By Peter Stephenson
A sunny, blustery day at the Kennel saw Barkers keen to get back on the winning trail after their game at Hampton was postponed the previous week.
Lying fifth and seven points behind the leaders, they hosted Strikers, in seventh spot and 3 points behind Barkers, in round 13 of State 2SE.
This was an auspicious day, as Brett Tronconi was setting a new all-time club appearance record of 259 games.
Strikers drew first blood and won an early corner.
The ball was delivered from the right to the far post, where Andrew McIntyre was unmarked, and hit a tame volley which eluded everyone and found the net – 83 seconds gone and Barkers were already behind.
The game continued in the same vein as Strikers looked sharper on the ball, but on 13 minutes, Maxim Solovyev hit the ball to Marcus Watson on the left.
He sent Sean Perrin down the wing, but his cross was gathered at the near post by keeper Nathan Brown.
Strikers had another good chance three minutes later when Barkers lost the ball in their own half.
A Strikers forward turned and shot towards goal, but Mark Naumowicz made a diving save and held onto the ball.
The last 20 minutes of the half saw Barkers come into the game much more.
First, a corner from the left was met by a salmon-like leap from Tronconi, who headed wide.
Then Watson played a one-two with John-Paul Cooper before hitting a shot from an acute angle which tested Brown.
On 25 minutes, Liam Seaye ran on to a long ball and crossed for Watson, whose scissor kick was miscued.
A rare Strikers raid in this period saw them slice through the Barkers defence but a low shot was put well wide.
Right on half time, Cooper won the ball in midfield and found Watson on the right.
He had to ride a strong challenge but then put a low hard ball in from the right.
Perrin stole in totally unmarked at the far post and tucked the ball into the net for the equaliser.
Half-time: Mooroolbark 1-1 Peninsula Strikers.
Half-time interrupted Barkers’ flow and gave Strikers a chance to regroup.
Two minutes into the second half, Strikers won a throw-in on the left.
A forward turned and crossed the ball.
Barkers’ clearance was weak and the ball fell to Cooper Andrews about 10 yards out, and he steered the ball wide of Naumowicz to restore Strikers’ lead at 2-1.
Eight minutes later, it got worse for Barkers.
Ahmad Tabbara put the ball in from the left, and again Barkers failed to address the danger.
Andrews, from close range, hit the ball back across a wrong-footed Naumowicz and it was 3-1 to Strikers.
Barkers tried to get back into the game but it just wasn’t happening for them.
A minute after Strikers’ third goal, Barkers won a free kick, leading to Perrin crossing from the left.
Solovyev flicked the ball on with his head but Brown collected.
On the hour, Solovyev laid the ball back for Paul McEvoy but he shot well over.
On the hour, Perrin headed the ball into the path of Watson, whose shot was deflected wide.
Then the final indignity.
On 65 minutes, Strikers’ Hussain Chehimi crossed the ball into the 6-yard box and Anderton tussled with Naumowicz for the ball.
The keeper gathered, but the linesman ran away from goal to signal to the referee that he believed the ball had crossed the line.
However, the footage shows that at the time of the incident, the linesman was about 10 yards upfield from the byline.
A furious Naumowicz, convinced he had saved, confronted the linesman, but the goal was given and Strikers had the game won.
Full-time: Mooroolbark 1-4 Peninsula Strikers.
This was another disappointing home display, but Barkers remain 5th, still 7 points off the top.
In the early game, the reserves took the lead through a Jared Mangnall header, but lost 1-2.
The Men’s Thirds drew 1-1 with Langwarrin Lions, and the Men’s over 35s lost 3-4 at Mornington Pirates.
Junior winners were Boys’ under 14 (4-0 v Malvern City), Girls’ under 15 (6-3 v Mazenod) and Girls’ under 13 (5-0 v Berwick City).
Next week, the women are at home to Mornington (Esther Park, Friday 7pm), and the men travel to Knox City (Egan Lee Reserve, Knoxfield, Saturday 1pm/3pm).
See you down the Kennel!
