SOCCER
SKYE United made its best start to a league season since 2017 with a gutsy 2-1 away win against Noble Park United on Friday night. The locals have won their opening two games away from home and don’t play their first home match until their round 4 clash with Casey Comets.
Skye went behind in the 18th minute when Shane Tagliaferro’s strike from the edge of the box found the bottom corner. However the visitors hit back 10 minutes later when Mitch Blake broke free and squared a ball for Tapiwa Kufakurowa to stab home. The second half was an arm wrestle but Blake’s flick header in the 65th minute allowed Shameit Sharma to calmly lob goalkeeper Denis Lazinica to claim all three points for Skye.
Head coach Phil McGuinness put a lot of work during pre-season into rebuilding Skye’ senior squad having lost so many experienced players and so far his efforts have been rewarded. “Our aim was to try and recruit a squad that would hopefully stay together for a few years so I decided to give opportunities to more young up-and-coming talent,” McGuinness said. “Against Noble Park the oldest player on the bench was 23 along with eight starting players also under the age of 23. “Our squad isn’t complete yet though and I’m still hopeful of adding one or two more experienced boys even at this late stage.”
Skye’s neighbour and State 2 rival Peninsula Strikers endured a luckless weekend going down 1-0 away to Mooroolbark despite hitting the woodwork six times. The decisive moment came in the 80th minute when a cross to the back post saw Mooroolbark’s Marcus Watson get a shot on target which Strikers’ keeper Ben Caballero saved sharply but the rebound fell straight into the path of home team captain Sean Perrin who tucked it away.
Strikers were relentless at times piling on the pressure and creating numerous chances all to no avail.
Strikers’ attack will be bolstered this week with the return from suspension of Wayne Gordon and the return from injury of Noah Musso. The local club also has signed Joel Bowen from Rowville Eagles. Bowen has had spells at Springvale White Eagles and Mazenod and has also played in England and Brazil. He can play anywhere across the front third.
In VPL1 Langwarrin won its second straight away game with a 1-0 victory over Moreland City on Friday night. Langy started brightly with Tom Youngs and Brad Blumenthal creating havoc. The visitors had a number of chances but Moreland was a threat on the counter with pace in wide areas. bThe breakthrough came in the 79th minute when Luke Adams headed back across goal with the ball hitting a defender and going in. Langwarrin ends a lengthy run of consecutive away fixtures when it takes on second-placed Melbourne City on Sunday at Casey Fields.
In State 1 Mornington made it two from two with a 2-0 away win over South Springvale on Saturday.
Ryan Paczkowski opened the scoring in the first half when he pushed forward into midfield then exchanged passes with Tom Wood and slotted the ball past South Springvale keeper Josh Hill.
The home side applied the pressure in the second half but Mornington earned some breathing space with an early contender for goal of the season. In the 89th minute a move involving Paczkowski, Rhys Craigie and Dylan Thomas ended with a first-time volley from Shaun Kenny that gave Hill no chance.
In State 4 Chelsea was the only local side to come up trumps last weekend winning 4-2 away to Lyndale United. In the 31st minute a Marcelo Burgos cross missed everyone including the Lyndale keeper to give Chelsea the lead. But the home side produced a shock equaliser just before half-time with a fine long-range strike from Michael Moretti leaving Chelsea keeper Luke Wilson scratching his head.
Chelsea hit back in the 53rd minute through half-time sub Jake Ross beating his man in the box and slotting home. After a few near misses James Stinson then kicked into gear finishing neatly from a Liam Burford through ball in the 64th minute and a bullet header from a Christian Murray cross in the 79th minute. Lyndale scored a late consolation goal through Raf Omokaru.
On Saturday a well-organised and determined Monash University comfortably beat visitors Somerville Eagles 3-0. The Eagles never quite found their rhythm and were second-best for most of the contest.
Despite moments of promise including two disallowed goals and Marcus Anastasiou failing to convert a penalty Somerville was unable to mount a meaningful comeback. Baxter drew 2-2 with Sandown Lions on Saturday evening with Zamer Noor and Jack Bradbury scoring for the locals.
On Friday night Frankston Pines lost 6-0 to visitors Springvale City and Rosebud lost 2-0 at home to Noble Hurricanes on Saturday evening.
In State 5 Aspendale and Mount Eliza shared the spoils in a hard-fought 2-2 draw at Aspendale Gardens Sports Ground last weekend. Aspendale struck first with only a few minutes left before half-time when a well-worked free-kick from James Macnab allowed Felix Hampson to catch the Mount Eliza defence off-guard to steer the ball home at the near post.
The home team went further ahead in the 54th minute when a well-taken corner was headed home by Lewis Marco. Minutes later Mount Eliza hit back when Austin Mcewen capitalised on a goalkeeping error to score from close range. The visitors completed their comeback in the 85th minute when Josh Luca levelled from a goalmouth scramble.
Ten-man Seaford United had to settle for an away point in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Endeavour Hills Fire. Despite dominating the first half Seaford was unable to break the deadlock and although the visitors looked likely to break through the contest turned on an 81st-minute decision.
Seaford thought that it had won a penalty when Backy Barakzoi was brought down in the box but instead Barakzoi was booked for diving. It was his second yellow card which cut his day short and instantly put Seaford on the back foot. The visitors were forced to endure Panthers’ constant long balls and were eventually broken down when a diagonal ball wasn’t cleared and Panthers’ striker Mahdi Haidari lobbed Hayden Hicks from a one-on-one. But within a minute of the restart a long ball was fumbled by Panthers’ keeper Quinn Carter and Keegan Bell’s tidy finish made it 1-1. And Seaford nearly found a second with Luke Murray through in a one-on-one but he failed to convert his chance.
Mount Martha drew 1-1 away to Endeavour Hills Fire in a very physical clash last weekend.
The home team took a 1-0 lead into the half-time break following a fine interpassing move and tidy finish from Driss Sakha. Six minutes into the second half Finn Vemis was shown a second yellow card but both sides were reduced to 10 men almost immediately after a Joanathan Florent tackle earned him a straight red.
The equaliser came in the 60th minute following a superb run by Lenny Tate whose shot was blocked on the line but Howie Andersen was on the spot to chest it in. In other news the only two local sides remaining in the Australia Cup have been drawn against each other.
Langwarrin will host Mornington at Lawton Park on Wednesday 16 April at 7.30pm.
NEXT WEEKEND’S GAMES
Friday 4 April, 8.30pm
Chisholm Utd v Skye Utd, Jack Edwards Reserve
Frankston Pines v Noble Hurricanes, Monterey Reserve
Saturday 5 April, 3pm
Mornington v Mazenod, Dallas Brooks Reserve
Baxter v Chelsea, Baxter Park
Aspendale v Bunyip District, Aspendale Gardens Sports Ground
Seaford Utd v Endeavour Hills Fire, North Seaford Reserve
Mount Eliza v Pakenham Utd, Emil Madsen Reserve
Mount Martha v Casey Panthers, Civic Reserve
Saturday 5 April, 6pm
Rosebud v Somerville Eagles, Olympic Park
Sunday 6 April, 3pm
Melbourne Victory v Langwarrin, Casey Fields
Peninsula Strikers v North Caulfield, Centenary Park
