SOCCER CHELSEA has set the State 4 South title race alight by becoming the first team since 2022 to inflict a loss on table-topping Hampton Park United. A solitary goal was all that separated these sides at KM Reedy Reserve on Saturday and league top scorer James Stinson was on the mark once more. The English ace emphasised his importance to the Chelsea cause when a pinpoint through ball from Adam Bartosy in the 52nd minute allowed Stinson to round Hampton Park keeper Michael Almeida and calmly finish the move.The home side would have hit back soon after if not…
Author: Craig MacKenzie
SOCCERNEW signings and player axings stole the limelight last week with Baxter featuring prominently. Noah Green, Joey Bucello and Robbie O’Toole were released by Baxter while Ryan Brown has left on a pre-planned overseas trip. Green had a stellar season last year and will likely join a club closer to his Southbank home. It’s believed that there has been an undercurrent of unrest among a section of the playing group throughout the season and head coach Kevin “Squizzy” Taylor decided that action had to be taken. That resulted in last week’s cull. But Taylor already has plans to reinforce the…
SOCCER ROSEBUD has bolstered its championship credentials by signing experienced midfielder Andy Jerez. The 34-year-old’s football CV includes stints at Melbourne Victory, Knox City, Mornington, Dandenong City and Berwick City and he was lured to Olympic Park from VPL2 outfit Doveton. His friendship with first team mainstay Doug Cunnison and the planning and ambition of head coach Stuart Johnson played important roles in Jerez’s decision to drop down five divisions to State 5 South. And Jerez hit the ground running with a man-of-the-match display on debut in Rosebud’s 4-0 derby success over Mount Eliza at Emil Madsen Reserve on Saturday.The…
SOCCER MORNINGTON has endured a week of upheaval on and off the pitch with four new player signings, a player sacking and a major administrative reshuffle.Wide midfielder Kane Bentley has rejoined the Seagulls for his third stint at Dallas Brooks Park, striker Joe O’Brien has transferred from Langwarrin, English striker Jack Kimber has been signed from Caboolture Sports FC in Queensland and attacking midfielder Halil Reki has joined from Dandenong South.|Bentley had been working in Dubai, O’Brien was a prolific scorer with WA-based Mandurah City before joining Langwarrin last October while Kimber is a former AFC Rushden & Diamonds player.…
SOCCER A POINT for Langwarrin and three precious points for Skye United – these were the outcomes for the only two local teams in action last week.VPL1 outfit Langwarrin had to rely on a James Kelly penalty conversion to share the spoils with visitors Melbourne City at Lawton Park on Saturday. Early on Arion Soulemani and Ben Dunbar were the main threats to the Langy defence but on the stroke of half-time a stunning piece of close control from Kavian Rahmani broke the deadlock. The lanky winger motored down the left then cut inside jinking his way past a series…