot came off the bar and Leander struck a fine left-foot shot from the edge of the box past Chelsea keeper Rhys Davies and into the roof of the net.
Although Chelsea came into the game its periods of pressure failed to create any clear-cut opportunities.
Mentone added a second on 30 minutes when Eric Ervine won possession on the left and drove into the box before drilling a left-footed strike across Davies and into the net. But Chelsea bounced back four minutes later when Daniel Vella broke free on the right and thundered in a right-foot shot beating Mentone keeper Quinn Carter at his near post. Chelsea’s early second half pressure was met by a well-organised Mentone defence and it was the home side that created the best opportunities.
Marcus Spivey uncharacteristically passed up two great chances when denied by Davies and Varga was through on a one-on-one with the Chelsea keeper only to hit the side netting. The game was put beyond doubt in the 90th minute though when substitute Joe Dunbar put fellow sub Peter Varsamis through and the latter made no mistake securing a fine win for the home team.
In the other State 4 clash involving a local side a goal in each half from Anthony Vecchi proved decisive in Somerville Eagles’ 2-0 away loss to Endeavour United on Saturday.
In VPL1 Langwarrin’s penultimate league game of 2024 resulted in a 2-0 away loss to Northcote City. A reckless challenge on Langy winger Brad Blumenthal forced his substitution in the 24th minute and after the match he was taken to hospital with a gaping wound on his right shin that required six stitches.
Northcote scored late in the first half when Kevin Lynch’s near-post run wasn’t tracked and he hit the mark with a bullet header following a corner. Seven minutes into the second half Ethan Brooks completed the scoreline when Lucas Portelli’s mistimed clearance fell to the Northcote player who slammed the ball home from close range.
In State 1 three second-half goals in 15 minutes sealed the deal for Mornington in a 3-0 away win over Old Scotch last weekend.
Ryan Paczkowski rolled back the years in the 61st minute when he spun and struck a half-volley into the roof of the net from outside the area and Rhys Craigie’s shot six minutes later from the edge of the box took a slight deflection but was good enough to beat Old Scotch keeper Bryden Plowright. In the 76th minute Jack Kimber headed home from close range following a slick interchange movement and a cross from the left that gave Plowright no chance.
In State 2 Peninsula Strikers has captain Riley Anderton to thank for remaining in the promotion hunt with four games to go. His double against Berwick City was decisive in Strikers’ 2-1 away win on Saturday. The visitors had multiple chances in the first 20 minutes but finally broke through in the 36th minute when Anderton got in behind the defence and coolly slotted the ball past Berwick keeper Colby Jones.
The lead only lasted a minute when a Jarod Blackbourn shot took a deflection off Andy McIntyre and went into the bottom corner of goal. The pivotal moment arrived in the 59th minute and was constructed by Ethan Goulding.
The young midfielder played a series of one-twos before slotting a reverse pass to Anderton whose curling shot into the far corner capped a move befitting the winning goal.
At the other end of the table Skye United lost 1-0 at home to fellow relegation candidate Doncaster Rovers last Friday night. The result cast gloom over the local club which was forced to play the majority of the clash with 10 men after defender Daniel Walsh was red carded in the first half following a challenge on a Doncaster forward. Although Skye has beaten promotion hopefuls Hampton East Brighton and Peninsula Strikers this season it finds itself staring down the barrel with just four games left to save its league status.
In State 3 Frankston Pines lost 4-1 away to Noble Park United on Friday night. Shameit Sharma scored for Pines in the first half.
In State 5 Rosebud thumped Casey Panthers 9-1 at Prospect Hill Reserve on Saturday evening. The league frontrunner’s impressive display was highlighted by the five-goal haul for veteran striker Dave Greening. The rout started in the 5th minute when an excellent ball from Dougie Cunnison found Caleb Davies whose whipped-in cross was expertly met by Greening. It was 2-0 just three minutes later when a corner was headed away only to fall to Barney Johnson outside the box and his first-time volley dipped and hit the roof of the net giving Panthers keeper Daniel Santoro no chance.
The third goal involved Johnson and Greening with Johnson’s shot falling to Greening who made no mistake. The fourth was a delightful ball from Andy Jerez finding Greening with pinpoint accuracy and the goal ace remained composed as he beat a defender then struck the ball into the bottom of the net.
It was 5-0 after 33 minutes as Johnson turned provider for Jerez for the second time in as many games and a neat first-time finish saw the former Doveton man continue his great start to life at Rosebud. A disconsolate Casey looked disinterested after half-time and in the 61st minute a cross from left-back Jacob Bigg found Greening again at the far post and he smashed home a volley. Ten minutes later Johnson won the ball midway inside Casey’s half, put it through the legs of the onrushing defender, skipped past another challenge in the box and lashed it into the top of the net. Further goals from Greening and Ben Symonds completed the whitewash.
Aspendale’s 3-1 derby success against Seaford United on Saturday has allowed Gregor Macnab’s men to claim third spot on the ladder just a point behind FC Noble Hurricanes and tantalisingly close to a coveted promotion spot. Visitor Seaford got off to a flyer going 1-0 up in the 5th minute when a Daniel Tipping free-kick was misjudged by Aspendale keeper Matthew Self and dipped under the bar. Aspendale managed to shake off the bad start and in the 30th minute Koray Yildirim dummied to shoot taking a defender and keeper out of the equation before firing the ball home for the equaliser.
The go-ahead goal came in the 56th minute after Taylan Yildirim picked up a loose ball and drove at the Seaford defence before beating Seaford keeper Bayleigh Caulfield. The sealer came in the 87th minute when a well-struck free-kick from Aspendale captain Matthew Bruce squeezed under the body of Caulfield and kept Aspendale’s promotion hopes alive.
Both Mount Martha and Mount Eliza settled for draws in their respective games on Saturday. Mount Martha drew 2-2 away to Bunyip District in a tight tussle with Josh McMillan’s back post header sending the sides in at half-time locked at 1-1. Bunyip went in front in the second half but Mount Martha’s Harry Aylett scored his first senior goal in the 61st minute when he took advantage of Bunyip’s failure to clear inside the area.
Mount Eliza drew 1-1 with Endeavour Hills Fire at Power Reserve in Doveton. Ed O’Reilly broke the deadlock late in the first half but not before a dreadful challenge on Amish Chandra forced him off with the offender only receiving a caution. In the 79th minute the home side levelled with a great strike from outside the area.
NEXT WEEK’S GAMES
Friday 16 August, 8.30pm:
Heatherton Utd v Frankston Pines, Bosnia and Herzegovina Centre
Cleeland Utd v Aspendale, Thomas P Carroll Reserve
Saturday 17 August, 3pm:
Langwarrin v Preston Lions, Lawton Park
Mornington v Gippsland Utd, Olympic Park
Bentleigh Utd Cobras v Peninsula Strikers, Victory Park
Knox City v Skye Utd, Egan Lee Reserve
Baxter v Mentone, Baxter Park
Chelsea v Keysborough, Edithvale Recreation Reserve
Somerville Eagles v Brighton, Westernport Secondary College
Mount Martha v Rosebud, Civic Reserve
Seaford Utd v Barton Utd, North Seaford Reserve
Mount Eliza v FC Noble Hurricanes, Emil Madsen Reserve
First published in the Frankston Times – 13 August 2024
