SOCCER
CHELSEA’S winning start to its State 4 league campaign continued with a 3-0 derby win over Baxter at Baxter Park on Saturday. The result leaves Gus Macleod’s men on top of the league with three straight victories. It took just three minutes for Chelsea to find a way through the Baxter defence.
A long free-kick from Adam Dunsford wasn’t properly cleared and from just outside the area Dylan Scott’s sweetly struck shot gave Baxter keeper Suliman Fazel no chance. Goal ace James Stinson seemed certain to put the visitors further ahead in the 25th minute when he rounded Fazel and shot towards the empty net but a superb sliding clearance from Aiden McKenna saved the day. That proved to be just a temporary slowing of the momentum of the contest and lasted just five minutes.
Lachlan Davies and Matthew O’Neill combined to tee up Liam Burford whose firm low strike beat a diving Fazel and went inside the far post.
Chelsea continued to boss the ball while Baxter struggled to make Chelsea keeper Luke Wilson earn his wages. The game should have been put out of Baxter’s reach in the 40th minute. Stinson got clear on the right and put the ball low across the face of goal but a sliding Burford somehow managed to sky his attempt sending the ball harmlessly sailing over the bar from close range.
Despite having more of the ball in the second half Baxter still struggled to create clear-cut chances
Baxter’s attacking options Daniel Bancroft and Keegan Myatt came off the bench in the 55th minute but the contest was over 10 minutes later. Stinson and substitute Daniel Vella combined before Stinson’s left-foot strike was deflected and looped over Fazel and into goal to seal the home team’s fate.
On Saturday evening a fantastic crowd at Olympic Park was treated to an enthralling game as Rosebud overcame Somerville 3-2. Rosebud had the majority of the ball in the first 10 minutes and looked in charge until Joe Simmons hit a peach of a left-foot strike into the top corner.
The closest Rosebud came to levelling in the first half was a thunderbolt free-kick from 25 metres by goalkeeper Colin McCormack that hit the bar. Rosebud kept knocking on the door in the second half and the breakthrough came in the 56th minute when a brilliant ball from Alfie Harris set Sean Smith free and he finished in style.
Somerville had a strong appeal for what looked like a foul on Nick Simmons but it fell on deaf ears and Rosebud took the lead when a soft Ben Schmidt backpass was seized upon by the energetic Smith who slotted home his second. But Somerville hit back in the 74th minute. Ethan Hunt was caught napping when a ball looked to be going out of play allowing Marcus Anastasiou to drive into the box and his close-range effort made it 2-2.
Rosebud coach Stuart Johnston brought on Ashton McMahon and Kori Weetch in what were to prove decisive substitutions. In the 87th minute McMahon and Weetch combined with a defence splitting ball for Weetch to show his class with a composed finish. A match highlight was the debut of Rosebud recruit Marcus Collier who had a significant impact in midfield.
On Friday night fellow State 4 outfit Frankston Pines suffered a third straight loss going down 3-0 to Noble Hurricanes at Monterey Reserve.
In VPL1 Langwarrin led until the 66th minute but eventually lost 3-1 to promotion candidate Melbourne City at Casey Fields on Sunday. In the 13th minute Langy broke down the right and Brad Blumenthal’s cross saw Tom Youngs take a touch before hitting the mark. Langy’s lead lasted until the 66th minute when three fine goals in a seven-minute burst gave City the ascendancy.
In State 1 Mornington maintained its perfect start to the season and is on top of the ladder after three rounds. But it was the late, late show and a brilliant Kieren Dover strike that settled the issue against Mazenod at Dallas Brooks Park on Saturday. The win was made more meritorious given that the home side had been reduced to 10 men after Jay Davies was shown a straight red by referee James Milloy just before half-time.
With time running out Dover came up with a wonder goal to get the points for Adam Jamieson’s men.
In the 92nd minute he received the ball on the half-turn before sitting his defender down and unleashing a long-range strike into the top bin.
In State 2 Peninsula Strikers hammered North Caulfield 6-0 on Sunday. It was the local club’s opening win of the season and a game highlight was Kye Eichenberger’s hat-trick. Recruited in the off-season from Langwarrin Eichenberger was making his first appearance in the starting line-up. Campbell Steedman got a double and Matt Harrington also scored.
Skye lost 2-0 away to Chisholm United on Friday night.
In State 5 Mount Eliza heads the league ladder after Saturday’s 1-0 home win over Pakenham United.
The home team had to wait until the 71st minute for the winner. A long clearance was backheeled by Jackson Tossavainen into space and Josh Luca won the 50/50 with Pakenham keeper Isaac Mcgill and scored.
Pakenham blew a great chance to level late in the game when a penalty attempt was sent high and wide and in the last few minutes the visitors were reduced to 10 men when Yameen Laghmane was red carded.
Aspendale downed visitor Bunyip District 2-0 last weekend. The home side broke through in the 33rd minute when a well-guided header by Felix Hampson fell into the path of Kailan Smith who slotted it home. Aspendale was dominating play and nearly went further ahead when Ben Garside was denied by the post. The second half was quite scrappy with Bunyip resorting to long balls. This nearly caught out Aspendale only for keeper Tom Carter to save the day on several occasions. In the 80th minute Aspendale nabbed its second when Lewis Marco was on hand to poke the ball home after a scramble in the area.
Seaford United and Endeavour Hills Fire drew 2-2 at North Seaford Reserve last weekend. Early in the first half a reckless Luke Murray lunge earned the visitors a penalty and captain Jonathan Theodore converted. Just a few minutes later Seaford keeper Hayden Hicks fell victim to a wonder strike from Driss Sakho that left him stranded and Seaford scratching their heads. A formation change solidified Seaford’s midfield and the game began to shift with Seaford becoming threatening.
The home side was rewarded in the 38th minute when a diagonal ball found Naseer Mohammad one-on-one with Endeavour keeper Howard Andrews who parried into the path of Dylan Waugh. The big striker tapped home and the sides went in 2-1 at the break.
The second half was all Seaford who pushed and scrapped for an equaliser but it looked unlikely after Wisey Barakzoi was sent off after kicking out at an opponent and was shown his second yellow. But with the last kick of the game a Conor Mcfall corner managed to sail over Andrews and go straight in to steal a point for the home side.
Mount Martha went down 4-2 at home to Casey Panthers last weekend and “were never at the races” according to head coach Charlie Platt. Mitch Hawkins and Jaden Taberner scored for the home team.
NEXT WEEKEND’S GAMES
Friday 11 April, 8.30pm
Noble Park Utd v Peninsula Strikers, Parkfield Reserve
Skye Utd v Casey Comets, Skye Recreation Reserve
FC Noble Hurricanes v Somerville Eagles, Alex Nelson Reserve
Cleeland Utd v Mount Martha, Thomas P Carroll Reserve
Saturday 12 April, 3pm
Langwarrin v Eastern Lions, Lawton Park
Beaumaris v Mornington, Beaumaris Reserve
Baxter v Rosebud, Baxter Park
Frankston Pines v Chelsea, Monterey Reserve
Fortuna 60 v Mount Eliza, Crinigan Road South Reserve
Keysborough v Aspendale, Coomoora Reserve
Seaford Utd BYE
