Image: Mark Avellino
North-West
The second round of the FFV State League One season saw North-West promotion hopefuls Altona Magic and the North Sunshine Eagles square off in the round’s most eagerly anticipated fixture on Saturday evening at Paisley Park Complex. The home side highlighted why they are strong favourites to be crowned Champions with an impressive 3-0 win over the Eagles thanks to a double from Adamson Ajayi and a further strike from Nikola Markovski.
The Magic’s main title challengers may well be their rivals from Geelong, who recorded a dominant 4-1 victory away to Yarraville despite the shock mid-week resignation of coach Fabrizio Soncin. A brace to recently arrived Englishman Daniel Kuczynski and goals to Joshua Talev and Papua New Guinea international George Slefendorfas – his first for his new club on debut – propelled them to an emphatic result over the Glory, who scored via the boot of Ruben Agyei Danso late on.
The Preston Lions and Banyule City could not be separated in an end-to-end 2-2 draw at BT Connor Reserve on Saturday afternoon. A spectacular long-range missile from Garthan Grant gave the Bulls an early lead, only for it to be cancelled out by Matthew Iuliano’s evasive free-kick. Thomas Andrews restored City’s advantage in the second half before Lions substitute Tom Morrison secured a share of the spoils with a pile-driver from distance.
The Essendon Royals began life in the third tier with a sensational 5-3 Japanese-inspired win against Sydenham Park at Keilor Lodge Reserve. Yosuke Saito scored a brace with further strikes from Alastair Dunlop, Ebubekir Capar and Saito’s compatriot Kenta Murakami helping Michael Curcija’s side claim all three points against the hosts, who had Daniel Markovski, Danny Barakat and Alex Koltovski on the scoresheet in what was arguably the round’s most enthralling fixture.
There was high drama at Stadium Drive too, where Keilor Park recorded a 3-2 win over Altona East Phoenix thanks to a brace from Joel Nikolic, who was later sent off for two bookable offences. Substitute Supreet Sangha was the eventual match winner for the home side, with the visitors finding the target via an own goal from Joel Pilcher and a consolation strike from Joel Bistricki on an eventful 90 minutes for all players called Joel.
The conference’s final fixture saw Westgate fall to another home defeat against near neighbours Western Suburbs, who charged to a 3-1 triumph. Velibor Pavlovic made it two goals in two games for the hosts after scoring directly from a corner, although Terry Antoniadis’ men proved too strong with strikes from former Nunawading attacker Dan Gathercole, William Teixeira and star striker Deang Aguek sealing the victory.
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South-East
Over in the South East, the Casey Comets recovered from their opening night defeat to rivals Mornington by securing a 3-0 win over Malvern City at Comets Stadium on Friday. An early Ryan Hughes penalty gave the hosts the lead before Canadian import Allando Matheson bagged a brace on his starting debut, with goals in either half on a frustrating evening for the visitors who look like a shadow of the side that finished last term as league runners-up.
On Saturday afternoon, title favourites Mornington dropped their first points of the season following a 2-2 draw with newly promoted St Kilda at Dallas Brooks Park. Kiwi forward and 2016 State League 2 South-East Golden Boot winner Steve McRae netted a first half brace to have the Celts in dreamland at the break. However, second half goals to Ryan Paczkowski and Josh Valadon eventually salvaged a point for Adam Jamieson’s side.
Rivals Langwarrin pounced to go top of the ladder on goal difference following a come-from-behind victory at home to Morwell Pegasus. Alpha Turay gave the visitors a first-half lead only for it to be cancelled out by an Alex Metcalfe strike 20 minutes from time, before new English recruit Connor Belger netted his second goal in a week to secure all three points.
Joining them at the top of the ladder with two wins from two are South Springvale, who earned a 2-1 win away to Mooroolbark at Esther Park. Marcelo Arapis handed Aris a 5th minute opener before Sam Klepac restored parity via a penalty four minutes later. Sean Seavill netted the eventual winner from the 11-metre mark in the 20th minute. Stelios Drakos’ men ended the game with 10 men following the dismissal of goalkeeper Jeremy Sandoval six minutes from time.
The early season surprise packets of the campaign are relegation candidates Caulfield United Cobras, who joined the aforementioned duo at the top of the table with two wins from two following a 3-1 triumph away to Manningham United. Former Football Superstar finalist Elias Tsintzas netted a double off the bench, while fellow substitute Cort Kibkler-Melby also got himself on the scoresheet to cancel out Daniel Sotiropoulos’ lone strike from the Blues.
Meanwhile, Clifton Hill rebounded from their opening round loss to South Springvale with a hard-fought 2-1 away win at Warragul United. Their task was made easier when United defender Robert Stephen was shown a second yellow minutes into the second half. Recently departed Werribee forward Jonathan Voulgaris scored twice, with Rory Wagner’s goal mere consolation for the home side.
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Adamson Ajayi (Altona Magic), Sam Klepac (Mooroolbark), Daniel Kuczynski (Geelong), Joshua Talev (Geelong) and Alpha Turay (Morwell Pegasus) are leading the Golden Boot race in both divisions with three goals each as the Magic, Geelong, Aris, Cobras and Langwarrin maintained their 100% starts to the season, along with the Royals and Suburbs, whose postponed Round 1 fixture will be played in the league’s first catch up round in just under a fortnight.
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TCF would also like to take the time to offer our deepest condolences to Altona Magic manager Goran Lozanovski and his family following the death of his father Bale who passed away on the weekend.