SOCCER
BAXTER and Rosebud go head to head on Saturday in a local derby that seems certain to relegate the loser.
With the bottom two sides in State 4 being relegated Rosebud and Baxter are just a point ahead of second-bottom Monash University.
Monash has been resurgent in recent weeks having only lost twice in their last five matches with both losses coming against the league’s top two teams.
And while Baxter and Rosebud go toe-to-toe on Saturday Monash is away to already relegated Greater Dandenong and goes into that clash an odds-on favourite.
Ashburton is also in the relegation mix.
It currently lies fifth bottom a point ahead of Rosebud and Baxter but with an inferior goal difference.
Ashburton’s final game is away to top-six outfit East Kew but the host has nothing to play for other than pride.
If Baxter and Rosebud draw this weekend and Ashburton loses it will finish below the two local sides and likely be relegated.
Whatever the outcome the scene is set for a nail-biting season’s finale and there should be a bumper crowd at Baxter Park.
Last weekend Baxter lost 1-0 away to championship-chasing Ringwood City while Rosebud lost 2-1 at home to East Kew.
Baxter’s Cody Storton-French was sent off in the 85th minute while Ben Symonds was on target for Rosebud.
Still in State 4 Chelsea turned in one of its poorest performances of the season and ended its hopes of promotion when drawing 2-2 at home to Greater Dandenong on Friday night.
The visitors already had been relegated and will finish last after a dismal season that has gleaned just one win and now one draw.
Chelsea assistant coach Chris Porteous was damning in his description of the display.
“Unreal mate. I have no words. Two each with a pub team at best,” he said.
Chelsea’s goals came from Daniel Vella after a neat cutback and Victor Cruz De Faria who hammered home a left-foot finish from a tight angle.
In VPL1 Langwarrin finished its league season with a 1-1 draw with North Geelong at Lawton Park on Sunday.
Langy failed to deal with a corner in the 71st minute and Kingsley Eshun’s close-range strike put the visitors ahead.
Nine minutes later Sayed Fatemi equalised after North Geelong failed to clear from a free-kick.
In State 1 Mornington’s momentum for a second-placed finish and a promotion play-off slowed considerably last weekend when beaten 3-2 by Hampton East Brighton at Civic Reserve.
Mornington made the brighter start and took the lead in the 33rd minute when Lachlan Candy found the back of the net.
However, Hampton East responded before the break with Marko Stanisavljevic levelling in the 41st minute.
The visitors then took control early in the second half with Ahmed Habeeb putting Hampton East ahead in the 48th minute before Nicholas Walker extended the advantage just three minutes later.
Mornington refused to give up and Candy grabbed his second of the afternoon in the 75th minute to reduce the deficit to 3-2.
Despite late pressure, however, the home side could not find the equaliser.
For Adam Jamieson’s men there is little time to dwell on the result as attention now turns to Tuesday’s catch-up game and another huge test against the champion South Springvale.
Skye United drew 0-0 away to St Kilda on Saturday and has been relegated.
St Kilda set up to play for a point and ironically this was Skye’s first clean sheet of the season.
In State 2 Peninsula Strikers’ clash with Mooroolbark at Centenary Park was abandoned a few minutes from half-time when Max Civil of Strikers suffered a badly broken leg.
Civil was successfully operated on at Peninsula University Hospital on Sunday morning.
In State 5 Seaford striker Dylan Waugh had a day out against Yarra Jets with a four-goal haul in his side’s 6-1 away win on Saturday.
The Jets scored first when George Leigh was on target in the 28th minute but the lead only lasted for two minutes.
The Jets failed to clear from a long throw-in and Waugh had a tap-in to equalise.
Another two minutes elapsed before Seaford hit the front after Conor McFall’s quick free-kick found Jay LeBron and his cross was finished by Jay McCabe.
Waugh made it 3-1 in the 40th minute when he headed home from a McFall corner.
Two minutes into the second half Waugh nailed his hat-trick when he finished a perfect diagonal from Alex Roberts by lobbing the Jets keeper.
McFall beat two players on the right in the 51st minute then sent over a floated cross that Blake Hicks finished with a venomous volley and Waugh sealed the result in the 56th minute after a McFall corner.
Somerville Eagles drew 2-2 away to Templestowe Wolves last weekend.
Marcus Anastasiou scored both goals for the locals with his equaliser coming in the 89th minute.
In State 6 Mount Eliza drew 0-0 away to Bunyip District last weekend and now must win on Saturday and rely on results going its way to either win promotion or win a promotion play-off spot.
Frankston Pines had one of their best wins of the season when downing Pakenham United 2-1 at IYU Recreation Reserve on Friday night.
Pakenham struck first after four minutes when Lado Suliman broke onto a ball over the top and finished in style striking the ball across Pines keeper Nic Ambor.
Pines equalised on 15 minutes when Onur Göksu controlled Ambor’s goal kick then slotted the ball through for Kenny Akalan to drive the ball into the bottom corner.
Onus scored the winner in the 51st minute after driving into the final third before unleashing a superb shot into the back of the net.
Mentone lost 3-0 at home to Brighton on Saturday.
In State 7 Aspendale needs to win its final game of the season on Saturday to be promoted after last weekend’s 1-1 draw at home to Burwood City.
Burwood went in front in the 28th minute through Anthony Tang’s free header at the back post.
Two minutes later Oscar Carter scored in his fourth successive match when he headed home Tom Machin’s corner.
Mount Martha drew 1-1 away to Glen Waverley last Saturday.
The home team had the bulk of possession early but the visitors carved out the best two chances through Jude Hardy.
Mount Martha paid for its inability to clear from a corner late in the half and went in 1-0 down at the interval.
The Mariners’ persistence paid off 10 minutes from time when a long throw-in caused panic in Glen Waverley’s defence and Hardy pounced with a clinical finish.
With two minutes left Hardy threaded a superb through ball to Will McFee whose low strike forced a superb save from the home team keeper and the points were shared.
THIS WEEK’S GAMES
Tuesday 1 September, 8.30pm
South Springvale v Mornington, Warner Reserve
Saturday 5 September, 3pm
Skye Utd v Banyule City, Skye Recreation Reserve
Doveton v Mornington, Waratah Reserve
Knox City v Peninsula Strikers, Egan Lee Reserve
Baxter v Rosebud, Baxter Park
Riversdale v Chelsea, Frog Hollow Reserve
Somerville Eagles v Yarra Jets, Westernport Athletics Track
Seaford Utd v Fortuna 60, North Seaford Reserve
Mount Eliza v Old Melburnians, Emil Madsen Reserve
Frankston Pines v Old St Kevins, Monterey Reserve
Casey Panthers v Mentone, Prospect Hill Reserve
Mount Martha v Endeavour Hills, Civic Reserve
Boronia v Aspendale, HV Jones Reserve
