Reserves triumph in spiteful derby
Posted: 21 May, 2007
| Casey Comets | 1 | — | 5 | Langwarrin |
| Ali Memedovski (2) Nick Robinson Dave Jurisic Liam Swaine |
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Round 6: Casey Comets v Langwarrin — 19 May, 2007
A melee involving players, both benches and a couple of spectators, Nick Robinson maintaining his goal-a-game record, six goals and a stonewall penalty not given highlighted a controversial reserves contest at Comets Stadium on Saturday.
Langwarrin ran out a convincing 5-1 victor and in the final analysis completely crushed an opponent that displayed a surprising lack of discipline in a sometimes ill-tempered second half of a local derby that had everything.
Ali Memedovski was back from injury and the first team squad striker partnered Robinson up front while Anthony Famularo and Deni Skopljak were given wide roles in a midfield five.
In the 5th minute a neat one-two between Skopljak and Memedovski saw the former through in a one-on-one but the Casey keeper did well to get a touch and deflect the ball onto the bar. Within a minute Casey blew a great chance by lobbing the ball over Langy goalie Sean Skelly but wide of the upright.
Casey again went close in the 15th minute after a superb turn and low shot found Skelly saving down low despite being sent the wrong way and in the 27th minute Skopljak and the Langy bench were up in arms after the fair-haired midfielder had been felled by the Casey keeper inside the box only for the referee to wave play on.
Two minutes later the deadlock was broken and it was no surprise that it was Robinson who was on hand to slide down onto Kevin McAlister’s low drive across the face of goal and deflect the ball into the back of the Casey net.
Memedovski notched the first of his two goals in the 34th minute with a header following a great Famularo cross from the right and two minutes later the former Dandenong Thunder striker made it 3-0 by stealing in at the back post after great work by McAlister and thumping a low drive into the far corner.
Robinson twice broke through in the last five minutes of the first half but failed to finish but the half-time whistle came with Langy in complete control.
Peter Ferguson replaced Memedovski during the interval and within 10 minutes of the restart, Langy reserves coach Jim Morrison had reshuffled his line-up with Robinson and McAlister being replaced by Fraser Cameron and Stevie Smith.
Twelve minutes into the second stanza Liam Swaine’s low cross was missed by the Casey keeper. Ferguson also missed his chance to tuck it away but big Dave Jurisic didn’t and at 4-0 there was no way back for the home side.
Casey got a consolation goal in the 67th minute when Skelly, under pressure, failed to hold onto a high ball, allowing it to slip in behind him and into goal but Swaine rounded off the scoreline four minutes later with a superb solo effort and a cheeky finish after rounding a defender and the opposition keeper.
Famularo’s attempt to kick the ball into an opponent while clearing was the trigger that ignited the melee but the response from his Casey Comets opponent was disgraceful. He chased Famularo and started swinging from the rafters as players surged towards the incident. In the blink of an eye both benches had emptied but there also were a couple of spectators on the ground. Fortunately order was restored and the referee did the right thing by calling a halt shortly after.
The win maintains Langy reserves’ great start to the season and sets them up nicely for a clash at Lawton Park this Saturday with league leader Coburg United which dropped a point in a 1-1 draw against Port Melbourne reserves last weekend. Langy reserves lie second on the ladder, a point behind Coburg but with a game in hand.
