Peter Stephenson
Barkers draw again:
A dull day, but an unprecedented one at Skye Recreational Reserve. For the first time, the Barkers’ men and women would play the same team on the same day, an initiative for which both clubs should be applauded.
Barkers’ men (fourth) faced Skye (second), making two changes to the side which drew 5- 5 with Noble Park United, with Ray Markley and Ryan Smith replacing Sam Gommers and Christian Sapardanis.
Skye began better, then on six minutes, Markley had a free header to Tristan Walker, who hit a low shot wide.
Then Ross Clark played a one-two with Smith before shooting wide.
The hosts’ first chance came on 18 minutes, when Jason Nowakowski’s cross was blocked, he crossed again to Daniel Attard, and his shot was held by Vladi Velikin.
Eight minutes later, a long ball from the left saw Shameit Sharma with only the keeper to beat, but Velikin prevailed.
On the half hour, Skye threatened when Attard played wide to Sharma, but Chris Potter intercepted well.
Then a long shot from Alexandro Boisseranc was well held by Velikin.
In a game of few chances, Barkers won a free kick taken by Clark.
It was cleared to Markley, whose long shot was comfortable for keeper Steven Hadjikakou.
Just before the break, Sharma crossed for Varmah Ngoneh to shoot wide, and the sides went in scoreless at the break.
Just 10 seconds after the restart, a Skye attack was cleared, and a long ball to Marcus Watson saw him beat off challengers, but he took on one too many, with support for the lone ranger sorely lacking.
Next, Skye’s Ngoneh broke quickly on the left, but James Barber’s pace saw him chase his man down and tackle.
Barkers had a good period around the hour mark.
Smith played to Watson, who found Danny Aye on the left, and he hit a long shot over.
Then Aye had a shot blocked, and he squared the rebound to Smith, whose first-time shot went just over.
Skye replied with a long ball to Ngoneh, who cut in from the left but was blocked by Velikin.
Skye had the better chances towards the end, with Barber laying a very good saving tackle on Tapiwa Kufakurowa, but the sides cancelled each other out, and Barkers had played their first goalless league game for an astonishing 11 years.
The Barkers’ reserves lost 0-2, and next for the men is a home game against Casey Comets (Saturday 1pm/3pm).
Barkerettes in luckless loss;
After the men played out a goalless draw, the evening turned chilly.
Now the Barkerettes (seventh) faced Skye (eighth), with both sides looking for their first win of the season.
The unusual kick-off time meant that Eleanor Ridley and Alexis Sketchley were unavailable.
In an open start, Barkerettes almost took the lead after nine minutes.
A free kick from 25 yards saw Kelly Butera crash the ball against the bar.
The rebound seemed to be bundled over the line but the flag was up for offside.
Skye’s first threat came on 25 minutes, when Charlotte Martin chased back and tackled to thwart the danger.
Alizah Jones now came on as a substitute, and within seconds, she raced down the right and crossed for Laelah Gundry, who forced a point-blank save from Cadence Vakacavu.
Then controversy. Skye pumped the ball long for Nilab Mohammadi to chase and she ran on to score.
The linesman had failed to spot that the striker was offside, and Barkers found themselves 0-1 down.
Barkers piled on the pressure, with Jones and Amy D’Ortenzio creating chances, but not troubling the keeper.
Then Barkers’ night took another wrong turn.
Barkers played the ball back to the keeper, but she, thinking the ball had come off an attacker, picked the ball up.
The referee gave an indirect free kick on the edge of the box to Skye.
The ball was squared to Abby Johnston, who hit an unstoppable shot into the net to make it Skye 2-0 Barkers at the break.
The second half saw Barkers pin Skye in their own half.
Charlotte McCullough had a shot saved, then a Skye backpass went unpunished.
Then the Skye keeper made a superb double save.
On the hour, Gracie Touliatos crossed for Butera, who shot past the far post.
Then disaster. Utterly against the run of play, Mohammadi broke quickly, held off a defender, made space for herself and hit a sweet shot into the net for 3-0.
A well-taken goal, but most unexpected.
Barkers threw everything at Skye once more.
D’Ortenzio set up McCullough, Jones bamboozled the left back and shot, D’Ortenzio shot wide, Martin hit a fizzer of a free-kick past the post.
A physical game eventually saw Skye’s Amba Tennant go for an early bath, but Barkers could not break through – full time 3-0 to Skye.
Frustrating doesn’t begin to describe this night. Barkers have only 3 points from 4 games, but some time, somewhere, if they take their chances, some unsuspecting opponent is going to get absolutely
leathered.
On Friday, Barkers’ Women’s State 4 side won 2-0 against Bentleigh United Cobras, with Indio Pensa grabbing both goals.
Next for the senior women is a home game with Seaford United (Friday 8.30pm) while the State 4 side travel to Croydon City (Dorset Recreation Reserve, Sunday 6.30pm).
