By Peter Stephenson
The weekend’s soccer games saw the Mooroolbark women’s soccer team lose a local derby, while the men’s senior and reserves teams recorded victories in contrasting styles.
On Friday night, Montrose’s Keith Hume Fraser Reserve saw the Barkerettes (second) have their first-ever meeting with local rivals Lilydale Montrose United (third), in round four of Women’s State 3 East. The winners would hang onto Banyule’s coat-tails, while the losers would have to regroup.
Barkers began the game brightly and you wondered if it was just a matter of time before the first goal. Well it didn’t take long arriving, but at the wrong end. Barkers conceded a penalty after five minutes due to a foul, and the spot kick was duly dispatched low to Ashleigh Fraraccio’s left by Rhiannon Meyer.
LMU were sparked into life, and seven minutes later, a close-range shot from former Barker Holly Oldfield gave Fraraccio no chance and made it 2-0. Then just before the half-hour, LMU had a corner on the left. Well would you believe it but the corner went straight into the net from Ashley Barrueto, no doubt helped by the very narrow pitch.
Indeed, the closest Barkers came for the whole game was from a corner of their own on the half-hour, which Kirsten Murray hit against the bar, almost replicating Barrueto’s effort. Three minutes before the break Barkers striker Amy D’Ortenzio put a shot just over the bar. Half-time: Lilydale Montrose United 3-0 Mooroolbark.
The second half began much like the first, with Barkers on the attack but failing to trouble Melanie Closter in the LMU goal. Then the game became more even, but Barkers were forced to shoot from distance, much like the Swinburne game two weeks earlier. To cap a rotten Friday the 13th for Barkers, the game ended slightly early as defender Jordyn Clausen suffered an injury. Final score: Lilydale Montrose United 3-0 Mooroolbark.
LMU’s position near the top of the ladder is justified and Barkers were beaten by a good team. Next is Malvern away next Friday.
