Image: Mark Avellino
An extraordinary 55 goals were scored in the 12 State League One matches which took place last weekend with Langwarrin consolidating their lead in the South-East while Geelong, Altona Magic and Banyule City all remain undefeated in the North-West.
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North-West
The round’s most eagerly anticipated fixture took place at Paisley Park as the Altona Magic made it four wins from four at home following a 2-1 triumph over rivals Preston Lions. The visitors had new manager Lou Acevski in the dugout for his first league match although Adamson Ajayi’s brilliant 10th minute opener quickly soured any joyous moods on the bench. The 2007 VPL Champions responded half-way through the first half through the boot of English defender Josh Stadnicki who volleyed home from close range following a Caner Ucarli set-piece. The winner ultimately came on the stroke of half-time when Ajayi pounced upon a flick-on from Jon McShane to lob opposing goalkeeper Douglas Lindberg for what his sixth strike from four league games.
The Magic are second on the table only on goal difference to the newly promoted Geelong, who continued their strong start to the season with a 3-1 victory over the Western Suburbs at Ralph Reserve. Daniel Kuczynski netted goal number four of his season inside the opening minute to hand the visitors the perfect start to proceedings. However the hosts equalised through striker Ajak Panek, who scored his first goal for the club since re-joining from Richmond in the off-season. There was to be no stopping the rampant away side who struck twice in the last 20 minutes thanks to goals from Louis Bentley and substitute Daniel Conte.
Banyule City retained third position on the ladder thanks to an incredible 8-3 romp over the struggling Westgate at Castley Reserve. Hat-tricks to Troy Pennycooke-Morgan and Chris Lester helped the Bulls dismantle their hosts, who had Alex Jovicic sent-off in the 45th minute with the scoreline at that stage being 4-2. A second half brace to substitute Kosta Tsioukis put added gloss on the scoreline with Velibor Pavlovic’s double and Dejan Filiposki’s strike mere consolation for Sindeljic, who remain rooted to the bottom of the ladder having lost all four games.
A Joel Nikolic hat-trick on return from suspension helped Keilor Park to a 6-3 win over Yarraville at Keilor Park Reserve. The former Green Gully and Moreland Zebras forward netted his treble inside the opening 29 minutes of the contest with ex-NPL defenders Ryan Filipovic and Steven Cudrig also amongst the scorers alongside teammate Lorenzo Carbone, who netted on the hour mark. Tony Merakis’ men found the back of the net through Keith Burch, Reuben Agyei Danso and Peter Afendoulides respectively, with the victorious hosts moving into fourth place on goal difference.
The last remaining State League side in the FFA Cup, the North Sunshine Eagles laboured to a disappointing 0-0 draw in their opening home match of the season against Sydenham Park. The hosts are now perhaps surprisingly the lowest scorers in their division alongside rivals Preston Lions and sit five points adrift of top spot as Alex Cobo’s men held firm for their first clean sheet of the campaign at Larissa Reserve.
The Eagles sit sixth on the ladder, with the Essendon Royals jumping in front of them following a 2-2 draw against the Altona East Phoenix, who collected their first point of the season. Michael Curcija’s men found the back of the net through Alistair Dunlop and Phil Lloyd and have enjoyed life in the third tier following promotion. The Royals also defeated the Western Suburbs 4-0 on the Easter weekend in a Round 1 catch-up fixture thanks to goals from Japanese pair Kenta Murakami, Yosuke Saito, Dunlop, and substitute Dennis Sadik at Ormond Park.
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South-East
The standout fixture in the south-east saw rivals Langwarrin defeat the Casey Comets 3-1 at Lawton Park on Saturday afternoon. Englishman Connor Belger scored a sublime free-kick to open the deadlock in the 7th minute before causing danger once more as his set-piece was diverted into the back of the net by a Comets defender. Scotsman Aaron Currie added a third right after the hour mark as his shot deflected off former Langwarrin captain Alex van Heerwaarden and past the keeper. Comets midfielder Jesse Martindale reduced the deficit with another brilliant free-kick, although it proved to be mere consolation for Jamie Skelly’s side.
Mornington returned to winning ways for the first time since the opening game of the season following a 3-1 win over Clifton Hill at Dallas Brooks Park. The visitors grabbed a first-half lead through Jonathan Voulgaris, with the ex-Werribee forward now sitting on four goals from three games since re-joining the club last month. However, a quick-fire brace from Ryan Paczkowski – including an impressive acrobatic effort – saw the hosts edge in front as the Englishman doubled his goal tally for the campaign before Simon Mur’s delicate finish sealed all three points for Adam Jamieson’s outfit.
Warragul United were the biggest winners of the week following a 6-0 thumping over South Springvale, who have now lost three matches on the bounce. Peter O’Dea’s men raced out to a 3-0 lead inside 37 minutes following goals to Joel Baldwin and a double from Jacob Vitale. The visitors were expected to produce a fightback when United defender Matthew Gauci was given a straight red card in the 43rd minute for a handball on the goal line. However, Rory Wagner’s goal seconds before the break extending the margin. Vitale staked his claim for the match ball following the completion of his hat-trick before substitute Matthew Maselli added a sixth three minutes from time.
That result dented Aris’ hopes of finishing the weekend in second, with surprise packets Caulfield United Cobras moving back into that position following a narrow 2-1 win over Mooroolbark at Victory Park. The visitors were forced into an early change when George Aratzis made way for Reuben Clausen either side of goals from Cort Kibler-Melby and Oliver Daly. Clausen was then dismissed minutes from the break for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity, although teammate David Brickell halved the deficit in the 67th minute. It wasn’t to be for the Barkers, who have lost all four of their matches this term while Mike Kupinic’s chargers are flying high in second.
The Manningham United Blues made it two wins from their last two after a 2-0 away win over Malvern City at Kooyong Park. A first-half brace from former Box Hill United striker Lucas Johns proved to be enough for the Blues as Alfredo Constantino’s side moved into fifth, joint on points with Warragul and Mornington. Malvern’s second place finish of last season looks to be nothing more than a distant memory, with City struggling in the relegation zone having collected just one point from a possible 12, although the club has signed former Oakleigh and Port Melbourne defender George Krommidas.
St Kilda notched up their first win since being promoted into the third tier after a 3-2 win over the Morwell Pegasus in Gippsland on Saturday afternoon. In-form marksman Steve McRae and Alpha Turay exchanged goals inside the opening 20 minutes before Zac Thompson’s strike gave the Celts a half-time lead. Pegasus substitute Hamied Zanani restored parity 15 minutes from time only for McRae to net a late winner – the Kiwi’s fourth goal since joining the club in the off-season from the Cobras. Carlo Retre’s men were then subsequently knocked out of the FFA Cup by the Bentleigh Greens after falling to a 6-0 defeat at Kingston Heath Soccer Complex in yesterday’s ANZAC Day clash.