By Peter Stephenson
A mild afternoon at Frankston’s Centenary Park was the setting for Barkers’ (second) first away game of the season, against a Strikers (sixth) side which began with a 1-1 draw against Skye United.
Barkers had got off to a flyer with a 3-1 home win over Hampton East Brighton. Barkers named an unchanged starting XI, but would last season’s poor away form continue?
The first chance for Barkers came on six minutes, when Paul McEvoy found Marcus Watson, whose shot was blocked. Seven minutes later, Watson won a 50-50 in Strikers’ half and put a great ball in from the left for Geordie Scott to find the net, but the linesman flagged offside.
Strikers’ first real chance came on 20 minutes when the ball was crossed from the right to the far post. Liam Seaye sliced his clearance, forcing Mark Naumowicz to tip the ball round the post from his own player.
Halfway through the half, John-Paul Cooper turned nicely but was fouled. Seaye’s free kick was put in short and was cleared.
At times, Barkers were playing some good passing football without really penetrating the Strikers’ defence. This was almost costly five minutes before the break when Strikers broke down the left. The cross came in, and the ensuing shot forced Naumowicz to beat the ball away. Two minutes before half-time, Cooper put the ball through for Scott. He collided with Strikers keeper Benjamin Caballero, who was awarded the free kick. An insipid first half drew to a close with no goals.
The second half was, if anything, less palatable. Three minutes in, a long ball found Strikers’ Hussain Chehimi. He beat Brett Tronconi and hit a rasping shot which Naumowicz tipped brilliantly onto the bar, and that was as exciting as it got until just after the hour mark.
Then Barkers won a corner on the left. Seaye hit the ball in and, remarkably, it eluded everyone to go straight into the net to give Barkers a 1-0 lead. Four minutes later, Scott robbed his opponent and hit a low shot which Caballero held. Then Barkers remembered they were playing away.
Eight minutes after conceding, Strikers won a free-kick. The ball was sent to the far post, knocked back across the box, and nobody picked up Andrew McIntyre, who turned the ball home from close range to equalise at 1-1. Within a minute, Cooper Andrews was allowed to run the full length of the right wing, put in a low cross, and Campbell Steedman scored to make it 2-1 to Strikers.
Strikers now had their tails up as Barkers gave the ball away regularly. The final real chance of the match fell to Strikers on 88 minutes when Cassius Delaney found himself in on goal. He was tackled, and the follow-up was put wide with an open goal at Strikers’ mercy. Full time: Peninsula Strikers 2-1 Mooroolbark.
A pretty average game from both sides, neither of whom did enough to merit the win. Let’s hope this is a temporary blip, as the additions to the Barkers’ squad over the summer look to have strengthened the side.
Men’s reserves came from two goals down to lead 3-2, but were pegged back to a final score of 3-3, with goals from Jack Buglass (2) and James Barber. Men’s thirds lost 2-3 at home to Croydon Ranges, the goals coming from Riley Cubitt and Mitchel Kowalski. It was left to the men’s over 35s to fly the flag, with a 2-1 home win over Lilydale Montrose United, courtesy of goals from Victor Inglese and Stephen Milne.
Next Saturday is a huge day at Esther Park, with the men’s sides hosting local rivals Knox City. The action begins at 11am with the legends’ game, followed by reserves at 1pm and seniors at 3pm. Then at 6pm in the clubrooms, we have a special reunion dinner for the champion sides of 2003 and 2013. See you down the Kennel.
