By Peter Stephenson
Another lovely sunny day at the Kennel saw Barkers (sixth) host Skye United (fourth) in round six of State 2 South-East.
Barkers made two changes to the side that won 4-0 at Frankston Pines, with Paul McEvoy and Sean Perrin replacing Dan Higgins and Sam Klepac. Banana skin alert – Skye was the only side to take a point from the Kennel last year, and was unbeaten, having beaten league leaders Mazenod last week.
However, Skye had never beaten Barkers – could this record continue?
In the first minute of what was to be a busy day for Marcus Watson, the Bleach Boy found himself one-on-one with Skye keeper Jonathan Crook (who was also to have a busy day), but Crook was alert and snuffed out the danger. Barkers were looking good already, and seven minutes later, a throw-in from the left saw Watson quickly turn the ball back for Geordie Scott, who hit a low first-time shot past Crook for the opening goal. Three minutes later it was time for the fish of the day. Liam Seaye hit a corner from the right and Brett Tronconi rose like a salmon to head wide.
On 19 minutes, provider and finisher swapped roles as Scott headed the ball into Watson’s path. He was forced wide by a defender but hit a lovely shot across the body of Crook into the far corner of the net to make it 2-0 Barkers. Three minutes later a through ball to Scott beat the offside trap but the captain’s shot was just wide.
Then Skye remembered they weren’t just here for the Scotch sausage, as Leo McLeod turned smartly and hit a curling shot which keeper Mark Naumowicz parried away.
Just before the half hour, Skye had a free kick in a dangerous spot at the edge of the box on the left. The ball was passed back for a forward, whose shot was more likely to trouble the corner flag than the goal. Then Skye again found McLeod in space, and his shot again forced a save from Naumowicz.
This was just a harmless interlude, though the Barkers were playing some slick football.
In stoppage time, a sweeping move from right to left saw Scott and Watson combine to set up McEvoy at the far post, whose first-time shot went narrowly wide. Half-time: Mooroolbark 2-0 Skye United, with Barkers well in control.
Five minutes into the second half, Watson broke clear of the defence and hit a low shot which brought a good save from Crook. Then on the hour, Eddie Clark sent the ball into the box from the left, it was turned back to Scott and he buried the ball into the net for 3-0. Eight minutes later, John-Paul Cooper, who had just come on as sub, broke away from a disorganised defence to make it 4-0.
Then on 72 minutes, a quick Skye move saw them find the net – too quick, as it happened, as the linesman’s flag was up for offside. Barkers were now ripping through Skye at will, allowing Maxim Solovyev to pose his regular “where in the creek will I put it this week” question to the ball boys.
As the game moved into the last 10 minutes, Watson, who had been involved in absolutely everything, decided, remarkably, to step up a gear. First Barkers crossed from the right to Scott, who laid off to Watson, who shot home for 5-0. Then Solovyev had the ball in the net, but the referee blew for a foul on the beleaguered Crook.
As the game moved into stoppage time, Watson made it 6-0, then added yet another two minutes later.
Full-time: Mooroolbark 7-0 Skye United.
What can you say? No words of mine do justice to a consummate team performance and a fully-deserved four goals from Watson.
Reserves
Earlier, the reserves had another day to forget.
They were level at the break at 1-1, but already down to 10 men. They conceded two quick goals after the hour, but Chan Chung Thang got his second to pull it back to 2-3. Alas, two further Skye goals made the final score Mooroolbark 2-5 Skye United.
Elsewhere, the Men’s Thirds won 6-0 at home to Old Peninsula and the Men’s Over 35s lost 0-3 at Aspendale. Among the junior winners this week were Boys’ Under 14 (4-2 away to Malvern City), Girls’ Under 17/18 (2-1 at home to Knox City), Girls’ Under 13 (3-1 at home to Glen Eira) and Girls’ Under 12, who trounced Ashburton United 18-1.
The Barkers men travel to Moreland City on Wednesday in the fifth round of the Australia Cup.
Next weekend’s senior fixtures see the women at home to Mentone (Friday, 8.30pm at Esther Park) and the men away to Mazenod (Saturday 1 pm and 3pm at Brandon Park Reserve, Glen Waverley).
See you down the Kennel.
