SOCCER CAN Derren Elliott and Mount Martha defy the critics and join the race for promotion from State 5 South next season?The Mariners were granted State League status in late 2019 but have played just three full seasons since due to the impact of the pandemic. And despite never finishing in the top half of the league new head coach Charlie Platt and new assistant Elliott have set an ambitious goal for 2025. “Look it’s too early to say we’re going to do this or we’re going to do that but if everything comes together then I’m hoping that at…
Author: Craig MacKenzie
SOCCER ASPENDALE Stingrays’ hopes of winning promotion from State 5 South next season have been dealt a hammer blow.Captain and star attacking midfielder Matthew Bruce will head overseas next year and be unavailable for the entire season. The 23-year-old has told just a handful of teammates of his plans but he is expected to speak to the senior playing group when pre-season training gets underway next week.In the past three seasons Bruce has gone from struggling to get a senior game to one of the most potent midfielders in the competition. This year he added a league best and fairest…
SOCCER SKYE United fans won’t see Marcus Collier leading their senior team into battle again. The 28-year-old midfielder told head coach Phil McGuinness last week that he’d decided to leave Collier made his senior debut for Skye in 2013 and is the club’s longest serving senior player after Daniel Attard.Aside from a couple of seasons as a sub-junior at Cranbourne (Casey Comets) and a season at Seaford United in 2015 Collier has been a fixture at Skye Recreation Reserve. So why has he left? “I think it’s time for a change, not just for me but for the club,” he…
SOCCER IT’S taken six years but Langwarrin head coach Jamie Skelly hopes it’s going to be well worth the wait. Wind the clock back to 2018 and Skelly is coaching at State 1 level. “That’s when we first started talking,” Skelly said. “I was at Comets and he was returning to the UK after playing in America. “I actually had signed him then he got an offer from Concord Rangers (in England) and he decided to go back there.”The player in question is Tosan Popo, now 32 years old, and one of three new signings at Lawton Park as the…
SOCCER TOMMY Wood has been involved in a tug of war between former club Mornington and current club Peninsula Strikers.And it looks like Mornington has won the battle to clinch the young forward’s signature. Wood texted Strikers’ gaffer Scott Morrison last week to let him know he was going to return to Dallas Brooks Park. “The message was along the lines of thanks for everything but I want to go try this,” Morrison said. It’s understood that the Seagulls have offered the 21-year-old an attractive match fee and goal bonus and Strikers were not given the opportunity to match it.Morrison…
Soccer STATE 4 club Mentone has the youngest senior coach in local soccer circles after the recent appointment of 32-year-old Matias Cantavenera. He has been part of the Panthers’ senior squad since leaving Chelsea at the end of the 2019 season but the midfielder is unlikely to be playing coach next season. “I might play in the thirds but I can’t see myself playing in the seniors or reserves,” Cantavenera said.But that’s furthest from his mind right now as he embraces the excitement at tackling his first senior coaching post.“When Jason (Grieve) said he was leaving I felt this was…
SOCCER BEAUMARIS tried to prize Adam Jamieson from Mornington’s grasp just when he was weighing up his options for 2025. “For the first time in a long time I had offers from other clubs and I did catch up with Beaumaris through a contact,” Jamieson said. “But Mornington … well I just feel like we’re so close and there’s so much good stuff happening that I didn’t want to give up on our plan.”Jamieson doesn’t try to mask the fact that Mornington has had “one of those debacle years”. One of the pre-season promotion favourites the Seagulls finished in the…
ADAM Jamieson (Mornington), Gus Macleod (Chelsea), Mark Larner (Somerville) and Gerry McDonagh (Mount Eliza) are among a host of local coaches expected to stay put for season 2025. As we went to press Langwarrin (Jamie Skelly), Peninsula Strikers (Scott Morrison) and Mount Martha (Charlie Platt) are the only local clubs to have officially announced their head coaching appointments.Mount Martha and Mentone are certain to line up next season with new head coaches with Platt already filling the vacancy left at Civic Reserve by Andrew Hall. Mentone is yet to announce a replacement for Jason Grieve who left at the end…
Soccer WHEN Wayne “Buzzer” Gordon runs out in the colours of Peninsula Strikers next year he’ll be playing his 26th straight season of first team football. He’s won championships, promotions and individual honours and earned the respect of teammates and opponents alike at both professional and semi-professional levels.“Buzzer” is an iconic figure in peninsula sport and the 40-year-old now has teammates who used to line the fence and cheer him on during their childhood years. His story starts in western Germany. His father was in the British army and was based in the city of Münster when Wayne Malcolm Gordon…
SOCCER THERE is nothing daunting about Charlie Platt’s first senior coaching assignment. Self-belief is the buffer for any possible doubts about his ability to cope with the role Mount Martha announced last weekend when he was officially unveiled as the local club’s new gaffer. “I’ll be honest with you, I am always confident in my ability,” he said.“I don’t mean to come across as big-headed or anything like that but I’m confident in getting players to play the way I want them to.”Platt aims to produce a senior squad that isn’t just capable of being ultra competitive but capable of…
SOCCER RELEGATION, retirements and a remarkable comeback made for a roller-coaster final round of the 2024 State League season. There also was a significant personal milestone in the much-lauded career of Dave Greening when the doyen of goalscorers won his 10th league Golden Boot award. Add to that a change of coach at a local State 5 club and there was no shortage of news to emerge from the season’s swansong.Frankston Pines succumbed to a first-half goal from Oscar Mariner-Stone losing 1-0 away to Elwood City on Saturday and losing their State 3 South-East status in the process. Pines have…
SOCCER ROSEBUD won the State 5 South championship last weekend while Frankston Pines took a giant step towards avoiding relegation from State 3 South-East. It’s Rosebud’s first senior men’s title under the state federation banner and it was achieved with a 4-1 away win over Pakenham United in difficult conditions on Saturday. Rosebud led after 12 minutes when Jacob Bigg bent the ball perfectly into the path of top scorer Dave Greening and he had little trouble in beating advancing Pakenham keeper Christopher Van Dam. Three minutes later it was 2-0 when Barney Johnson set up Andy Jerez who finished…
SOCCER ROSEBUD will play in State 4 South next season after winning promotion from State 5 last weekend. Stuart Johnston’s men hammered bottom side Cleeland United 13-0 at Olympic Park with goal machine Dave Greening hitting the target nine times.The veteran striker’s remarkable feat was highlighted by a seven-goal first half in one of the great 45-minute hauls in local senior football. Rosebud led 9-0 at half-time with Jacob Bigg and a Cleeland own goal adding to the scoreline. The ’Buds strolled through the second-half with two more Greening goals while Ben Symonds and Jacob Markulin also got in on…
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…
SOCCER HAYDEN Taylor is the new senior coach of Baxter after Saturday’s shock 5-4 loss to visitor Brighton. He replaces his father in a caretaker capacity following Kevin “Squizzy” Taylor’s dramatic resignation amid chaotic scenes during this State 4 South clash.Baxter went into this contest a clear favourite against a side which had won just two games and lost 14 but by the final whistle Brighton had earned another precious win and given itself a faint hope in the relegation battle. Contrast that with Baxter’s roller-coaster season and a dismal first-half display providing a backdrop for a head coach about…
SOCCER PENINSULA Strikers head coach Scott Morrison has called on Football Victoria to protect the integrity of State League competition. Morrison claims that the lack of alignment between the end of NPL and State League seasons is being abused by cashed-up clubs and making a mockery of promotion and relegation throughout the leagues.“Right now the NPL season has two games left while the State League season has five games left,” he said. “And amateur players at NPL clubs could still be registered with State League clubs up until last Friday. “Non-contracted NPL players with nothing to play for can be…
SOCCER SKYE United and Mornington won important games last weekend to keep the threat of relegation at arm’s length.Skye went into Friday night’s derby showdown with Peninsula Strikers a pronounced underdog given their respective places on the State 2 South-East ladder.Skye lost the bedrock of its senior squad during pre-season and has struggled to recover from the setback while Strikers have had their gaze firmly fixed on winning promotion since the start of the current campaignBut that gaze was diverted by two first-half goals for Skye and the visitors to Skye Recreation Reserve went into the break staring down the…
CHELSEA blew a great chance to continue its promotion push when it couldn’t beat 10-man Baxter in Saturday’s feisty State 4 South derby at Edithvale Recreation Reserve.The 1-1 scoreline reflects the persistence and commitment of Baxter despite facing an uphill battle after Brodie McMinimee was cautioned twice for dissent in the 23rd minute and sent off.In dreadful weather conditions that washed out two other games featuring local sides it took until the 65th minute of this clash for the deadlock to be broken.Chelsea striker Piers Brelsford came out of retirement last week and couldn’t have timed his comeback any better.In…
SOCCER CHELSEA has set the State 4 South title race alight by becoming the first team since 2022 to inflict a loss on table-topping Hampton Park United. A solitary goal was all that separated these sides at KM Reedy Reserve on Saturday and league top scorer James Stinson was on the mark once more. The English ace emphasised his importance to the Chelsea cause when a pinpoint through ball from Adam Bartosy in the 52nd minute allowed Stinson to round Hampton Park keeper Michael Almeida and calmly finish the move.The home side would have hit back soon after if not…
SOCCERNEW signings and player axings stole the limelight last week with Baxter featuring prominently. Noah Green, Joey Bucello and Robbie O’Toole were released by Baxter while Ryan Brown has left on a pre-planned overseas trip. Green had a stellar season last year and will likely join a club closer to his Southbank home. It’s believed that there has been an undercurrent of unrest among a section of the playing group throughout the season and head coach Kevin “Squizzy” Taylor decided that action had to be taken. That resulted in last week’s cull. But Taylor already has plans to reinforce the…
SOCCER ROSEBUD has bolstered its championship credentials by signing experienced midfielder Andy Jerez. The 34-year-old’s football CV includes stints at Melbourne Victory, Knox City, Mornington, Dandenong City and Berwick City and he was lured to Olympic Park from VPL2 outfit Doveton. His friendship with first team mainstay Doug Cunnison and the planning and ambition of head coach Stuart Johnson played important roles in Jerez’s decision to drop down five divisions to State 5 South. And Jerez hit the ground running with a man-of-the-match display on debut in Rosebud’s 4-0 derby success over Mount Eliza at Emil Madsen Reserve on Saturday.The…
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.…
SOCCER A POINT for Langwarrin and three precious points for Skye United – these were the outcomes for the only two local teams in action last week.VPL1 outfit Langwarrin had to rely on a James Kelly penalty conversion to share the spoils with visitors Melbourne City at Lawton Park on Saturday. Early on Arion Soulemani and Ben Dunbar were the main threats to the Langy defence but on the stroke of half-time a stunning piece of close control from Kavian Rahmani broke the deadlock. The lanky winger motored down the left then cut inside jinking his way past a series…
SOCCER ROSEBUD took a giant step towards promotion from State 5 South with Saturday’s gritty 2-1 win over title rival Seaford United at North Seaford Reserve. Neither side was at full strength in this all-action affair but that took nothing away from a great spectacle in front of a large crowd.Seaford keeper Hayden Hicks left the senior squad the night before the game, Michael Nobbs and Nathan Meade were holidaying while Wisey Barakzoi and Sam Luxford were injured. For the first time in Logan Johnston’s short senior career the youngster joined experienced Paul Aitchison in a makeshift central defensive unit…
SOCCER BAXTER players and supporters were euphoric at the final whistle after witnessing one of the club’s greatest comebacks in Saturday’s State 4 showdown at Westernport. Each year local rivals Somerville Eagles and Baxter use their league fixtures to compete for the Eagles Cup which raises money for research into motor neurone disease.It’s a clash that rarely disappoints and last weekend diminutive Baxter winger Keegan Myatt stole the show with a 16-minute hat-trick that turned this contest on its head.With 10 minutes of normal time remaining Baxter was staring down the barrel. Goals from Somerville’s Tom Simmons, Howie Anderson and…
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…
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…