SOCCER SOMERVILLE Eagles and Baxter have joined the chase to try and run down tearaway leader White Star Dandenong as the State 4 South promotion pursuit heats up. Both locals are now in second and third spots respectively after wins last weekend while White Star drew with Chelsea. Somerville outgunned Sandringham 2-0 at Tyabb Central Reserve on Saturday. Marcus Anastasiou could have scored early in the first half when he rounded Sandringham keeper Jack Evans but couldn’t convert from a tight angle. He made amends in the 43rd minute after a goalmouth scramble when he struck a well-timed volley to…
Author: Craig MacKenzie
SOCCER THE friendship between Aaran Currie and Liam Baxter played a major part in reuniting their striking partnership last week. It led Currie to drop from State 2 to State 4 level quitting Frankston Pines and heading to Baxter Park. Currie, whose CV includes spells at Langwarrin, St Albans Saints, Peninsula Strikers and Casey Comets joined Pines last year and along with teammate Baxter formed part of a formidable strike force that helped win promotion from State 3. Baxter was Pines’ leading scorer but left at the end of the season. Currie’s decision to leave Monterey Reserve last week caught…
SOCCER SEAFORD United, Somerville Eagles and Mentone won their derby battles last weekend in a round of State League matches with some surprising outcomes. In a keenly contested clash at North Seaford Reserve the home side emerged a 2-0 victor over high-flying Aspendale thanks to second-half strikes from Andrew Packer and substitute Luke Murray. Aspendale came close in the first half when left winger Kailan Smith struck the far post only for the rebound to be cleared. The Seaford defence was excellent throughout and goalkeeper Hayden Hicks proved a formidable barrier. The goal that broke the deadlock came in the…
SOCCER RILEY Anderton treated onlookers to a volleying masterclass on Saturday as he single-handedly broke Berwick City’s resolve with a breathtaking four-goal display. The Peninsula Strikers ace was the catalyst for a second-half turnaround at Centenary Park that saw a 1-0 deficit transformed into a resounding and unexpected 5-1 win. Until the Kiwi first struck in the 55th minute Berwick was the better side and deserved its slender lead but Anderton levelled when he spun on a deflected cross and volleyed with his right foot into the roof of the net. Within minutes he demonstrated a deft touch at the…
SOCCER PENINSULA Strikers and Frankston Pines dipped into the transfer market last week with six players joining the State 2 rivals. Strikers signed forward Wayne “Buzzer” Gordon from NPL3 outfit Doveton, goalkeeper Faraz Zenoozi from Queensland side Souths United and defender and ex-Strikers player Deniz Karabadjak from Pines. “I wanted to sign ‘Buzzer’ during the off-season as his leadership and qualities on the pitch are still there,” Strikers’ gaffer Scott Morrison said. “Faraz is a great signing for us. “He goes about it in a professional manner and will challenge Ben (Caballero) and ‘Browny’ (Nathan Brown) for the number one…