Photo: Geelong SC
The State League One season kicked-off last weekend with 11 fixtures taking place over the two conferences as some of the early-season promotion favourites began their campaign with victories.
The season opener took place on Friday night at Comets Stadium with two-time reigning South-East champions Mornington defeating rivals Casey Comets 2-0 thanks to goals from Craig Smart and Ryan Paczkowski. The returning Englishman netted 41 goals in his two previous terms at Dallas Brooks Park and will be looking to continue that goal-to-game ratio under coach Adam Jamieson in 2017.
Both Clifton Hill and South Springvale are expected to challenge the Peninsula-based outfit for promotion this year with the pair facing off at Quarries Park on Saturday afternoon. A seventh-minute strike to 2014 NPL2 Player of the Year Sean Seavill gave Aris the ascendancy before the hosts were reduced to 10 men in the 11th minute following the dismissal of Samuel Scott. The visitors doubled their lead five minutes from time through the boot of former Box Hill United attacker Michael Kariuki to hand Stelios Drakos’ side the dream start to their season.
The Caulfield United Cobras won the battle of the league’s two newly promoted outfits after defeating the St Kilda Celts 1-0 at Elwood Park thanks to a 21st minute strike from veteran striker Antun Vulic. Mike Kupinic’s Cobras came into the contest as underdogs following some mixed pre-season form, with both teams entering State League One on the back of double promotions. The Celts have also appointed former St Albans Saints manager Toby Patterson as an assistant coach to Derek Donnelly.
Morwell Pegasus commenced the Carlos Retre era in the best possible fashion with a 2-0 triumph over Malvern City, who finished 2016 as runners-up to Mornington. Two goals in the space of five second half minutes from Alpha Turay did the damage with the Pegasus also laying claim to being the final remaining regional side left in the FFA Cup, with the Gippsland outfit set to visit Altona City.
Over at Park Avenue Reserve, the Manningham United Blues and Warragul United played out an entertaining 1-1 draw with the hosts taking the lead after six minutes thanks to a goal from ex-Richmond forward Travis Chalk-Hatton. However the visitors left it late to equalise with Jacob Vitale’s injury time equaliser handing Peter O’Dea’s side a share of the spoils.
The conference’s final fixture took place on Saturday evening at Esther Park with a prolific Langwarrin dismantling Mooroolbark 5-2, scoring four goals in the game’s opening 20 minutes. Goals to Andy McIntyre, Sergio Yanez, Nabil Mozaffaruddin and Caleb Nicholes had Gus Macleod’s chargers in dreamland only for Barkers forward Sam Klepac to halve the deficit with a quick-fire brace before the break. Englishman Connor Belger put the result beyond doubt in the 85th minute to round off a comprehensive victory for a side intent on challenging the likes of Mornington for promotion.
In the North-West, strong title favourites Altona Magic were forced to work hard to see off the threat of a spirited Sydenham Park 2-1 at Paisley Park Soccer Complex on Saturday night. New signing Kliment Dimitrieski gave the hosts the perfect start to proceedings in the ninth minute to open his account following his much publicised off-season move from rivals Preston. Things got worse for Alex Cobo’s men five minutes later when ex-Moreland Zebras player Danilo Bonilla was shown a straight red card for violent conduct. Despite the setback, Sydenham levelled the scoring on the half hour via an own goal from Magic defender Steven Thomson. Adamson Ajayi’s 72nd minute strike proved to be the eventual match winner to hand Goran Lozanovski a winning start to life in the dugout of the five-time state champions.
Over at Keilor Park Recreational Reserve, the North Sunshine Eagles showed just why many see them as the main threat to the Magic’s promotion ambitions with a hard-fought 2-0 win over Keilor Park. The home side had recruited a number of high profile ex-NPL players to their playing ranks over the off-season, with Arben Isai’s side also showing off their high-profile recruits which included Shane Rexhepi and Reardo Luka. However it was the lesser-known Ryan Dragovic who gave the Eagles the lead in his league debut for the club having previously played his senior football at Sunshine George Cross. 2016 Golden Boot winner Diellon Memishi sealed the three points late on in the first half with a well taken finish before unveiling his best violinist impersonation in the subsequent celebration.
Down the Princess Freeway, State League Two Champions Geelong made a dream start to life in the third tier with a strong performance to defeat the Preston Lions 4-2 at Stead Park. Louis Bentley handed the hosts the lead via a seventh minute penalty before the lead was doubled 20 minutes later thanks to a debut goal from Papua New Guinea international Harry Hillary-Jenkins. Former Westgate midfielder Angel Taravillo entered the game for the injured Bale Micovski and made an immediate impact by reducing the deficit before the break. However Fabrizio Soncin’s side showed no signs of slowing down in the second half with Joshua Talev netting a brace either side of a penalty from Welshman Chris Davies, who also netted his first goal for the Lions.
With renovations taking place at their Ardeer Reserve home ground, Westgate will play their homes games at Castley Reserve where they hosted the Yarraville Glory. The hosts were rocked by the resignation of coach Milorad Gelic earlier this month and appointed Bentleigh Greens 20s Championship winning manager Kevin Taylor as his replacement. However his league tenure at the club got off to the worst possible start with the Glory 3-0 up before the break thanks to a double for Steve Georgakakis and the opener from Keith Burch. Sindeljic recovered in the second half and made a game of it following strikes from Velibor Pavlovic and Raffael Griglia only for number nine Burch to net his brace as new Glory manager Tony Merakis celebrated his first game in charge with three points.
At Yallambie Park Reserve, last season’s surprise packets Banyule City kickstarted 2017 with a victory over the Altona East Phoenix. The Bulls finished fourth in 2016 and are set to face the Melbourne Knights in the fifth round of the FFA Cup having knocked off NPL2 side the Whittlesea Ranges in the previous round. Chris Lester’s goal saw City claim a 1-0 win in what was Nick Georgakopoulos’ first league game as head coach, with his opposite number Alan Vella also overseeing his debut league outing on the East Phoenix bench. The round’s final fixture between the newly-promoted Essendon Royals and Western Suburbs has been postponed until the season’s first catch-up weekend over the Easter Break.