SOCCER CJ HODGSON will make his 250th and final appearance for Frankston Pines on Saturday when the State 3 promotion contender takes on Elwood City at Carrum Downs Recreation Reserve at 6pm. Hodgson’s battle to overcome post-concussion syndrome has forced the 28-year-old into early retirement. He was substituted in February after a head clash in a friendly against Mazenod and has not played since. He has a medical clearance to play this weekend but the risk of long-term and serious injury is too great to continue. You won’t hear a player or a club on the local scene with a…
Author: Craig MacKenzie
SOCCER BAXTER kickstarted its season with a dominant performance against FC Noble Hurricanes at Alex Nelson Reserve last Thursday night. The visitors got off to the perfect start after 65 seconds with Lachie McMinimee finishing off an Izaak Barr cross from inside the six yard box. Baxter continued to create numerous chances with McMinimee hitting the bar and Dave Greening just missing the target. The second goal came after 19 minutes and what a goal it was. A magnificent Charlie O’Connell through ball sent Robbie O’Toole clear and he calmly rounded Hurricanes keeper Jimmy Zafiriou then stroked the ball into…
SOCCER JOSH Hine’s hat-trick and Peninsula Strikers’ unblemished record were highlights of local State League fixtures last weekend. In State 1 Mornington got its promotion chase back on track with a 4-1 home win over Bentleigh United Cobras on Friday night. Assistant coach Nathan Peel resigned after the previous week’s 2-0 reversal against Casey Comets so it was important for the local club to bounce back immediately. Hine scored a second-half hat-trick and is one of the leading contenders for the league’s Golden Boot honours while John Maclean was Mornington’s other scorer. Strikers kept their faultless State 2 record intact…
SOCCER YOUNG Tom Simmons proved to be the matchwinner as Somerville defeated Baxter 2-1 on Saturday in the first local derby of the season. Clashes between these State 4 rivals are usually entertaining and this encounter was no different. Tyabb Central Reserve is a difficult proposition for sides that favour an interpassing game and the home side adapted to the bumpy surface with a no-nonsense approach. Baxter led 1-0 through Lachie McMinimee’s well-taken strike in the 20th minute but its new striking combination of McMinimee and boom recruit Dave Greening blew a series of chances in both halves. The key…
SOCCER PENINSULA Strikers have made their best start to a league season since 2016. A revamped senior squad under new coach Donn Delaney relied on a 22nd minute Cooper Andrews shot from inside the area to record a 1-0 win over Old Scotch at Ballam Park on Saturday evening. The result follows a 2-1 opening round win in what is Delaney’s first senior coaching job. He was unavailable last weekend along with four players who all were forced to isolate. “We’re a tight-knit group so handing the reins over to (reserves coaches) Steve Shephard and Jake Priest was easy,” Delaney…