LANGWARRIN’S come-from-behind 2-1 win over Eastern Lions at Gardiner’s Creek Reserve on Saturday has secured its status as a VPL1 club for next season.
The recent turnaround in the club’s fortunes has been remarkable and a change to its playing style may be the key.
“Safety from relegation seemed a long way off when we fell to the bottom of the table eight weeks ago after the 5-0 loss at George Cross,” head coach Jamie Skelly said.
“But six wins, a draw and a loss over the past eight weeks has turned our season around and we now look to finish on a high.
“We changed our shape without the ball, trying to become more compact and difficult to play through and not pressing so aggressively as high up the pitch.
“We also placed more emphasis on positive ball movement, becoming more aggressive to move the ball forward and understanding that we would have less possession in games while creating more chances and not turning the ball over in difficult areas.
“This has definitely accounted for some of the turnaround, plus the players’ intent to put this into action.”
Against Eastern Lions, Langwarrin went 1-0 down after three minutes when Aiki Tsukamoto capitalised on a turnover to hit a powerful strike past keeper James Burgess from the edge of the area.
The next 15 minutes were difficult for the visitors but they gradually got back into the contest and levelled in the 33rd minute. A cross by Tom Youngs was only cleared to him and he sent it back into the box where Kosa Apostolopoulos stabbed it home.
Two minutes into the second half Langy took a lead it would not relinquish. Jeremy Min Fa intercepted a pass in midfield and drove towards the box before unleashing an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner.
Youngs was sent off in the 68th minute for retaliation and Langy sat back for the remainder of the contest and successfully protected its lead.
In State 1, Mornington thrashed Brandon Park 6-0 at Dallas Brooks Park last weekend. The result keeps the Seagulls in the promotion mix as they currently are fourth, three points behind second-placed South Springvale with just a two-goal inferior goal difference.
Kieran Dover is a regular on the scoresheet nowadays and his four-goal haul against Brandon Park takes him up to second in the league Golden Boot chase just a goal behind Mazenod’s Jack Hindle. Mornington’s other scorers were James Kelly and Shaun Kenny.
In State 2, Peninsula Strikers produced a classic smash-and-grab away win over Chisolm United on Friday night. It was Strikers’ sixth win on the trot and they went into the game missing Ethan Goulding, Joel Bowen, Tommy Wood and Campbell Steedman—all through injury.
Chisolm had the better of this contest and should have gone in 2-0 up at half-time but Vasilios Floros missed two glorious chances. The same man rattled the crossbar from close range in the second half, with Strikers’ custodian Faraz Zenoozi making a couple of good saves down low.
Strikers worked into the contest as the second half progressed, with Sammy Maggs starting to cause issues for the Chisolm defence. It was Maggs who set up the decisive moment in the 82nd minute. Maggs was played through and rolled the ball sideways into the path of Cooper Andrews, who made no mistake with his side-foot finish flying into the far top corner.
Skye United came from behind to draw 1-1 at home to Doncaster Rovers in the annual Chris Attard Memorial Match last weekend. The pair had drawn 3-3 in their first clash this season.
The visitors took the lead against the run of play when Zachary Nasso followed up a parried save and tapped in from close range in the 28th minute. Doncaster was content with its one-goal lead and attempted to shut up shop.
Skye kept pressing and was finally rewarded in the 80th minute when substitute Emmanuel Scarlett’s free-kick sailed all the way in. That was the cue for a frantic final 10 minutes, but the deadlock couldn’t be broken.
Scarlett claimed the man of the match award in the seniors while Freddie Jeffs picked up the award in the reserves following a convincing 6-0 win.
In State 4, Chelsea lost 3-2 at home to Springvale City on Friday night. Chelsea defender Adam Dunsford was a forced substitution in the 16th minute.
A James Stinson shot in the 19th minute was headed in on the rebound by Daniel Vella, but Springvale hit back in the 27th minute via an Ali Sanad free-kick and took a half-time lead when a Matthew Hames header was saved but Marti Watt was at the back post for a tap-in.
Scores were level again in the 62nd minute when a Dylan Scott free-kick was saved by keeper Famara Djiva and Liam Burford tucked away the rebound.
Sanad’s second proved decisive. It came in the 68th minute when a ball over the top saw a Springvale player run through then square to Sanad for the finish.
The remainder of the clash wasn’t without incident and Springvale had two players sent off – Hames and Elta Musawi.
Chelsea has an opportunity to make amends for last weekend’s setback when it hosts league leader Endeavour United on Friday night. This could be the last time these sides meet for the Carlo Melino Cup, which honours a former coach of both clubs.
They are almost certain to play in different leagues next year so the Melino Cup, which they contest at every league game, may go into recess.
Baxter had a comfortable 4-0 win over struggler Mentone at Baxter Park on Saturday. Three of the scorers were recent recruits from Strikers and their impact on Baxter can’t be understated given the club’s resurgence lately.
Kai Power and Cody Storton-French gave Baxter a 2-0 lead at half-time, and goals from Kyle Eichenberger and Keegan Myatt in the second half rounded off the scoreline.
It was the late, late show for Somerville Eagles in their 2-1 away win against Sandown Lions on Saturday. Nick Simmons put the Eagles ahead in first-half injury time when finishing off a cross from Joe Simmons.
Another Simmons got in on the act with an own goal from Josh Simmons early in the second half. It was a fiercely contested fixture and Sandown substitute David Achiek was red carded in the 85th minute.
Worse was to follow for the home side as Marcus Athanasiou was on hand to tuck away a Joe Simmons cross to the back post and claim an important three-point result for the visitors.
Rosebud lost 3-1 at home to Endeavour United on Saturday evening. Three defeats in a row have dragged the Buds into the battle to stay in State 4.
Three first-half defensive mistakes cost the home side dearly last weekend. A late first-half penalty was converted by Barney Johnson and a spirited second half was not enough to overturn the earlier damage.
In State 5, Seaford United and league leader Fortuna 60 had to settle for a 0-0 draw at North Seaford Reserve last weekend. Seaford dominated the second half of this contest and had chances to hand Fortuna its first loss but could not break the deadlock.
Seaford is now six points from Mount Eliza in second spot (the top two remain in State 5 next season).
The substandard condition of the Civic Reserve pitch was the main talking point to emerge from Saturday’s 2-2 draw between home team Mount Martha and Keysborough. The pitch reflects poorly on local authorities and highlights a lack of maintenance and watering throughout the summer.
Keysborough led 2-0 at half-time and Mount Martha’s Jayden Taberner had been sent off. Despite this, Mount Martha dominated after the interval. Howie Anderson converted from the penalty spot and a superb Daniel Bancroft header completed a fine comeback.
Aspendale lost 2-0 away to Casey Panthers on Saturday.
NEXT WEEKEND
Friday, 1 August, 8.30pm
Skye Utd v Peninsula Strikers, Skye Recreation Reserve
Chelsea v Endeavour Utd, Edithvale Recreation Reserve
Saturday, 2 August, 3pm
Langwarrin v FC Melbourne SRBIJA, Lawton Park
Hampton East Brighton v Mornington, Dendy Park
Somerville Eagles v Frankston Pines, Westernport Secondary College
Baxter v FC Noble Hurricanes, Baxter Park
Lyndale Utd v Rosebud, Lyndale Secondary College
Aspendale v Fortuna 60, Aspendale Gardens Sports Ground
Casey Panthers v Mount Eliza, Prospect Hill Reserve
Bunyip District v Seaford Utd, Bunyip Recreation Reserve
Pakenham Utd v Mount Martha, IYU Reserve
