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. O’Brien has to wait for 30 days due to a change in his playing status while Kimber won’t be available until next month for visa reasons.
No doubt all three will be welcome additions to a squad still struggling to trigger a winning run and Saturday’s 3-3 draw with State 1 struggler Collingwood City resulted in the end of Sam Orritt’s second spell at Mornington. It’s believed that a half-time disagreement with head coach Adam Jamieson led to Orritt being dumped. Neither would comment but Jamieson was hopeful that the new players would have a positive impact.
“Our first half of the year has not been good enough and certainly not up to the standards we have set at Mornington over the last decade,” he said. “I’m looking at these lads to come in and make a difference and get us back on track. “We’ve done too many good things over the last few years and I’m not prepared to accept the below-par performances we’ve seen in our first 11 games this season.” There’s also been a major change off the field with Nick Waite taking over as president from Matt Cameron who has stepped down from the committee for personal reasons.
On Saturday a rollercoaster first half saw Mornington fight back from 2-0 down after 10 minutes to level from a Reki one-on-one with Collingwood keeper Irfan Hrelja and a David Stirton tap-in after his first effort was blocked.
The goalmouth action didn’t stop there. Collingwood regained the lead through Jordan Heggie in the 36th minute but Orritt capped an excellent team move right on half-time. His superb strike would prove to be the goal that earned the visitors a point and his parting gesture to the club as he didn’t appear after the interval.
In VPL1 Langwarrin controlled long periods of Friday night’s Lawton Park clash with Werribee City running out a 3-1 winner. The visitors have the worst defensive record in the league and two goals in four minutes from Langy striker Archie Macphee highlighted their ineptitude at the back. In the 18th minute Luke Goulding got clear on the right and squared the ball to the near post where Macphee effected a simple tap-in for the opener.
In the 22nd minute Werribee had multiple chances to clear as the ball pinballed about the penalty area before falling to an unmarked Macphee a few metres out from goal and he had no problem slamming it home to make it 2-0.
A Tom Youngs classic was a game highlight. In the 79th minute a superb interpassing move released Youngs on the left. He motored inside the area then slotted a right-foot strike just inside the far post. Werribee’s sole reply came in the final minute of normal time from substitute Mark Offeh’s low shot on the turn.
In State 2 news Peninsula Strikers produced a dominant display in Saturday’s 3-0 away win over Greater Dandenong.
Strikers led within 15 minutes when Cooper Andrews played a delightful through ball for Campbell Steedman to swoop and he cooly slotted home with a left-foot strike. Shortly after the home side was reduced to 10 men following a reckless challenge on Andrews from Muhammad Ali that earned a straight red.
Strikers had bossed the contest in the first half and in the second half they dominated possession. They went further ahead following a brilliant through ball from Wayne Gordon that synced perfectly with Tom Wood’s run and Wood buried his chance in the bottom corner. A couple of minutes later and it was 3-0 after a nice interchange down the left released Andrews whose cutback met the run of Steedman and he swept the ball into the far corner with his left foot.
Skye United lost its eighth game this season when going down 2-1 at home to Chisholm United on Friday night.
The scoreline could have been worse for the locals if not for the performance of goalkeeper Steve Hadjikakou.
Daniel Attard came off the bench and scored for Skye in the 92nd minute.
In State 3 news Frankston Pines won its first game of the season with a 2-1 away win over Middle Park on Saturday.
Cassius Delaney and Rafael Ghunaim were on target for Pines who hope that the result kick-starts its season.
This weekend Pines faces another away game when it takes on a Dandenong South outfit with just three wins to its name.
In State 4 news Chelsea was the only local side to grab any points last weekend following a 3-0 away win over Brighton. Chelsea’s goals all came in the first half with Daniel Vella opening the scoring in the 13th minute after good work by Jake Ross and a cross that presented Vella with an easy finish. In the 27th minute Daniel Lewis headed home following a pinpoint Adam Bartosy cross and Lewis turned provider right on half-time when he set up Ross for another headed goal.
Mentone was no match for title-chasing Monash University going down 5-0 at home last weekend while Somerville Eagles lost 5-2 away to Springvale City with Howie Anderson and Max Watson scoring for the Eagles. The surprise of the round was Baxter’s 2-0 home loss to relegation-threatened Sandown Lions.
Baxter started off with three at the back and struggled defensively from the outset much to the enjoyment of Math Thowat who was given far too much space on Sandown’s right. A superbly struck Roy Ruea volley opened Sandown’s account after five minutes and it took 20 minutes for the home side to reorganise and switch to a back four. By then though the rot had set in and when former Baxter player Sunday Kim tucked away a poor attempt from Baxter keeper Jarrod Nardino to palm clear from a corner in the 36th minute the home side faced a huge challenge.
But it wasn’t up to it despite creating multiple chances especially in the second half. What was really damning for the locals was the lack of commitment and poor workrate of many of their players in this dismal display.
In State 5 news a goal avalanche resulted in Aspendale’s stunning 10-1 home win over Pakenham United on Saturday. Koray Yildirim had a day out with four goals, Gianluca Bozzo nabbed a brace and Matthew Bruce, Felix Hampson, Taylan Yildirim and Dom Paul also grabbed a slice of the action. It was game over by half-time with Aspendale leading 6-0.
Rosebud and FC Noble Hurricanes shared the points when drawing 1-1 in their top-of-the-table clash at Alex Nelson Reserve on Saturday. Rosebud was without a couple of key players in Barney Johnson (injured) and Nathan Yole (overseas) but welcomed back Dave Greening after his recent haul of medals representing Australia in athletics.
Rosebud had the better of the early exchanges with Mark Pagliarulo holding the ball up well and Davis Markulin and Caleb Davies a constant threat out wide.
As the half progressed the Hurricanes became more of a threat especially from set pieces and it was from a set piece in the 37th minute from which a goalmouth scramble developed and Jaxon Van Ette pounced to put the home side ahead. Rosebud coach Stuart Johnson made changes to his line-up at half time bringing on Greening and recent signing Jack Wyer. Rosebud keeper Colin McCormack came to the rescue on three occasions as the visitors kept pressing for an equaliser. It came in the 77th minute when a Doug Cunnison free-kick was flicked on and Greening reacted ahead of Hurricanes keeper Elvis Almovski to tap the ball home from point-blank range. Soon after Greening broke free and scored what would have been the winner if not for the home team’s linesman flagging for offside in a decision roundly condemned by the Rosebud bench and supporters.
Seaford beat bottom side Cleeland United 4-1 on Friday night at Thomas P Carroll Reserve. The visitors led after 10 minutes when Naseer Mohammad was brought down inside the area. Michael Nobbs’ conversion attempt was saved but Matt Cobbs scored from the rebound for his first senior goal for Seaford. The lead was doubled when Backy Barakzoi won the ball and smashed it home from the edge of the box and Logan Johnston made it 3-0 in the 32nd minute after a Cobbs assist. The hosts hit back in the second half through George Madul but Seaford substitute Abraham Lueth’s looping header from a Nobbs free-kick completed the scoreline.
Mount Eliza defeated visitor Bunyip District 3-2 at Emil Madsen Reserve on Saturday. The star of the show was Mount Eliza hat-trick hero Austin Mcewen. In the 8th minute Mcewen’s pace led to the opener with a well-placed strike and seven minutes later it was 2-0.
Yodish Jagatheson won possession in midfield then found Mcewen out wide on the left who cut inside onto his right foot and struck a low shot past Bunyip keeper Kieran Lenders. Bunyip hit back in the 25th minute when a long ball eluded home team captain Callum Drysdale and Mark Comini finished from a one-on-one with Mount Eliza keeper Luke Armao. It was 3-1 in the 56th minute when a Ray Amiri through ball set up Mcewen for his hat-trick but the striker was subbed immediately after tweaking a hamstring.
In the 87th minute Bunyip’s Luke Jeric converted from the penalty spot after a manhandling infringement was given following a corner. That set up a tense finish with six minutes of time added but Mount Eliza held firm.
Mount Martha lost 4-1 at home to Barton United on Saturday but all credit to the club’s players and coaching staff for fulfilling the fixture in what was a very emotional day. Former Mount Martha player Billy Baldwin succumbed to cancer at just 22 years old and the club paid their respects to him and the Baldwin family and friends. The scoreline seemed inconsequential but for the record David Jones scored for the Mariners.
NEXT WEEK’S GAME
Friday 28 June, 8.30pm:
Springvale City v Baxter, Ross Reserve
Saturday 29 June, 3pm:
Langwarrin v Brunswick City, Lawton Park
Mornington v Eltham Redbacks, Dallas Brooks Park
Skye Utd v Mooroolbark, Skye Recreation Reserve
Knox City v Peninsula Strikers, Egan Lee Reserve
Dandenong South v Frankston Pines, Tatterson Park
Mentone v Somerville Eagles, Mentone Grammar Playing Fields
Lyndale Utd v Chelsea, Lyndale Secondary College
Aspendale v Barton Utd, Aspendale Gardens Sports Ground
Seaford Utd v Mount Martha, North Seaford Reserve
Mount Eliza v Rosebud, Emil Madsen Reserve
First published in the Mornington News – 25th June 2024
