Image: Langwarrin
At the half-way point of the State League One season, Langwarrin and Altona Magic have consolidated healthy leads at the top of their respective divisions. Gus Macleod’s unbeaten chargers enjoy a nine point-buffer at the top in the South-East after another favourable round of results, while Goran Lozanovski’s fancied outfit now lead the North-West by eight points after the North Sunshine Eagles slipped up in their efforts to close the gap.
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Langwarrin’s undefeated streak shows no signs of slowing down after a 3-1 win over Malvern City at Lawton Park on Saturday afternoon. Scot Liam Baxter opened the scoring in the second minute only for Daniel Hilder’s third strike of the season to level the scoring up at the break. The home side came out stronger in the second half and re-took the lead following Baxter’s well-placed finish in the 48th minute, with the former Goulburn Valley Suns striker now sitting on six goals for the campaign. Mat Luak rounded off the victory with a precision header late on.
Elsewhere, second-placed Caulfield United Cobras played out a goalless draw against the Casey Comets who introduced new signing Delfin Mosibe on in the second half for his club debut, with the Equatorial Guinea international joining from Springvale White Eagles.
A Franc Carafa brace saw Manningham United move into fourth following a 2-1 triumph over the stumbling South Springvale at Warner Reserve, with Aris finding the back of the net through Ilya Grin.
The weekend’s biggest surprise saw Mornington go down to their fourth home loss of the season after a 2-0 defeat at the hands of eleventh-placed Morwell Pegasus, who collected just their third win of the season. The visitors had earlier this year knocked off the dual-reigning South-East champions out of the FFA Cup and they did the double at Dallas Brooks Reserve after an inspired victory. John Kuol returned to the club after a stint with Dandenong Thunder and found the back of the net, as did Hamied Zanani. Adam Jamieson’s side debuted Keegan Ziada, who is expected to be joined at the club by his former Dandenong City teammates John Carroll and Andy Jerez, while Marinos Panayi has joined from the Eastern Lions.
The round’s two remaining fixtures saw comprehensive wins for both Clifton Hill and Warragul United. The former defeated last-placed Mooroolbark 3-0 at Esther Park following a double from Michael Catalano and a Peter Hiras goal. Former Moreland City attacker Casey Thomas made his debut off the bench for the visitors. Matthew Maselli, Joel Baldwin and substitute Rory Wagner were on the scoresheet as the latter defeated an in-form St Kilda 3-0 at Baxter Park, with the Celts losing John Connolly to a late red card.
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In the North-West, the Altona Magic defeated the Essendon Royals 3-1 at Ormond Park in a fixture which saw former South Melbourne NSL Championship winners Michael Curcija and Goran Lozanovski square off in the managerial dugout. The Royals were reeling from the loss of star Japanese striker Yosuke Saito, who departed the club for Sunshine George Cross in the closing days of the NPL transfer window. The Magic capitalised on two early openings as a Melvin Becket lob and Marinos Gasparis free-kick had them 2-0 up inside the opening 15 minutes. Substitute Craig Moss reduced the deficit with a header after the hour mark only for fellow substitute Ben Clarke to seal the victory for Altona with his first of the campaign.
Over at Larissa Reserve, the North Sunshine Eagles played out a goalless draw against Banyule City, with Frano Saric’s 58th minute penalty save proving to be the defining moment of the stalemate.
Sydenham Park continued their revival under John Markovski with their second consecutive win by upsetting Keilor Park 2-0 at Keilor Lodge Reserve. A goal in each half from former Preston attacker Danny Barakat did the damage for the hosts, who leapfrogged Paul Falzon’s men into fifth place on goal difference.
The Western Suburbs are one-point behind in seventh after a 2-1 triumph over the struggling Yarraville at Ralph Reserve on Saturday afternoon.
Preston star man Robert Stambolziev made it eight goals in three games as his double helped the Lions to a 7-0 drubbing over eleventh-placed Westgate. The four-time VPL Champions debuted new signing and former Bahraini international Hakeem Aloraibi in the starting 11, with the former Green Gully and Goulburn defender joining the club after an injury-ravaged spell at Richmond. A hat-trick to Paul Harvey, his first goals for the club, in addition to the double by Stambolziev, an own goal and a further striker by former Westgate winger Angel Taravillo sealed the demolition job for Lou Acevski’s side.
Ground works at Paisley Park meant last-placed Altona East Phoenix will have to wait a while longer for their chance to take on promotion chasing Geelong, with the fixture postponed until a later date.