By Peter Stephenson
Barkerettes mounted a stunning comeback on Saturday to finally overcome State 4 West’s North Sunshine Eagles, in a thrilling Nike FC Cup tie at a sun-drenched Kennel.
Kelly Butera was suspended, and with Emily Stokes and Rebecca Brown also out, Barkerettes were wary of the potential for a shock exit against lower league opposition.
Barkers began well and dominated NSE. On 6 minutes NSE lost the ball in their penalty area, and Alizah Jones sent a shot towards goal, which was sliced over the bar by a defender. This possession was to no avail when, 4 minutes later, Barkers lost the ball on halfway, allowing Maria Dedalija to run on unchallenged and score against the run of play – 1-0 to NSE and a taster of what was to come.
The industrious Alexis Sketchley was working overtime to hassle NSE, and with Amy D’Ortenzio dropping to midfield, it was Charlotte Martin and Jones causing havoc up front, aided by the pace of Gracie Touliatos on the right wing. On the quarter hour, Martin sent a corner to the near post, which D’Ortenzio bundled wide. Then NSE keeper Chloe Lefebure gave the ball away to Sketchley, whose first-time shot caused Lefebure to scramble the ball over. Next, Jones robbed an opponent and slipped the ball to Touliatos, who hit a rising shot over the bar.
On 19 minutes Jones put a through ball to D’Ortenzio, who turned and shot wide. Barkers were now made to pay heavily for those missed chances. NSE attacked, and Barkers cleared the ball to the right wing, from where Dedalija hit a beauty into the net for 2-0 NSE, then a minute later she did it again – another long shot, her hat-trick, and Barkers were wondering how on earth they could be 3 goals down after their territorial dominance.
However, 5 minutes later, Jones skinned her marker and crossed for Martin, who flicked the ball over Lefebure for a debut goal, reducing the arrears to 1-3. The rest of the half was all Barkers, but there were no more goals, though Sketchley hit the bar. Half-time: Barkers 1-3 NSE.
The second half began where the first left off, and Barkers reaped a dividend 6 minutes in, when a corner saw the ball run loose in the 6-yard box, and poacher supreme D’Ortenzio was first to it, to blast the ball into the roof of the net for 2-3. Then Sketchley fought hard to win the ball to set up Alifya Loka, whose shot was blocked by Lefebure.
The game settled down for a while, then just after the hour, NSE attacked on the left. Achala Madut crossed a ball which flashed across the Barkers goal, but keeper Ash Fraraccio gathered. Barkers then won a corner on the right, a shot came in and rebounded out to Sketchley, who buried the ball in the net to complete an amazing comeback at 3-3.
Unexpectedly, this goal galvanised NSE. A dangerous free kick saw a crucial grab from Fraraccio under pressure, then Dedalija was one-on-one with Fraraccio, but the keeper prevailed with a good block. A thrilling end to the 90 minutes saw Martin play the ball out to Hannah Turnbull, who shot over. Then right at the death, a NSE free kick was punched over the bar by Fraraccio – extra time it was.
The first 6 minutes was all Dedalija. Fraraccio blocked twice, then Dedalija prevailed with a lob into the net to make it 4-3 for NSE. A few minutes later a Barkers throw on the left found Jones, who executed a perfect chip over the keeper to make it 4-4. The exhausted sides played out the rest of extra time with no further goals, so a penalty shootout was required.
The sides went goal-for-goal and miss-for-miss, and after 5 kicks each the score was 3-3. The next two from each side were missed, with excellent saves from Fraraccio. Up stepped Sketchley, who scored to make it 4-3. Then NSE’s Kiahann Namana blasted her kick over the bar to send the delirious Barkerettes into the 3rd round after a thrilling afternoon, but spare a thought for Dedalija. She was an absolute standout for NSE, but becomes the first player to score 4 against the Barkers and end up on the losing side.
On Sunday, Barkers began their State 2SE campaign with a visit to Knox Regional Soccer Centre to face North Caulfield. An encouraging display saw Barkers deservedly take the points with a 2-1 victory.
Barkers made two changes to the side knocked out of the Australia Cup by Point Cook, with Ben Cooper and John-Paul Cooper making way for Aaron Porcaro and Harry Rushton, with Sean Baeko poised to debut off the bench.
The first half-chance fell to NC, when Barkers lost the ball in defence, leading to a shot held by keeper Vlad Velikin. Barkers, though, began with intent, and on 8 minutes, A.Porcaro slipped a neat ball through for Ross Clark, who flicked the ball first-time past the keeper to give Barkers an early lead.
On the quarter hour, NC attacked on the right and crossed to the back post, where a header was put wide. NC were trying to stretch the Barker defence with sweeping crossfield moves, but the visitors were looking solid at the back.
Now Barkers had a good spell. On 17 minutes, Clark had a shot blocked, and the rebound was put wide by Tristan Walker. Then Marcus Watson broke down the left wing. He crossed for Christian Sapardanis. He sliced his shot, and a panicky defence managed to clear.
Halfway into the half, Barkers crossed from the right for Sapardanis, whose shot was blocked. Then NC broke on the right, blasting a shot over the bar. Barkers were playing some nice football, and on 31 minutes, Christian Porcaro snuffed out a NC attack and hit a ball to Watson on halfway. He ran clear and crossed for Walker, who miscued his shot, which ballooned into the keeper’s arms.
Barkers continued to press, and a good tackle from Clark saw him slip the ball out to Sapardanis on the left, but his shot was held by the keeper. Just before the break, NC sliced through the Barkers defence, but Velikin was alert and smothered the ball. The last action was when Sean Perrin intercepted an attack and sent the ball long for Watson, but he was tackled before he could get near goal. Half-time: NC 0-1 Barkers, but it could have been more if Barkers had taken their chances.
The first 5 minutes of the second half saw scrappy chances for Walker and Sapardanis. Then good pressing by Barkers saw Walker cross from the right for Clark, whose low shot forced the keeper to turn the ball wide. Next some complacency at the back saw Barkers cough up the ball, and it took dogged defending to keep NC at bay.
The game was becoming more physical now, and the free kick count was mounting. Clark sent a vicious dipping dead ball beyond the far post. Then at the other end, NC curled one to the far post, Velikin punched clear, and a close range volley was put over, to Barkers’ relief.
Barkers then wasted another free kick which went straight to the keeper, but within seconds, Clark sent a clever ball over the defence into the path of Watson, who hit a first-time ball wide of the keeper to make it 2-0 to Barkers. Barkers continued to go forward, and on 76 minutes James Barber cut in from the left, but shot at the keeper.
Games between these two sides are never without drama, and tonight’s episode arrived with 5 minutes to go. A NC attack saw a collision in the Barkers penalty area. The referee waved play on, and Barkers were up the other end on the attack, when he spotted the linesman’s flag – this was ominous for Barkers. Sure enough, after the officials’ consultation, NC were awarded a penalty, which was hit low to Velikin’s right to make the score 2-1 Barkers.
Predictably, NC put the Barkers’ goal under siege for the rest of the game. Two minutes into stoppage time, a mad goalmouth scramble seemed sure to produce an equaliser, but Anthony Di Crea saved the day with a goal-line clearance, and Barkers held out for the points.
This was a heartening display from Barkers, especially given the suspensions and injuries. Also this is, on average, a very new Barkers lineup, with only Perrin and Clark established at the Kennel for more than the equivalent of a season, so there’s plenty of scope for the players getting to know each other’s game.
