SOCCER PENINSULA Strikers and Baxter defied the odds last weekend to claim vital points as they ramp up their battle to avoid relegation. Strikers caused a minor upset by holding champion elect Doveton to a thrilling 2-2 draw in their State 2 South-East clash at Centenary Park while Mark Pagliarulo made his comeback for Baxter in its 2-0 away win over State 4 South rival Harrisfield Hurricanes. Strikers stunned the visitors in the 8th minute. Nathan Smith got free on the left and his shot was parried by Doveton keeper Stuart Webster only to fall to John Prescott but his…
Author: Craig MacKenzie
SOCCER GUS Macleod has come through the toughest test of his coaching career by steering Langwarrin to NPL2 safety. The veteran gaffer is in his 20th season at Lawton Park and has enjoyed league titles and multiple promotions highlighted by the 2017 State 1 South-East title which was Langy’s ticket to the NPL. “I’ve felt the weight of the club’s expectations on my shoulders and it would have been a disaster for us if we’d have been relegated in our first season in the NPL,” Macleod said. “This has been the hardest season of my coaching career and I’ll sit…
SOCCER BAXTER teeters on the edge of the State 4 South relegation abyss after the controversial abandonment of Saturday’s clutch away fixture against Hampton Park United. Baxter was losing 2-0 in the first half when the decision of referee Zhihao Lu to give Baxter striker Liam Kilner a second yellow card triggered a reaction that saw his brother and Baxter captain Owen Kilner also sent off. Their father and Baxter senior coach Roy Kilner believes that he also was sent off as Saturday’s clash descended into farce. Referee Lu abandoned the match in the 39th minute and Roy Kilner claims…
SOCCER ROY Kilner is back at Baxter in a last-ditch attempt to rescue the club from relegation from State 4 South. When news broke last week that work commitments had forced Francis Beck to step down as head coach the club turned to former coach Kilner and he has targeted controversial striker Mark Pagliarulo as the man to lead the front line. ‘Pags’ has also attracted interest from Somerville and Skye United but his relationship with Baxter is expected to tip the odds in Kilner’s favour. ‘Pags’ last played in 2017 and has since concentrated on his job as head…
SOCCER LOCAL NPLW club Southern United has signed American striker Michaela Dooley to a two-year deal with a one-year option. Dooley arrived in Melbourne last week and has trained with her new teammates and Southern hopes to finalise her international clearance in time to face Alamein next weekend. Dooley’s signing is a major coup as she has been in sparkling form for Swedish club Skövde KIK and had been approached by a Queensland-based club who offered her $2500 a month, a job and free accommodation. The 23-year-old was born in San Diego, California but grew up in Scottsdale, Arizona and…