SOCCER SKYE United pulled off the shock of the State 2 South-East season when it toppled ladder leader Hampton East Brighton 2-0 at Dendy Park on Saturday. Skye went in to this clash as a pronounced underdog against an unbeaten opponent boasting seven straight wins, five clean sheets and scoring the most goals in the league.In stark contrast Skye had the most losses and goals against in State 2 and was third-last on the table. But the locals were boosted last week by the much-needed return of defender Brett Heskins and head coach Phil McGuinness elected to go with a…
Author: Craig MacKenzie
SOCCER JAMES Stinson and Matthew Bruce lit up the State Leagues last weekend with four goals apiece. Stinson terrorised the Keysborough defence as Chelsea came away from Coomoora Reserve with a 7-0 win while Bruce did as he pleased in a wide attacking role as Aspendale crushed Cleeland United 13-0.Chelsea is the equal highest scorer in State 4 South (with ladder leader Mentone) and after eight rounds is just five goals away from equalling its 2023 season tally. Stinson is chasing the league’s Golden Boot award and Saturday’s haul takes him to 11 goals just one behind Hampton Park’s Naseem…
SOCCER JOSH Heaton has left Mornington but his playing future is uncertain. The 27-year-old is one of the finest central defenders in State 1 and his impressive CV is bound to attract a number of suitors. Heaton joined Mornington in March 2020. He is from Preston in Lancashire and came through Preston North End’s academy before signing pro forms in July 2015. In June 2018 he was signed by Scottish Premiership side St Mirren from Darlington for £75,000.Heaton met with Mornington last week and told the club that he wanted to stop playing. President Matt Cameron and head coach Adam…
Soccer PENINSULA Strikers left no doubt about their promotion credentials when they comfortably accounted for neighbouring Skye United 4-0 in Saturday’s derby showdown at Centenary Park. Eleven minutes in and a Taylan Geylan cross was steered home by Tom Wood at the near post. Veteran striker Wayne Gordon’s solo run came to an end when he was tripped in the 24th minute and Skye’s hopes probably ended there too. Gordon’s neatly curled free-kick left Skye keeper Callum Hope grasping at thin air. The killer blow came seconds after an audacious long-range effort from Ethan Goulding had beaten Hope only to…
SOCCER CHAOS descended on Mount Eliza after Friday night’s controversial ending to the local team’s State 5 home game against Barton United.The trigger for referee Farhad Sharif’s decision to abandon the contest was the dismissal of Mount Eliza’s Nickel Chand after an off-the-ball incident late in the first half. Barton led 1-0 at the time and Mount Eliza head coach Alex Halikias was incensed at the red card decision. Referee Sharif approached the home team’s bench and after an exchange with Halikias sent off the irate coach. Sharif’s report claims that he was racially abused and threatened and it is…