By Peter Stephenson
The onset of spring and the end of the season – are we here already? Barkers (fifth) had only pride to play for. Berwick (10th), however, needed to win to guarantee safety. Maxim Solovyev was absent for the first-ever time in a league game and only the second time overall since joining the club in 2014, while Charlie Beresford again deputised for injured keeper Mark Naumowicz.
After a brief period of Barkers’ ascendancy, Berwick asserted themselves. On seven minutes, Joshua Scarlett floated a ball to the far post and it was headed dangerously back across the Barkers goal, but no forward connected. Four minutes later, Eid Sarwari had a shot blocked, and it fell for Scarlett, who hit a volley on the full which went wide to Barkers’ relief.
It was Steve Nittoli and John-Paul Cooper who got Barkers going, and on the quarter hour, Nittoli hit a great ball to Cooper on the left. The ball found its way back to Cooper via Geordie Scott, but his shot was blocked. A good chance was created when Ryan Smith headed clear to Jack Buglass. He put an incisive ball through for Scott, who hit the ball just past the post. Then Nittoli forced Berwick keeper Levi Waddington into a one-handed save.
On 26 minutes, Barkers gave the ball away, and it fell for Sarwari. He hit a shot on target, but Beresford was well-positioned and got his body behind it to save. Five minutes before the break, the Barkers keeper was tested again when Scarlett’s shot forced a spectacular diving save.
Barkers ended the half on the up with Paul McEvoy crossing for Ray Markley to hit a sliding volley wide, then a gorgeous flick from Cooper fooled his marker, and he crossed for Buglass, who couldn’t quite get his header in under pressure. Half-time 0-0 in a fairly even, but quiet game.
The start of the second half brought few chances, but as the half wore on, it dawned on Berwick that they really needed a win to stay up, and they turned up the pressure on Barkers, who were having a distinctly average day. Berwick began to do everything at twice normal speed, and Barkers were struggling to respond.
On 66 minutes, a Berwick shot was blocked, and the follow-up was put just over the bar, which enlivened the raucous home fans behind Beresford’s goal. Barkers replied with a Scott shot which was blocked, then Smith floated the ball in for McEvoy, whose attempted scissor kick went wide. Then Cooper and Buglass put through Scott, who was denied by a superb saving tackle.
Now Berwick won a series of corners, but Beresford was able to punch them clear under heavy pressure. By contrast, a long cross from McEvoy saw Waddington flapping at the ball. Six minutes from time, Sean Perrin came to Barkers’ rescue with a great saving tackle, but Berwick were knocking louder and louder. Right on full time, a Barkers attack broke down, and Berwick caught Barkers on the counter, setting up Jarod Blackbourn to hit a low shot into the corner of the net for the only goal of the game.
So Barkers’ season ends with a whimper and a disappointing loss, while Berwick saved themselves. A season of ifs, buts and maybes comes to an end, with the feeling that a lot of hard work didn’t really get the reward it deserved. Barkers finished sixth in the 12-team league. Champions Mazenod will be joined by runners-up Brandon Park in State 1 next year, while Heatherton and Frankston Pines drop to State 3. Likely replacements are Richmond and Bentleigh United Cobras from State 1, and Bayside Argonauts and Chisholm United from State 3.
In the reserves’ game, Barkers won 3-2 with goals from Max Burrows, Declan Williamson and James Barber. After a poor start, Barkers gained 13 points from the last 15 to move up to nineth. Men’s thirds won 5-0 at Somerville, and Men’s over 35s lost 1-2 to Ashburton United. Junior winners were Boys’ under 14 (2-1 v Ashburton United) and Boys’ under 12 Joeys (3-1 v Lilydale Montrose United). Next week the women’s and junior seasons conclude, with the Barkerettes hosting Baxter (Esther Park, Sunday 3pm). See you down the Kennel!
