By Peter Stephenson
Barkers (fifth) travelled to face Hampton East Brighton (fourth) knowing that a win would take them above Hampton on goal difference. A sunny Dendy Park provided the perfect setting, , but Barkers were missing key defenders Brett Tronconi and Ahren Angulo.
HEB had the ball in the net in the first minute but were offside. Then they broke again, but Dan Higgins got back well to snuff out the danger. In a dangerous start for Barkers, the ball then pinged around their six-yard box, but a foul on Mark Naumowicz saved the visitors. On seven minutes, HEB’s Oliver Holland squared to Chisanga Nshindano, who spread the ball out right, got it back and fed Holland, who hit the bar. The rebound was put wide but again HEB were offside.
Barkers’ only chance early on came when a Maxim Solovyev run was halted by a foul. Paul McEvoy sent the free-kick to the far post but nobody got on the end of it. This was a physical game dominated by the hosts, as Barkers gave the ball away readily. Solovyev was chopped at least three times, and although we won the free-kicks, no cards were produced.
On 28 minutes, another dangerous HEB attack was foiled by a good headed challenge from Eddie Clark, but shortly afterwards the deadlock was broken. Sean Perrin tackled a forward on the edge of the box and despite getting the ball, a penalty was given. Dorian Sorace put the ball low to Naumowicz’s left and he almost got to it, but it was 1-0 HEB.
Ten minutes before the break, a long ball from Perrin was chased by Sam Klepac, but a defender hustled him and he shot wide. Then HEB had a corner and a free header was cleared off the line by Dan Burrows. Half-time: Hampton East Brighton 1-0 Mooroolbark, a fair reflection of play.
Three minutes into the second half, a HEB free kick saw Barkers asleep at the back. George El Kotta stole in unchallenged and hit a low shot into the corner of the net to make it 2-0 to HEB. All seemed lost as Barkers could barely string two passes together. However, as usual with Barkers, life is never that simple.
Solovyev, who had been clattered a number of times in the first half, this time went down in the penalty area under the softest of challenges. Amazingly the referee pointed to the spot! Geordie Scott put the ball to the right of keeper Bernard Paris, who almost got a hand to it, and it was now 2-1 to HEB.
Six minutes later, Ray Markley was brought on for his debut and Barkers were suddenly up and about. On the hour, they won a corner on the left. McEvoy hit the ball to the far post, where Scott was waiting to head home to make it 2-2 – game on! Then, however, Barkers made it harder for themselves as Klepac received a second yellow and his marching orders. Backs to the wall? Not quite…..
On 67 minutes, John-Paul Cooper and Solovyev combined to set up Scott, who glanced a header wide. HEB replied when Adam Cooper rode a tackle, then hit a shot which Naumowicz held. J-P Cooper was now causing HEB problems and won a corner. McEvoy swung the ball in for Scott, who headed wide under pressure. Then another corner was cleared out to J-P Cooper, who hit a ripper of a shot through a forest of players into the net – 3-2 Barkers!
With their tails up, yet another McEvoy corner was headed over by Scott from almost under the crossbar. Now HEB threw the kitchen sink at Barkers, but a superb tackle from Perrin broke up a dangerous attack. With Barkers’ nerves jangling and the game well into stoppage time, Harry Rushton decided to go on a run. He played a one-two with Jack Buglass and had the goal at his mercy, but somehow hit the ball over. Barkers held out for a heroic win.
The first 50 minutes saw Barkers outplayed and unable to keep the ball. Who knows what flicked the switch, but they started to play, and pure guts and desire won the day against the odds – a remarkable turnaround. With three games left, Barkers still have a tiny chance of going up.
Elsewhere, Men’s Thirds won 9-1 at Old Peninsula, while Men’s Over 35s lost 0-1 to Aspendale. Junior winners were Girls’ Under 15 (2-1 v Maccabi Caulfield) and Girls’ Under 13 (2-1 v Malvern City.
Next week, the men visit Heatherton United (Bosnia & Herzegovina Centre, Springvale South, Saturday 3pm / 5pm). The women host Lilydale Montrose United at 3pm on Sunday. This is a special event where we will celebrate 20 years of senior women’s football at Mooroolbark. Proceedings begin at 1pm with the under 18 girls’ game – see you down the Kennel!
