By Peter Stephenson
Glorious late autumn sunshine was the order of the day as Barkerettes paid their first visit to Beaumaris for 14 years, looking for their third win in four games to continue their charge up the women’s state 3 south ladder.
There were only 35 seconds on the clock when the home side was one on one with Barkers’ keeper Ashleigh Fraraccio, but she beat the ball away to save the day.
Barkers replied on five minutes when captain Kelly Butera burst through the defence and hit an angled shot wide.
Then on the quarter hour, Selina Barrueto crossed from the left, the bounce fooled a defender and Lisa Walsh hit a shot into the side netting.
Barkers were knocking the ball around nicely and almost took the lead on the half hour.
Barrueto hit a first-time ball to Butera. Her shot looked a goal all the way, but a brilliant flying save from Beaumaris keeper Mia Hartley denied Butera.
The next chance was made by Gracie Touliatos, who went on a solo run, beating off a defender before shooting at Hartley.
Then eight minutes before the break, Butera crossed from the right to find Walsh. She turned and lost her marker before hitting a shot just over the bar.
Then a scare for Barkers as defender Jordyn Clausen went down injured, but she was to return in the second half. Half-time 0-0, with Barkers having the better of the play – surely the goals would come eventually?
Barkers came straight out of the blocks in the second half, with Walsh raiding down the left, sending a cross to the far post, where Alifya Loka shot at Hartley from point blank range.
Then Butera hit a shot over – would the ball ever go in?
Almost, but at the wrong end.
On 50 minutes Beauy broke quickly, finding a forward in space with only Fraraccio to beat. When the shot came in, Fraraccio had no time to think, and pure instinct saw her tip the ball athletically over the bar.
Then it was brain fade time.
Butera was fouled, but retaliated by pushing her opponent, who reacted as if hit by a sniper’s bullet.
Thankfully the ref saw fit to produce only a yellow card, but it could have been worse.
On the hour, Walsh crossed from the left, and a lovely flick by striker Amy D’Ortenzio didn’t quite run kindly for Loka, who was lurking at the far post.
Then D’Ortenzio had a shot blocked, and Sam Spencer hit the follow-up wide.
Never mind – D’Ortenzio was just warming up for the inevitable.
Eleanor Ridley took the ball on the halfway line and went on a storming run down the left before crossing for D’Ortenzio, who needs no invitation from close range – 1-0 Barkers.
Beaumaris threatened a little for a while, but Barkers held out and really should have won more comfortably.
Their passing was very neat at times, and the calm presence of Alexis Sketchley at the back snuffed out most danger.
Barrueto and Walsh caused havoc down the left and Ridley was a revelation.
Next up is a home game against top half side Aspendale.
Barkers demolish North Caulfield
Barkers travelled to Caulfield Park on Sunday to face North Caulfield, in round eight of men’s state 2 south-east. Brett Tronconi and Paul McEvoy were replaced by Maxim Solovyev and John-Paul Cooper, as Barkers looked to get back on track after a 0-1 reverse at Mazenod.
Barkers decided to put the game to bed early, and on 12 minutes, Liam Seaye whipped in a lovely cross from the right, and Maxim Solovyev provided the perfect finish with a spectacular diving header into the bottom corner.
Then four minutes later, home keeper Daniel Barr-Waanders lost the ball in flight, Geordie Scott headed the ball over him and there was Solovyev to pounce and make it 2-0.
With only 20 minutes on the clock, Barkers struck again.
This time Marcus Watson put the ball on a plate for Scott, who could hardly miss from close range.
Watson was now getting worried that everyone was ganging up on him for the Golden Boot, so 5 minutes later, he cut in from the left and put the ball across the body of Barr-Waanders to make it 4-0 in a breathless opening for Barkers.
Half-time: North Caulfield 0-4 Mooroolbark.
Barkers had the game sewn up already, but 10 minutes before the end, Watson again turned provider, crossing to the far post.
Scott beat Barr-Waanders to the ball and scored his second.
Full-time: North Caulfield 0-5 Mooroolbark
An absolutely electric performance from Barkers, who now have almost the best attack and equal best defence in the league.
It was a different story for the reserves, who suffered a 0-7 loss in the earlier game.
Junior winners over the weekend were boys’ under 15 (6-3 v Collingwood City), boys’ under 14 (4-0 v Maccabi Caulfield), boys’ under 13 (3-1 v Monash City), girls’ under 15 (4-0 v Beaumaris) and girls’ under 13 (5-2 v Malvern City).
Next week, the women are at home to Aspendale (Friday 8.30 pm) and the men are at home to
Heatherton United (Saturday 1 pm and 3 pm).
See you down the Kennel.
