AROUND THE GROUNDS
GEELONG 0 SYDENHAM PARK 0
AFTER clinching the State League 1 title a week earlier, there was little left for Geelong to do other than celebrate the title in front its home fans against Sydenham Park at Stead Park on Saturday. In what was described by coach Domenic Barba as an “average performance in an exhibition match”, the Lions were presented with the league trophy and the champions’ pennant before the game. Geelong will now prepare for the State League 1 grand final next Saturday when it hosts the South East division champion Manningham City.
WESTVALE 0 CORIO 2
CORIO recorded a resounding 2-0 win away to Westvale to finish an excellent State 2 season in third spot, just missing promotion. Coach Ante Didulica and assistant Jarrod Gladman orchestrated the direction of their young squad well and the standout performance on the park augurs well for the Green and Whites to go one better in 2019. Against Westvale, Josh Berta scored the opener after 31 minutes while midfield maestro Nathan Cook doubled the Eagles’ lead in the 63rd minute.
WHITTLESEA UNITED 4 GEELONG RANGERS 0
GEELONG Rangers went to Thomas Street Reserve to take on Whittlesea United, who needed a win to secure the State 2 title. As predicted, it was the home side that came out of the blocks early while the Dark Blues were happy to see out the season. A tight opening half saw Whittlesea go into the break with a 1-0 lead, but once the floodgates opened up in the second period, there was no stopping the home side, which celebrated capturing the title in style. Rangers will start planning for next season.
BELL PARK 4 GOLDEN PLAINS 0
BELL Park prevailed in the State League 4 derby against Golden Plains to run out emphatic 4-0 winners at home on Saturday. Golden Plains learned before kick off it had been saved from relegation after it was found Truganina Hornets had played with an unregistered player against it and the initial result had been overturned in the Plains’ favour. Daniel Conte netted the first of his two goals soon before halftime. Mijo Marinovic doubled the All Whites’ lead on 65 minutes, before Conte made it 3-0 in the 72nd minute. Teen star Anthony Pirrottina put the icing on the cake with a late goal deep into stoppage time to round out the thumping.
DEAKIN DUCKS 3 WESTSIDE STRIKERS CS 4
DEAKIN Ducks fought valiantly but eventually had their colours lowered after going down 4-3 in a goalfest at home against State League 5 champions Westside Strikers Caroline Springs. According to Deakin coach Colin Raj, the scoreline was not reflective of the game. “We played really well and Westside was hanging on for the last 15 minutes. A few poor decisions at key moments cost us the points,” Raj said. Harry Woolley scored all three goals for the Ducks to finish the season as the team’s highest goalscorer with 16 goals and ensure the Ducks finished in sixth place — the highest of the three Geelong clubs in State 5.
WEST POINT 3 LARA UNITED 1
LARA United came away from its State League 5 clash with West Point at Tom Roberts Reserve on the wrong end of a 3-1 scoreline to lower the curtain on what had been a rather tumultuous season for the northern suburbs outfit. The game was effectively over at halftime with all the goals coming in the opening 45 minutes. The one bright moment for Lara came in the 14th minute when 19-year-old Joshua Krasic scored his maiden senior team goal. “Today’s game brings to an end an up-and-down season for the boys who fought hard all day and a bit of class by them got them their third goal,” Lara coach Jonno Perez said.
BARWON 3 MARIBYRNONG GREENS 0 (forfeit)
BARWON did not manage to play the final game of its inaugural State League 5 campaign after the Greens forfeited on the morning of the match. It was a disappointing way for the Grovedale-based club to end a memorable debut season in the state league competition. Nonetheless, the seventh placing on the table will have everyone at Barwon celebrating a wonderful year that was. Another cause for a major post-season celebration came during the week when much-loved club president David Rea was rewarded for almost three decades of service at the southern Geelong club by taking out the coveted local Viva Energy Club Legend of the Year award.
GALAXY UNITED 1 BAYSIDE UNITED 1
GALAXY United’s season finished with a 1-1 draw, held at bay by Bayside United at Kingston Heath on Saturday. The Torquay-based outfit finished a challenging 2018 in fifth, just one spot out of the WNPL finals. The result means the club misses finals for the first time in its short history.Emily Harbis handed Galaxy an early blow, finding the back of the net in the first two minutes. However, Australian soccer star Laura Alleway would give Galaxy a sniff of victory with a 41st minute equaliser. Neither team could find a winner in the second half with the curtain coming down on both teams’ seasons at the final whistle.