Frankston’s Centenary Park was mild and sunny on Saturday as Barkers (sixth) met Peninsula Strikers (fifth). Both sides needed a win to keep pace with the top four. In team news, Barkers made one change to the side which drew 0-0 with North Caulfield, with Ryan Smith replacing Anthony Di Crea.
The first 10 minutes saw Strikers hitting long balls to the wings, but Barkers held out against the barrage. Then on 12 minutes, James Barber attacked down the right, but overhit his cross. Two minutes later, Tristan Walker began a good move which saw a shot spilled by Strikers keeper Faraz Zenoozi, and Ross Clark’s follow-up was blocked. Strikers broke straight back upfield, and Cooper Andrews hit a shot narrowly wide.
After some injury delays, Barkers lost the ball in their own half. Campbell Steedman played the ball out to Ethan Goulding, and he hit a long shot which Barkers keeper Vladi Velikin had covered. Barkers, though, were holding their own, and nine minutes before the break, Walker raided down the left and crossed for Marcus Watson, whose long shot went just over.
As the half moved into stoppage time, Walker, Danny Aye and Watson combined well to win a corner, but it came to nothing. Half-time: Strikers 0-0 Barkers, a fair reflection of an even half.
The second half saw Barkers work hard and being very physical in winning 50-50 balls, but Strikers began to take charge. Just before the hour, they fashioned a goal out of nothing when Barkers gave the ball away in defence on Strikers’ left. A long ball came into the box, and Samuel Maggs rose unchallenged to head the ball back across the keeper and into the net for 1-0 Strikers.
Strikers now visibly grew in confidence, and although just one goal down, Barkers looked to have a real challenge to get back into the game. Barkers’ best chance came on 72 minutes when Walker hit a corner from the left which flashed across the Strikers’ goalmouth. The ball was cleared out to Clark, who shot just wide.
Ten minutes from the end came the killer blow. Barkers again gave the ball away with an underhit clearance, leaving Matthew Harrington with only the keeper to beat, and he duly put the ball wide of Velikin. Full-time: Strikers 2-0 Barkers.
Barkers played well in the first half, but lost their way in the second, despite working hard. The effort can’t be faulted, but mistakes continue to cost us, and promotion chances are rapidly diminishing. Barkers’ reserves went 2-0 up in the first half, but contrived to lose the match 2-3, with goals from Nate Turner and Leo Sea.
Next for the men is a home derby with Knox City (Esther Park, Saturday 1pm / 3pm). The women, who had the week off, travel to Collingwood City (Kevin Bartlett Reserve, Sunday 2pm).
There was a rather special day of junior soccer at Esther Park on Sunday. The junior girls’ Community Premier League games between Barkers and Manningham United were designated as Louis Gibson Memorial Round, in honour of a nine-year-old boy who tragically passed away from asthma last year. Although a strong Manningham club won all three games, it was fitting that Louis’s twin sisters, Annabelle and Tess, both found the net on an emotional day.
