SOCCER
IT’S been an interesting week in the life of Peninsula Strikers president Adrian Scialpi.
He was away at work last week only to be thrust into an administrative maelstrom upon his return.
We can only imagine his reaction when told that his club was no longer a member of Football Victoria and therefore couldn’t participate in the second preliminary round of the Dockerty Cup.
When the dust settled (and the smelling salts had taken effect) it laid bare a bizarre turn of events.
Last November FV sent an email to senior and junior clubs with a form attached that had to be filled in and returned to the federation.
That form confirmed a club’s FV membership and the deadline for responses was 31 December, 2025.
But for Strikers’ senior club that FV email was sent to a disused email address.
The juniors received their email, filled in the form and returned it.
Imagine the junior president’s dismay when FV contacted Kirk Matthews in December to say his junior club hadn’t responded.
Knowing that the juniors had in fact responded Matthews thought that the FV employee was referring to the seniors but was told that the seniors had responded but the juniors hadn’t.
So for the second time Strikers juniors responded to the FV email.
The deadline came and went indeed FV included a now non-member Strikers senior club in its Dockerty Cup draw in late January.
It drew a second preliminary round clash between home team Peninsula Strikers and the winner of Baxter v Bacchus March which Baxter won 5-1.
This second round tie was due to be played last Saturday.
But on Tuesday last week FV contacted Strikers and that is when Strikers’ senior club found out what had transpired.
“The whole thing is bizarre,” Scialpi said.
“I don’t know what hurt most – to find out that somehow FV mixed up our senior and junior clubs or to listen to the absolute bullshit scandalous rumours that emerged in local circles about reasons for forfeiting in the Cup.
“It just showed that there are people out there who can’t wait to throw dirt at us no matter what.
“Let me put one of those rumours to bed right now – we don’t owe FV one brass razoo.
“What is really weird here is that every other email we received last year from FV went to the right email address so we can’t figure out how this possibly happened.”
Strikers and FV resolved the issue by Strikers dropping out of the Dockerty Cup and to save Strikers’ place in State 2 South-East the club is now an affiliate member of FV.
Strikers will participate in the league season this year but without voting rights.
Full membership of the state federation will be restored at the end of the upcoming season.
In VPL1 news Langwarrin lost 3-1 at home to league leader Northcote City on Friday.
A pivotal moment in this clash came after just 13 minutes when Langy midfielder Noah Holmes was sent off for a high-foot challenge.
In the 33rd minute Langy striker Alun Webb was brought down by Northcote’s last man Liam Nolan and to the dismay of most onlookers the Northcote defender only received a yellow card.
From the resultant Sayed Fatemi free-kick Luke Adams headed back across goal and Webb bundled the ball home from close range.
But the lead lasted just three minutes.
A long throw wasn’t cleared and was smashed home by Thierry Swaby.
Right on half-time a corner was headed home by Kaspar Hallam and Northcote took a 2-1 lead into the interval.
Two minutes into the second half Brad Blumenthal was brought down in the box but Webb’s penalty attempt was saved by Northcote keeper Kieran Brown.
The contest was over when a clearance rebounded off a Northcote player and Giorgio Serdenes was quickest to react poking the ball home past Langy keeper James Burges.
In Dockerty Cup news five local sides remain in the knockout competition after the second preliminary round – Langwarrin, Mornington and Skye United (who are all yet to enter the draw), Seaford United and Baxter.
Last weekend Seaford defeated East Bentleigh 2-0, Somerville Eagles lost 2-0 to Yarra Jets, Frankston Pines lost 2-0 to Sale United and Chelsea bowed out of the Cup in a thriller going down 5-4 after extra time to Hampton Park United.
Baxter went through to the next round due to Strikers’ enforced forfeit.
Seaford looked dangerous early in its clash with East Bentleigh.
Seaford striker Mitch Lander capitalised on a slack pass at the back to break clear only to put his chance over the bar.
He made amends in the 9th minute with a low strike and Seaford took that slender margin into the interval.
East Bentleigh showed why it is a promotion contender by pressing hard in the second half but it couldn’t penetrate a strong Seaford defence.
In the 86th minute Seaford substitute Hassan Nazari was able to poke the ball home to give the home side some breathing space.
Chelsea’s rollercoaster Cup tie away to Hampton Park United went into extra time with the teams tied at 3-3.
James Stinson completed his hat-trick in the 97th minute to put the visitors back in front but two goals from Sebastian Henriquez sealed the issue.
Daniel Vella was Chelsea’s other scorer.
In other news Strikers and Baxter ended up playing a friendly at Centenary Park on Saturday with Strikers strolling to a 5-0 win highlighted by Hayden Schreck’s second half hat-trick as a substitute.
To make Schreck’s effort more commendable he played for an hour in the reserves match.
Strikers’ other goals came from a world class strike by Cal Bradbury and a left-foot strike from Matt Harrington.
Mount Martha and Mentone drew 1-1 at Civic Reserve on Saturday.
Mentone struck in the first minute with Eric Irvine driving home a composed finish.
Almost immediately the home side responded when Davey Jones spotted the keeper off his line and launched a superb 30-metre lob to level.
The remainder of the contest developed into a stalemate with both sides failing to create many chances.
Mount Martha had four starters unavailable due to work commitments and only one substitute but it can take heart from a strong first half and an overall disciplined display in just its second pre-season outing.
Rosebud lost 3-1 to North Caulfield at Olympic Park on Sunday.
It was 1-1 at the interval with Elliott Craig converting from Ben Craig’s superb cross.
Rosebud missed some great chances in the second half including a penalty and despite the scoreline it was good hit-out for the Budders.
In other friendlies Joe Hunt (2) and Kieran Dover were Mornington’s scorers in its 5-3 loss away to Knox City while Skye United was no match for home team Lalor United losing 4-0.
Here is this week’s VPL1 match:
Saturday 7 March
Manningham Utd Blues v Langwarrin, Petty’s Reserve, 3.15pm
Here are some upcoming friendlies:
Tuesday 3 March
Frankston Pines reserves v Lyndale Utd, Monterey Reserve, 7.15pm
Thursday 5 March
Endeavour Utd v Chelsea, Reema Reserve, 7.30pm
Frankston Pines v Lyndale Utd, Monterey Reserve, 7.15pm
Friday 6 March
Sydenham Park v Mornington, Keilor Lodge Reserve, 7.30pm
Saturday 7 March
Baxter v Casey Panthers, Baxter Park, 1pm & 3pm
Somerville Eagles v Mentone, Westernport Secondary College, 1pm & 3pm
Frankston Pines v Lyndale Utd, Monterey Reserve, 4pm & 6pm
