By Peter Stephenson
Barkers (ninth) travelled to a blustery Victory Park to face Cobras (fifth). The omens weren’t good. Barkers had never so much as drawn with Cobras, had not won for seven games, and Chris Potter was the latest in a long line of suspended players. Barkers made three changes to the side which lost 1-2 to Berwick, with Ben Cooper, Potter and Maxim Solovyev making way for Max Burrows, Geordie Scott and Ryan Smith. Barkers needed two points from two games to be sure of avoiding the drop.
The first attempt on goal was after only 53 seconds…from keeper Mark Naumowicz. With the wind behind him, he launched a long bomb which was on target and ran straight through to Samuel Dabinett in the home goal. Four minutes in, a Cobras cross from the right went over Naumowicz’s head but Smith was on hand to clear off his line. Barkers then almost broke through when a nice move on the right saw Aaron Porcaro find Scott in the centre, but he was offside.
Barkers went forward again and Ray Markley was tripped, but Daniel Aye’s free kick, though clearing the wall, ran harmlessly to Dabinett. Chances were few and far between but Cobras threatened on 18 minutes when a dangerous corner was punched away by Naumowicz. Then Cobras had a good chance when a Barkers attack broke down, the ball was sent long to Miguel Anderson, and he blazed his shot over.
The last five minutes belonged to Cobras as they pressed hard. A corner from the left was sent to the far post, where Merizel Dos Santos headed down and Naumowicz smothered at the foot of the post. Then in stoppage time, another corner from the left was delivered to the middle, where Ethan Emmons headed unchallenged into the net for 1-0 Cobras. Half-time: Cobras 1-0 Barkers, an uninspiring game, but one which Barkers could ill-afford to lose.
Playing the second half into the wind, Barkers settled to their task. On the hour, Jerome Valadon and Markley combined to lay back to Burrows, who hit a first-time shot wide. Then a quick break from Aye found Valadon, whose first-time shot tested Dabinett. On 65 minutes they came even closer when Valadon crossed low from the right and Solovyev crashed a shot against the post.
Finally, Barkers’ pressure got its reward on 70 minutes when a cross from the left was punched clear by Dabinett, Aye brought the ball down well and was tripped – penalty. Aye himself struck the ball low to the keeper’s left to level the scores at 1-1.
Aye and Valadon were causing Cobras plenty of problems, but Barkers caused one for themselves with 10 minutes to go. First Markley butted an opponent, getting away with just a yellow. Things then got fractious and Markley received another yellow and his marching orders.
Barkers ended the game on the back foot but held out for a point, and that’s now no wins in eight. Still, Greater Dandenong’s loss at Skye means Barkers are now safe from the drop with one game to go in a very disappointing campaign.
