By JARROD POTTER
TOP of the table has been claimed by Pakenham Cougars in FFV Metropolitan Division 5, closing the door on East Bentleigh Soccer Club with a late go-ahead goal to win 2-1.
With proceedings all square at 1-1 leading into the last 20 minutes, the Cougars had all the play, squandering at least half a dozen chances in front of goals.
Keegan Bloomfield, already with a goal to his name, made a lot of the forward attempts – with a goal disallowed strangely in the 80th minute, before a follow-up came soon after, which couldn’t be prevented.
Pakenham took the lead and held it as black skies closed in on Lakeside Reserve – and with their win, the Cougars claimed top bragging rights in the division.
“We don’t want to sound arrogant but we dominated most of the match,” Pakenham captain Cris Moreno said. “We should’ve taken it away 4-1. We missed a couple of sitters and a couple of players were away, but no excuse.
“The team pulled through and we took the win – top of the ladder now and we need to concentrate on staying there.”
Moreno praised the efforts of his backline generals – Chris Birch, Gareth Clegg and Raphael Obura.
No referee showed up for the Pakenham reserves match against Sandringham and has been rescheduled for 9 June.
The horror start to Bunyip’s season continued, giving up a 2-0 lead at half-time against Glen Waverley to lose 4-5, with goals to Johnny de Malo, Davy Edward, Tony Leiju and Pete Cardus.
Bunyip coach Craig Marks was blunt with his team’s performance – praising the efforts of new goalkeeper Lachie Barnard and giving a spray to the rest.
“For 45 minutes the guys were very poor – and they got a rocket up their a*** last night,” Marks said.
“They know they’re sitting second bottom and all three sides we lost to we know we can beat.
“Got to look and see what they’ll get out of the season.
“They’ve got to compete and fight – if they don’t do that, at the end of the day players will be moved around – I won’t put up with it.”
Bunyip sits second last in the division and hosts Bayside Argonauts on Sunday.
Strikers’ reserves defeated Monash University 3-1 in the only bright light for the club this week.
