By Peter Stephenson
A sunny Saturday afternoon at Skye Recreation Reserve greeted Barkers (sixth) as they visited Skye United (fifth).
Skye is the only team to take points from Esther Park this year, but could Barkers do the unthinkable and win two away games in a row? Time would tell as Barkers made one change to the side that won 3-1 at Monbulk, with Jack Buglass replacing Maxim Solovyev.
Early on, Sam Klepac hit a shot over the bar, then on 10 minutes, Buglass shrugged off his marker before lobbing the keeper, but the ball also cleared the bar.
Barkers had a number of attempts at setting up the lively Buglass, but were overhitting their passes. Then after a short period of Skye pressure, Steve Nittoli broke clear and found Buglass. He found Klepac in space, but the shot went narrowly over.
Barkers were dominant now and two minutes later the Skye defence gave the ball away, and with the keeper stranded, captain Geordie Scott hit the post from fully 30 yards. Surely a goal would arrive soon?
Yes it did! On the half-hour, Scott played the ball through for Klepac, who found Buglass. He controlled the ball well and shook off a defender before setting himself and striking a lovely low shot past the keeper for 1-0. The description doesn’t do this goal justice – it was a little gem.
Just before the break Skye broke down the left and created a couple of dangerous chances, but keeper Mark Naumowicz was equal to them both. Half-time: Skye United 0-1 Mooroolbark, with Barkers having created plenty of chances, but had they done enough to win the game yet?
The second half was a different story as Skye took the game to Barkers. On 56 minutes they had a chance from close range, but Naumowicz got down well to save, then two minutes later they had a clear sight of goal, but shot woefully wide. Then on 66 minutes a Skye free-kick came in from the left, with a glancing header sending the ball just over.
Barkers were living dangerously, but won a free-kick which was flicked on into the path of Eddie Clark, whose shot was blocked close to goal. Unfortunately, Skye eventually prised open the Barkers defence on 76 minutes as they broke down the right and worked the ball into the six-yard box. Barkers were slow to react and Skye equalised from close range to make it 1-1.
Barkers then gave away a free-kick on the edge of the box, but it was driven into the Barkers wall in a let-off. As the game seemed destined to end in a draw, Maxim Solovyev put the ball through for Scott, who calmly stroked the ball into the net for a late winner and give the Barkers the points.
For the second week in a row, Barkers made hard work of an away victory that should have been sewn up much earlier, but their heads didn’t drop and they got their reward – not many sides will escape Skye with three points this year. Barkers move up to third, and next Saturday host second-placed Peninsula Strikers in a crucial fixture.
