By Peter Stephenson
A mild sunny Kennel was the scene for Barkers’ first competitive outing of 2025, as they hosted Point Cook (PC) in the second round of the Australia Cup. The dawn of a new season was also that of a new era, as Barkers reappointed Dave Stack as coach following his stint in 2007.
On the field, a number of departures to Ringwood City, plus three suspended players, meant that it was a relatively young side that took the field. Barkers gave debuts to Vladislav Velikin, Christian Sapardanis and Tristan Walker, plus Van Thawng and James Barber off the bench. They also welcomed back to the fold John-Paul Cooper and Marcus Watson. This was the first-ever meeting with Point Cook, of State 4 West, and after an underwhelming preseason, Barkers were hopeful of a win against lower-ranked opponents to kick-start the year.
The writing was on the wall after only 4 minutes, when Barkers failed to clear the ball, and Point Cook’s forward shot through a crowd. Velikin, however, got down well to hold a ball he must have seen late. Barkers replied with an inswinging corner from the right which the PC keeper had to punch from below his bar, then Ross Clark’s corner from the left missed everyone. On 9 minutes, the industrious Watson broke down the right and crossed for Sapardanis, who couldn’t quite bring the ball under control. After these brief forays, it was now the visitors who took over.
On the quarter hour, a low PC shot went just wide of the far post, then a Barker defender headed downwards under pressure, allowing PC to hit a first-time shot which was deflected wide. At this point, Barkers were looking uncertain at the back, and PC were about to capitalise. On 22 minutes, PC broke on the right, and hit a shot against the bar. Dawit Melesse was first to the rebound and headed into the net for the opening goal, 1-0 to Point Cook. It almost got worse for Barkers within a minute, as Velikin smothered the ball, but landed outside the penalty area. PC wasted the free-kick though.
Five minutes before the break, JP Cooper hit a corner from the left to the far post, where Sean Perrin headed towards goal, but the keeper gathered under his crossbar, which allowed him to go to ground and waste some time, which became a theme of the evening. Just before the break, PC broke on the left and hit a high shot wide, and the sides went in with PC 1-0 up. The Barkers were looking lacklustre, while PC deserved the lead.
Five minutes into the second half, Barkers won a free-kick in the attacking half. JP Cooper slipped the ball out to Chris Potter, who fed Anthony Di Crea on the right wing. Di Crea weaved to the byline, cut back and shot, but hit the side netting. Football now took a back seat to time-wasting and niggly fouls, and to the surprise of nobody, Potter earned his weekly yellow. Barkers now began to look threatening as they sought an equaliser. On 79 minutes, Clark had a shot deflected wide, then a header from a looping cross from the left found Thawng, but he headed at the keeper. Then, unexpectedly, the referee penalised all that timewasting.
The PC keeper took an age to clear the ball, so Barkers were give an indirect free-kick just inside the penalty area. Clark slid the ball left to Watson, who hit a low thunderbolt through the crowd and into the net to make it 1-1. Typically for the Kennel, 85 minutes of tedium was followed by 10 minutes of bedlam, as in stoppage time, a player from each side was sent off, including Thawng. He had only just come on as a sub, so this was possibly the quickest red card (and briefest debut) in all of the club’s 60-odd years. So, extra time beckoned for the 10-a-side teams.
In the first minute of the first period, Watson put a shot well wide. Then he turned and shot again, this time forcing a good save from the PC keeper. Against the run of play, PC won a corner on the right. It was cleared outside the penalty area, but Melesse hit a snap shot which sailed past Velikin and just inside the post to restore PC’s lead at 2-1, which it remained until the end of the first period.
The second period was characterised by more delaying tactics from PC, and Watson manufacturing three good chances to equalise. One of them was a spectacular bicycle kick, which would have been the goal of the season had not the PC keeper made a brilliant low save to keep it out. Four minutes from time, PC broke through the stretched home defence and hit the post, and were able to hang on for victory. Full-time: Mooroolbark 1-2 Point Cook.
So a disappointing start to the season for Barkers, who now have three weeks to regroup and reflect, before starting their league campaign. It may be a tough year, but there are promising signs in this relatively young group of players.
