By Peter Stephenson
In 1980, Stevie Wonder released an album entitled Hotter Than July. So it was that the Barkers and Barkerettes rampaged through the hottest month (northern hemisphere style) – played nine, won seven, drew two, lost 0. Unfortunately, it was now August.
Saturday afternoon saw second-placed Barkers play a catchup game rescheduled from the previous week. They travelled to the Bosnia and Herzegovina Centre in Springvale South to take on ninth-placed Heatherton United. Barkers had won six in a row, but Heatherton had lost only once at home, to league leaders Collingwood.
After six minutes Barkers raided down the right and crossed for Maxim Solovyev, who skewed his header. The ball ran out to Sean Perrin who overhit the cross back in, while Sam Klepac was collected by Heatherton keeper Asaeli Batikasa in the first of a series of over-physical challenges.
United’s first chance came two minutes later when Liam Seaye lost the ball in midfield, allowing United to break and find Armin Kerla, the division’s leading scorer, who shot wide. Three minutes later Geordie Scott was the next Barker to receive one of Heatherton’s cynical calling cards.
On 13 minutes, Barkers again gave the ball away. The speedy Makuei Ayom broke down the right and crossed for Kerla, who shot straight at keeper Mark Naumowicz. Barkers replied straight away with a cross from the left from Perrin. This was cleared back to him, and his second attempt saw Klepac leap high and head narrowly wide. Yet again we lost the ball to Ayom, but this time a last-ditch tackle saved Barkers.
In the 18th minute Paul McEvoy laid a great tackle in midfield, retrieved the ball and shot just over. However, this was only a brief respite, as then United veteran Ali Sanad broke on the left and crossed for Kerla who was in on goal. Brett Tronconi got a tackle in as the shot was made, but the ball managed to spin beyond Naumowicz into the net for 1-0 Heatherton.
Just after the half hour, Perrin won a tackle and ran down the left, crossing for Klepac. His attempt at a diving header was ruled offside. Seven minutes before the break, Barkers gave the ball away in their own half again and resorted to a cynical foul, but the resultant United free-kick was hit wide.
It was looking grim for Barkers, but against the run of play, they found Steve Nittoli in space just before the break, and he hit a cracking shot from distance into the corner of the net to equalise at 1-1. Surprisingly, the sides went in level at half-time, but Barkers seemed to be off their game.
The second half began with United pressing once more, and it wasn’t until just after the hour that a chance came Barkers’ way. A good through ball released Klepac, whose shot on the run brought a superb tip over from Batikasa. On 73 minutes Barkers won a corner on the right. Perrin put the ball out to the edge of the box, from where McEvoy volleyed high and wide. Straight away, Heatherton broke upfield, switching the ball from right to left before Kerla swept the ball in for his second goal and 2-1 Heatherton.
On 76 minutes, Klepac won a 50-50 ball, turned and ran for goal, but was hustled off the ball by a chasing defender. Klepac then ran down the right wing and crossed for Scott, whose shot on the run was too straight to trouble Batikasa. When Barkers’ Arash Sadeghi came on as a sub he caused some trouble on the left, and in stoppage time a move begun by Josh Newman, then on to Perrin, found Sadeghi, whose acute shot was beaten away by Batikasa at his near post. Full-time: Heatherton United 2-1 Mooroolbark.
Heatherton, despite their physicality and time-wasting, deserved the points, but this was a disappointing display from Barkers. Some players made too many uncharacteristic errors, and hopefully the lessons will be learned as they head into the final two games clinging on to second spot. Next Saturday, Barkers visit Doncaster, one of the other sides in a crowded scrap for the runners-up spot.
The Barkers’ women’s side had a week off, and next week have a home game against Manningham United on Friday night.
