By Peter Stephenson
Keysborough’s Mentone Grammar Playing Fields was bathed in sunshine as Barkerettes (3rd) looked to get back on the winning trail after two defeats. Mentone (6th) had won their last two, so this was potentially a good challenge for our heroines.
As has become the pattern this season, Lisa Walsh scored yet another first half goal. On the quarter hour, she outpaced the defence and, with only Daniela Petreska to beat in the home goal, calmly slotted home to score in her 8th consecutive game and give Barkers the lead.
Zoe Crouch, in only her second senior game, seemed more settled today, and tried a trademark long shot which Petreska had covered. Just before halftime, Alizah Jones had a golden chance to open her senior scoring account, but put a volley over from close range. Half time came with Barkers 1-0 up in a fairly even game.
Mentone tried their luck with a long high shot in the first minute of the second half, but Ashleigh Fraraccio watched the ball carefully and dealt with it well. Mentone then crossed from the left to the far post, and a header flashed dangerously across the Barkers goal.
Three minutes later, Amy D’Ortenzio, who had been moved back to midfield for the day, crashed a shot against the bar from 25 yards – what a goal that would have been. Then just after the hour, a through ball was sent to Walsh, who finished cleanly to score, but was offside. To compound the misfortune, two minutes later, Mentone tried another speculative shot from distance, and this time it went in for the equaliser.
Salvation came, though, from a rather unexpected source. With just 17 minutes to go, Aeisha De Marco was in a race for the ball with the Mentone keeper. They collided, the ball ran loose, and De Marco was able to put the ball into the empty net to restore the lead.
In a frantic finish, Mentone had a free kick on the right wing which hit the bar, then De Marco went up the other end and hit a shot from a tight angle which rolled past the keeper, hit the inside of the post and was cleared by a desperate defender. Barkers ran out the game comfortably to take the points. Full-time: Mentone 1-2 Mooroolbark.
This was a Hard-fought game against an in-form opponent. There were many solid displays, especially Courtney Wipperfurth who was everywhere. The more experienced players had a crucial role in bringing along some very young players today. This though, to me, was a day for the defence to shine. They had a big load and largely did it well. Hannah Lee had her work cut out against a tricky left winger but gave as good as she got. Very encouraging, but Barkers can’t get complacent as we have a four point gap to bridge in only six games.
