DUCKS PLUCK THE POINTS IN DERBY THRILLER
LARA United went down in a local derby for a second straight week, losing 3-2 to Deakin Ducks in a thrilling finish at Lara Recreation Reserve on Saturday night.
It was, however, a vastly improved performance from the 5-1 hiding Eric Lawrence’s men copped a week earlier from competition leader Barwon SC.
It was Lara which started the brighter, netting the opener through Lachlan Lazaric.
The Ducks equalised soon after halftime through a longrange effort from Sam Wyeth before Lara took back the lead with a goal in the 65th minute courtesy of Joel Matuch.
The home side dominated for the most of the second half and looked like capturing all three points before a dramatic turn of events late in the contest turned the game’s outcome on its head.
The visitors managed to draw level from a corner in injury time via an own goal, before a stunning Frank Mileto goal in the 96th minute from a free kick saw the Students steal all three points in a pulsating finish.
Across town, Barwon SC maintained its top place on the State League 5 ladder, demolishing Maribyrnong Greens 6-0 at Grovedale Reserve, with Christian Mahon and Mylton Bailey recording hat-tricks.
Bailey has amassed a whopping 12 goals to date, while Mahon has hit the back of the net on eight occasions so far this season.
The other State League 5 match involving a local club saw Surfside Waves lose away to Ballarat SC 4-0.
IN other State League fixtures, Corio SC notched its first win of the State League 1 season in sensational fashion, defeating highly rated Essendon City 3-0 at Hume Reserve.
In State League 2, Geelong Rangers held mid-table side Lalor United to a 0-0 draw at home, while all three Geelong teams lost their respective matches in State League 4.
Surf Coast went down 2-1 to Barnestoneworth United, Bell Park had its colours lowered by the only goal of the game to Spring Hills, and a youthful Golden Plains was taught a football lesson by Laverton Park, which won 6-1 at the Bannockburn Recreation Precinct.