By Peter Stephenson
A wet Friday night at Anderson Park saw Barkers (7th) travel to bottom side Doncaster Rovers for their third away game in a row. Barkers made two changes to the side which drew 1-1 at Berwick, with Daniel Aye and Ray Markley coming in for Ben Cooper and Christian Sapardanis.
The game was a high-intensity affair from the off. Early on, Marcus Watson’s pace was too much for the Rovers defence and he crossed for James Barber, whose shot was comfortably dealt with by Rovers keeper Gabriel Vallese. Rovers replied on 18 minutes with a quick free-kick, but the shot went over. A few minutes later, though, Rovers built a quick passing move, leading to a goalmouth scramble and the opening goal from Luc Misenga against the run of play – 1-0 Rovers.
Barkers didn’t panic, though. On 36 minutes, Sean Baeko scored his first goal to equalise at 1-1. Then six minutes before the break, a neat pass from Watson found Aye. He whipped the ball in for Ryan Smith, who hit the ball home for his first senior goal – half-time: Doncaster 1-2 Mooroolbark.
The second half began with Rovers’ neat passing game stifled by Barkers’ defence. Barkers in turn pressed relentlessly and created chances, but it was Rovers who next drew blood. A counterattack saw Daniel Piazza equalise for Rovers – 2-2. Could Barkers bounce back again?
The answer came quickly. Just before the hour, Barkers’ pressure forced Rovers into a careless clearance, Barber won the ball and found Aye. Aye played out to Watson, who slid the ball across for Ross Clark to restore Barkers’ lead at 3-2.
With 20 minutes to go, good pressure on the right wing forced a Rovers turnover, allowing Smith to score and make it 4-2 Barkers – no goals in 33 games, then two come along at once. A few minutes later, Barkers hit Rovers on the counter, leading to Tristan Walker scoring the best goal of the night to make the final score Doncaster 2-5 Mooroolbark.
This was a performance marked by strong displays throughout the side. In goal, Vladi Velikin proved as expert at snuffing out attacks as he is at deflecting praise to his teammates. Smith’s high work- rate didn’t give the Rovers defence a minute’s peace, while Watson’s pace and distribution were key to the win.
After 5 rounds, Barkers lie 4th, two points behind leaders Chisholm and Skye. The reserves had a convincing 6-0 win and move up to 6th, the goals coming from Sean Perrin, Mario Rivera (2), Nathaniel Turner, Harry Rushton and Declan Williamson. Next Saturday sees the men’s sides at home to Bentleigh United Cobras, kick-offs at 1pm and 3pm at Esther Park. See you down the Kennel!
After being knocked out of the Nike FC Cup by a top-class Avondale side last week, it was time for Barkerettes to regroup and focus on the brave new world of State 2, beginning with a home game against Collingwood City. This match was a repeat of last year’s Round One and saw the top two sides from last season’s State 3 East face-off at a drizzly Esther Park. Barkers could have taken the lead after only 36 seconds when they fashioned a chance from the left side of goal, and a forward chipped the ball beyond the far post from close range. We didn’t have to wait long for the opener, though. On 4 minutes, a loose ball fell to Charlotte Martin in space on the edge of the box, and she belted the ball over City keeper Sophie Nisiforou into the roof of the net for her second of the season, and 1-0 Barkers.
Barkers forward Alizah Jones was having a tremendous tussle with City’s left-back Hannah McLeod. However, Jones’s pace often got the better of her marker. Go to sleep for a second and Jones will have you on toast. So it was that on 27 minutes, hesitancy in City’s back line saw Jones race to the byline, then lay the ball back for Martin, who shot over. The rest of the half saw two very well-matched sides basically repeat their previous encounters. Defences had the upper hand as what few chances were created, were snuffed out. Final passes fell short or were misdirected. Right on half time, Jones made it to the byline again, dribbled to goal unchallenged but her shot was blocked by Nisiforou without too much trouble. Then a loose ball fell to Amy D’Ortenzio, who shot over. Half-time: Barkers 1-0 Collingwood. Both sides tried to impose themselves without success. Barkers had a couple of chances to increase their lead, but Collingwood tended to counter by breaking quickly and stretching the Barkers defence.
The second half saw Collingwood threaten more as they sought an equaliser. Barkers received two yellow cards as the two sides went at each other like a pair of boxers with a grudge. Just after the hour, Collingwood finally hit a shot on target. It came in from the right, and to Barkers’ relief it hit the post and rebounded to safety.
A few minutes later, however, they again cut through the defence on the right, and this time Victoria Barkas steered the ball beyond Barkers keeper Ash Fraraccio into the far corner of the net to make it 1-1. Incredibly, this was the first league goal Barkers had conceded at home for almost a year. With 20 minutes to go, Jones was in the clear but put her shot wide in a good opportunity to restore the lead. Both sides continued to go at each other, and it was clear that neither team would be happy with a draw – these two wanted bragging rights. Chances were created at both ends, and again Jones could have won the game, but an enthralling encounter in the rain ended all-square. Once again there was very little to choose between these two sides, who both look like they’re good enough to thrive at the higher level. The return fixture in round 10 will be one to savour. Meanwhile, Barkerettes, after four home games in a row, finally get to spread their wings, and renew a longstanding rivalry with Berwick City next week, at Jack Thomas Reserve, Friday 7.30pm. Barkers’ second women’s team made their State 4 debut at East Kew, but it was a baptism of fire. Barkers lost 1-11, with the consolation goal from Matilda Steele. They play their first home game next Friday, when they host Eastern Lions, kick-off 6.30pm at Esther Park.
