SOCCER
THE curtain fell on the 2024 VPL1 season last weekend in front of a huge crowd at Lawton Park while the State League promotion and relegation battles continued to grab a large share of the spotlight.
Preston Lions made Saturday’s long trip to the peninsula worthwhile as they clinched promotion to Victoria’s elite club competition with a 3-1 victory over Langwarrin. But the home side made its Macedonian-backed opponent fight every inch of the journey and the large travelling support was subdued in the 14th minute when Archie Macphee headed in the opener.
Preston levelled in the 30th minute when a stunning reflex save from Langy keeper James Burgess went unrewarded as Preston’s star striker Connor Bell hammered home the rebound from point-blank range. Right on half-time Preston made Langy pay dearly for a static defence as Brandon Lauton reacted quickest and headed past Burgess to make it 2-1.
As the minutes ticked away in the second half Preston fans grew louder but they had their hearts in their mouths in the 73rd minute when Jeremy Min Fa cut in from the right then curled a well-timed strike just wide of the far post. But the chanting reached a crescendo in the 96th minute as Preston hit Langy on the break following a Luke Goulding free-kick that was blocked twice before the visitors charged downfield. Substitute Chok Dau set up Bell who gleefully thumped the ball into the gaping goal from dead in front and celebrations started in earnest.
While Langwarrin didn’t have its preferred season finale it made an important move last week when it announced that its entire player support group had been re-appointed for next season. Led by senior coach Jamie Skelly the group consists of Ben Caffrey (under-23 head coach), Adam Poole (senior assistant), Simon Storey (senior assistant), Lou Kastner (goalkeeping coach), Peter Tuckett (senior head of performance), Roddy Strachan (senior team manager) and Sean Skelly (under-23 team manager). It’s a statement of confidence and stability from Langwarrin’s committee after both the senior and under-23 squads finished in the bottom half of the table.
In State 1 Mornington and Gippsland United had to settle for a 0-0 scoreline last weekend. The pitch at Dallas Brooks Park was unplayable forcing Mornington to switch the venue to Rosebud’s Olympic Park. Few chances were created but on a positive note it was Mornington’s third straight clean sheet.
In State 2 Peninsula Strikers drew 1-1 away to Bentleigh United Cobras last weekend while Skye United took an important step towards dodging the drop with an impressive 4-1 away win over Knox City. Strikers’ path to promotion wasn’t helped by a substandard surface at Victory Park and the visitors were 1-0 down at the break after Andy McIntyre had given away a penalty.
They hit back in the 65th minute thanks to a bullet-like header from Stevie Elliott following a Billy Rae cross. In the 85th minute Strikers should have clinched the points but Tom Wood shot over the bar with the goal at his mercy. With the final kick of the contest Strikers could have been caught out on the break but goalkeeper Faraz Zenoozi denied Bentleigh’s Miguel Anderson.
Skye’s win was full of merit as it went into this clash without the experience of Marcus Collier, Brett Heskins, Alex Van Heerwaarden and Mark O’Connor who were injured while Daniel Walsh was suspended. Eight of Skye’s starting lineup were under the age of 22 but that didn’t stop the visitors from taking the lead in the 11th minute when a flick-on header from Daniel Attard sent Charlie Jeffs through and he finished well.
That lead was extended in the 23rd minute when Jeffs charged into the box and was fouled. His brother George Jeffs converted from the spot to give the visitors a two-goal cushion. Knox clawed its way back into the contest on the half-hour when Ceu Bik Thang scored despite the flag going up for offside. A couple of important saves from Skye custodian Steven Hadjikakou maintained the 2-1 margin at half-time.
The tale of the second half revolved around 18-year-old Skye substitute Sebastian Stevens. He came on in the 67th minute and scored twice in the final 10 minutes to seal victory. In the 80th minute he combined with fellow sub Mitch Blake to finish into an empty net and in the 90th minute he carried the ball the length of the half and finished in a one-on-one with Knox keeper Matthew Krstina. The only sour note for Skye was the sending-off of experienced defender Arash Sadeghi five minutes from time. Skye now sits seven points ahead of the relegation zone and if it matches or betters Greater Dandenong’s result this weekend it will have ensured its safety in State 2.
In State 3 Frankston Pines has grabbed a lifeline with a shock 3-2 away win over Heatherton United on Friday night. The stunning result gives Pines belief that it can avoid relegation in an 11-team league with the bottom side facing the axe.
In State 4 a remarkable scoring display from Somerville Eagles talisman Marcus Anastasiou was a major talking point despite big wins to Chelsea and Baxter. With Joe and Tom Simmons injured and out for the rest of the season Somerville moved Conor Mcfall up top alongside Anastasiou for the visit of Brighton on Saturday and the switch paid spectacular dividends.
The visitors hit the front with their first shot on target from Michael Fava but minutes after the restart a Mcfall header set up Anastasiou for the first of his five-goal haul. Mcfall and Anastasiou combined again in the 32nd minute to put the Eagles in front and when a goalmouth scramble ended with the duo combining yet again Brighton was staring at a 3-1 deficit.
In a rollercoaster first half Brighton hit back from the penalty spot through James Pilcher in the 37th minute but five minutes later a defence-splitting pass from Nick Simmons saw Mcfall set up Anastasiou for the fourth time and the home team led 4-2 at half-time.
The second half wasn’t as frantic as the first after Anastasiou’s special day out was capped in the 48th minute when he pounced on a defensive blunder to complete the scoreline. Chelsea hammered bottom side Keysborough 6-0 at Edithvale Recreation Reserve on Saturday while Baxter turned a 1-0 half-time deficit into a resounding 5-1 victory at home to Mentone.
Chelsea’s scorers were Adam Bartosy (3), Connor Scott (2) and Harry Salisbury and the result maintains the club’s hold of a promotion play-off spot with Endeavour United and Monash University breathing down its neck. Baxter welcomed Hayden Taylor to senior coaching ranks with a memorable second half in which Jack Elliott (3), Keegan Myatt and Aiden McKenna hit the target. Jacob Klein scored for Mentone.
In State 5 Aspendale continued to thrive at the expense of Cleeland United when it returned from Thomas P Carroll Reserve on Friday night with three prized points and a 15-1 scoreline. Cleeland was staring down the barrel from the get-go and when Martin Tombra handled on the line and was red carded after four minutes the floodgates were about to open. Koray Yildirim converted from the spot to kickstart a profitable night that would net him six goals.
Aspendale showed no mercy for its outclassed foe as Gianluca Bozzo (4), Felix Hampson (2), Taylan Yildirim, Matthew Bruce and James Macnab joined in the goalfest. Cleeland has been a welcome opponent for Aspendale this season with Gregor Macnab’s men winning both league fixtures and scoring 28 goals while conceding one.
Rosebud continued its march towards the championship but it had to dig deep against a stubborn and persistent Mount Martha at Civic Reserve on Saturday. It took until the 56th minute for the deadlock to be broken and it was no surprise when Dave Greening controlled well then finished off a Ben Symonds cross.
Six minutes later Greening was at it again. Rosebud full back Louis Bisogni played a delightful pass into Greening on the edge of the box with his back to goal. Greening swivelled and hit a left-foot shot into the bottom corner and Mount Martha never recovered. Cleeland United visits Rosebud next weekend in a game that surely will see Stuart Johnson’s men guarantee promotion to State League 4 next year.
Mount Eliza lost 1-0 to promotion-chasing FC Noble Hurricanes at Emil Madsen Reserve on Saturday but it took a goal 10 minutes into time added to snatch the points from Gerry McDonagh’s side. With home team captain Callum Drysdale in defence, midfielder Lachlan Mitchell back from overseas and Harris Battison recovered from injury Mount Eliza more than matched its fancied foe.
The longer this contest went the less likely the visitors looked like scoring. Until Mount Eliza’s Cohan King landed awkwardly on his shoulder an had to be stretchered off. When play resumed the Hurricanes sent a long ball downfield and Jarell Osei struck the telling blow.
Seaford United was given a 3-0 walkover against Barton United and faces its moment of truth this weekend when it squares up to FC Noble Hurricanes at Alex Nelson Reserve. It’s a must-win for Seaford and fellow promotion hopeful Aspendale will be cheering on Paul Williams’ men.
NEXT WEEK’S GAMES
Friday 23 August, 8.30pm:
Skye Utd v Hampton East Brighton, Skye Recreation Reserve
Frankston Pines v White Star Dandenong, Monterey Reserve
Mount Eliza v Casey Panthers, Emil Madsen Reserve
Saturday 24 August, 3pm:
Brandon Park v Mornington, Freeway Reserve
Peninsula Strikers v Doncaster Rovers, Centenary Park
Chelsea v Somerville Eagles, Edithvale Recreation Reserve
Mentone v Brighton, Mentone Grammar Playing Fields
Hampton Park Utd v Baxter, KM Reedy Reserve
FC Noble Hurricanes v Seaford Utd, Alex Nelson Reserve
Endeavour Hills Fire v Mount Martha, Power Reserve
Saturday 24 August, 3.30pm:
Bunyip District v Aspendale, Bunyip Recreation Reserve
Saturday 24 August, 6pm:
Rosebud v Cleeland Utd, Olympic Park
First published in the Mornington News – 20 August 2024
