DERBY DELIGHT FOR BARWON
A GOAL from Ben Houston against his former side and a brace from prolific scorer Sean Mahon helped Barwon to a 3-0 derby win away to Lara United on Saturday.
After a less than impressive first half by both sides, the two teams went into the new change rooms at Lara Recreation Reserve with the scores locked at 0-0.
But it was the visitors who came out stronger in the second half and clearly dictated proceedings.
Houston opened the scoring on his old stomping ground in the 70th minute after Sean Mahon had played a square ball to him.
Mahon was then brought down in the box in the 80th minute after a sublime through ball from Johnson Luong saw Mahon bamboozle the Lara defenders. He duly converted from the penalty spot to make it 2-0.
To add further salt to the wounds, Lara had Justin Cortorillo sent off in the 80th minute following a melee between the two teams.
Houston added the icing to the cake in the 90th minute when he returned the favour to Mahon, who netted his second of the match — his 16th of the season — to round out the comfortable 3-0 win.
Barwon coach Dale Harris was ecstatic with the result.
“This derby had everything that is expected in a local derby. Red card, fights, and a penalty. From our end, it was just an amazing turnaround and we showed a lot of character to step out of the rut we were in and control the second half,” he said.
“I couldn’t have asked for more from the lads today. The lads knew how important this game was especially to Ben (Houston) and they rose to the occasion for him.
“We were super strong in the last 45 minutes and I couldn’t be happier. No matter what happens in the last game, as a coach I couldn’t be prouder of the lads.”
Lara coach John Karounos, however, had mixed emotions.
“I can’t complain about the lads’ purpose and endeavour, however, today’s game epitomised the season,” he said.
“All season we have contained the top four sides ... and we keep up with them until the last 15 minutes or so. Today we stayed with them and missed a couple of easy chances.
“Undoubtedly the score hides the true story and Barwon was the better side but a great game was spoilt because of some rash decisions.” CORIO DEF MORELAND UNITED 2-0 THE big news from the weekend was Corio SC securing promotion to next season’s State League 1 after coming away from Moomba Park with a solid 2-0 win against Moreland United on Saturday. Despite dominating play from the outset, the Eagles were unable to break down Moreland’s defence and went into the interval locked at 0-0. The stalemate continued until the 68th minute when midfielder Billy Argyros converted from the penalty spot. Cameron Lee then sealed the result with a well-placed header from a corner in the 80th minute. The Eagles remain in top spot on the table with 44 points, just one point ahead of second-placed Fitzroy City, who they play at home on Saturday in a titledeciding final-round fixture. A draw will be enough for Corio to win the title. GEELONG RANGERS DREW 3-3 WITH ALBION ROVERS GEELONG Rangers continued their sterling finish to the season, recording a 3-3 draw against sixth-placed Albion Rovers at Cairnlea Park on Saturday. Rangers coach James Blackburn said it was a great game which moved back and forth. “We were down 2-1 at half-time, with Jimmy Hidic scoring our goal. We needed to take the game to them in the second half and we did. We got the game back to 2-2 through Habib Shakouri … and then straight away we went down 3-2. Then in the 85th minute, Angus Chapman netted his seventh. We had a chance to win the game in the 91st minute through a header five yards out from Conor Reddan but it crashed against the bar,” Blackburn said. BELL PARK DEF LAVERTON FC 2-1 STAR striker Mijo Marinovic scored his 100th career goal as Bell Park defeated Laverton FC 2-1 at home on Saturday. As though it had been scripted, Marinovic was on hand in the 29th minute to slot the ball past Laverton keeper Dom Califiore and send the big crowd into a delirious state as he secured his milestone. It was also his 25th goal of the season. Alain Ndume doubled the All Whites’ lead in the 50th minute for his fifth of the campaign before Laverton’s Marcelo De La Plaza pulled one back in the 71st minute. But the home side managed to hold on for the final 20 minutes to secure the three points. It was a cause for a double celebration with the club later officially opening its lavishly renovated clubrooms. SURF COAST LOST 4-2 TO MELBOURNE UNI SURF Coast needed nothing less than a win against the Students on Saturday and for top side Altona North to drop points against Truganina Hornets to keep its hopes of claiming the State 4 title alive. Unfortunately for the Coasters, neither eventuated as Altona won 3-2 and Surf Coast went down 4-2 at home to Melbourne University. The Torquay side will now finish the season in second position regardless of what happens in the final round. Matt Linney scored the Coasters’ first goal from the penalty spot to level the scores at 1-1, before the Students added another two goals to take a commanding 3-1 lead. Surf Coast scored a late goal through Jordan Swaney, again from the penalty spot, to provide a glimmer of hope. But the visitors netted in the 92nd minute to seal the win. GOLDEN PLAINS LOST 3-1 TO NORTH MELB ATHLETIC GOLDEN Plains came away from Flemington Road Oval with nothing to show, going down 3-1 to North Melbourne Athletic in their State 4 clash. The match started brightly for a Golden Plains side missing key defender Ifeanyi Iheanacho. The Eagles played their best first 45 minutes of the season and went into the sheds 1-0 at the break after Sarbablu Bani found an unmarked Moo Doh Soe who poked the ball home. But the Eagles were unable to capitalise on their lead. It was an entirely different team that came out on to the park in the second half and the Plains conceded three goals. DEAKIN DUCKS DEF WYNDHAM UNITED 4-0 DEAKIN Ducks recorded a comfortable 4-0 away win over cellar-dweller Wyndham United on Saturday. The scorers for the Ducks in the first half were Chris Lampkin (13th minute), Jhai Watts (32nd) and Lucas Targett (38th). Kristian Hopwood scored Deakin’s fourth in the 62nd minute to round out the 4-0 rout. Ducks coach Colin Raj praised his charges on what he described as a tough pitch to play on. “The boys were very disciplined and we created lots of good goalscoring chances while at the same time stopping them from having any of their own,” he said. Jhai Watts … had a brilliant performance, scoring a top-class goal and providing two assists.” LARA UNITED DREW 1-1 WITH ST ALBANS SAINTS LARA pulled off an upset to round out the women’s State League 2 season, claiming an impressive draw against fourthplaced St Albans yesterday. Lara started the brighter, threatening the St Albans goal from both wings, however, it was the Saints who took the lead on 43 minutes after a deflected cross looped in at the back post. The arm wrestle continued well in to the second half with both sides striking the woodwork before Kelsey Icardi drew United level on 78 minutes. Lara United finishes the season in seventh spot.