By JARROD POTTER
FFV STATE LEAGUE 5 SOUTH – ROUND 9
STILL waiting on the first win, Pakenham United fell 1-2 to Chelsea FC despite a late revival.
The Cougars’ inaugural state league season seems to be repeating itself week to week as the side impresses most in the dying stages.
It’s starting to sound like a broken record, but as per usual this season the Cougars were well in the clash late but started slowly against the visiting Chelsea FC.
Two goals from Adam Alford put the visitors ahead early, but Alex Herrera scored for the hosts to bring the margin back to 1-2 at the half.
From there, neither side could gain ascendency as Pakenham United zipped and weaved to generate a few more chances, but none went their way to leave the half-time margin untouched by the final whistle.
The Cougars are in the midst of an injury crisis of sorts, and newly announced senior coach Wayne Schembri believed the personnel losses have set the side back.
“The last couple of weeks we’ve played good football and I’d probably say better football than we’ve played in the early stages,” Schembri said. “Even with the draws early on in the year – at the moment it’s a case of being undermanned.
“We’ve still got a fair few injuries and seem to be picking them up every week and other players unavailable, who we hope to get back over the next two to three weeks.”
The formation changes at the break didn’t pay off on the scoreboard, but Schembri believes continuing that second half form will get them there eventually.
“The last couple of weeks the basic things, basic skills and formation that we’ve worked on in training we’ve been able to execute in the games – while we haven’t been able to turn it into three points, there are positive signs.
“That enabled us to get a bit more on top in the midfield in the second half – we had a few late chances and couldn’t manage to get the goal.”
Keeper Jarrod Reynolds returned to the net and impressed the coach with a few flying saves while Lewy Friend continued his stellar, consistent season in the back half.
Sitting in ninth place on the FFV State League 5 South ladder, Pakenham United’s next attempt to pick up a win will be at home on Saturday against ladder leaders Baxter SC.
United’s reserves were downed 1-3 by Chelsea while the thirds lost 0-1 to East Bentleigh Strikers on Sunday, making it a winless weekend for the boys from Ballarto Road.
Life in the Metropolitan ranks didn’t do any favours to Bunyip District this week either, as the Strikers were felled 0-3 at home by their namesakes Peninsula Strikers. A hat-trick to Peninsula’s Grant Davies sealed the deal and left the home-side Strikers. They’ll travel to Skye on Sunday to keep a grip on its third ranking in Metropolitan League 5 South-East.
A trip to the island did nothing for Lang Lang United, after a 0-3 demolition at the hands of the Breakers. Phillip Island proved too mighty for the visitors, lashing the Eagles’ defence and booting well clear by the final whistle. Lang Lang United will host Inverloch Stars… at Thompson Reserve Inverloch, as the nomadic Eagles continue to soar about southern Gippsland.
