Author: Craig MacKenzie

SOCCER SEAFORD United recorded its second win of the season and its first under senior coach Matt Morris-Thomas when it defeated Noble Park United 3-2 at North Seaford Reserve on Saturday. Harry McCartney reports that Seaford stunned the visitors in the 27th minute when defender Callum Richardson’s acrobatic overhead kick opened the scoring. Three minutes into the second half Dylan Waugh broke past two defenders before slotting the ball past Noble Park United keeper Andrea Stoilovic to make it 2-0. Seaford fans were in raptures in the 72nd minute after Cam Bryden’s clinical side-foot finish made it 3-0. But a…

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SOCCER FRANKSTON Pines combined pace with a slick counter-attacking style to overrun Peninsula Strikers 5-2 in Saturday’s State 2 South-East derby at Centenary Park. Strikers started on a positive note and in the 6th minute a cross from Tommy Hawkins on the right set up Ryan Thompson whose shot was parried for a corner by Pines’ keeper Jarrod Nardino. Two minutes later Pines ruthlessly exposed the lack of pace in the Strikers’ defence when CJ Hodgson sent Mitch Lander clear through the middle and his left-foot strike from the edge of the area flew past advancing Strikers’ keeper Ash Kupre…

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SOCCER LANGWARRIN coach Gus Macleod says Langy fans have much to look forward to after clinching the signature of attacking midfielder Mehdi Sarwari late last week. The 21-year old previously played with Melbourne City, Dandenong Thunder and Oakleigh Cannons. “He’s a huge signing for us, a very exciting player and I think the fans are going to like what they see,” Macleod said. Langwarrin also received clearances for central defender Lloyd Clothier (Malvern City) and goalkeeper Jeremy Sandoval (South Springvale) and they join Queensland strikers Chris Swain and Matt Heath in a strengthened first team squad. Heath is recovering from…

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SOCCER SEAFORD United has appointed star midfielder Matt Morris-Thomas as senior coach after Paulo Pinheiro’s resignation last week. Pinheiro fell on his sword with his side staring at a second successive relegation following a nightmare start to the 2018 State 3 South-East season. Morris-Thomas, 28, will be assisted by former Seaford player and reserves coach Stuart Mitchell and faces a monumental task to avoid the drop. He has decided to step down as a player which caught most observers by surprise given the lack of quality in the senior squad. “This is my first senior coaching job and I didn’t…

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SOCCER PENINSULA Strikers’ senior coach Jamie Paterson resigned last Wednesday morning and assistant coach Lenny Greenan has been appointed in a caretaker capacity. Paterson’s decision took the State 2 South-East club by surprise but president Trevor Johnston is hopeful that a decision on who will take charge of the senior squad till the end of the season will be made in the next fortnight. “We are actively looking at candidates and we will exhaust every avenue to find someone who can hit the ground running and take on a rebuilding phase for the club,” Johnston said. “We want someone who…

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