MILDURA City co-coach Jacob Rodi hopes his side’s stability over recent years can put them in a good position to win a fourth straight S-League senior men’s title.
Their defence got off to the perfect start with 3-0 victory over Nichols Point on Sunday after they had the first round bye.
Neither side had found the back of the net by the half but star striker Nicolas Woods opened the scoring in the 55th minute, before Tenace Moraitis and Dom Ghidinelli put the game beyond doubt.
“It was a very competitive game in the first half and Nichols Point were really solid defensively so we have to give them credit for that,” Rodi said.
“After half time we just got a few more of our structures right and we were able to put a few away but they gave us a great contest.”
Rodi said the depth across the senior squads makes for strong competition for his squad, but also requires some balancing.
“Pretty much everyone who is in the squad has been with us for the last few years so there hasn’t been a whole lot of change for us, but we’re really happy with how things are tracking into the new season.
“It is challenging at times to have so many players across reserves and under-16 who are capable of playing seniors so sometimes it can take a bit of juggling.
“We’re getting to see more of some of these young men coming through the system, the likes of Tenace Moraitis, Jasper Gemits, Nick Lia, Campbell Brown, Harry Watt and Jay Skarpona who have all showed they’re more than capable of playing at senior level.”
Meanwhile, early ladder leaders Irymple Knights won their second game of the campaign with a 3-1 result against Three Colours.
Emerging striker Kieran Burrows scored a brace while returning defender Nathan Monteleone also struck before half-time.
Oktay Samet scored Colours’ only goal deep in the second half.
In senior women’s, reigning champions Mildura City earned the points in their first home-and-away hit-out of the year, securing a 3-0 result against the Pointers.
Maeve Hammett bagged a goal in either half while the Pointers conceded an own goal in the 31st minute.
S-League results – Round 2
Senior Men
Mildura City d Nichols Point 3 – 0
Goals: Mildura City – Nicolas Woods 1 (55’), Tenace Moraitis 1 (63’) and Domenic Ghidinelli 1 (79’).
Irymple Knights d Three Colours 3 – 1
Goals: Irymple Knights – Kieran Burrows 2 (28’, 82’) and Nathan Monteleone 1 (42’). Three Colours – Oktay Samet 1 (76’).
Senior Women
Mildura City d Nichols Point 3 – 0
Goals: Mildura City – Maeve Hammett 2 (12’, 65’) plus an own goal at 31’.
Reserve Men
Irymple Knights d Three Colours 4 – 1
Goals: Irymple Knights – Alexi Karallis 2 (23’, 66’) Wayesu Froriberi 1 (5’) and Benit Niyonyishu 1 (37’). Three Colours – Mason Purdue 1 (42’).
Mildura City d Nichols Point 5 – 0
Goals: Mildura City –Nicholas Lia 1 (3’), Campbell Brown 1 (7’), Harry Watt 1 (48’), Taylan Karakurt 1 (51’) and Darcy Aunger 1 (60’).
Over 35s
Mildura City d Nichols Point 6 – 4
Goals: Mildura City – Vincent Mammone 3 (7’,15’,51’), Akif Arisoy 2 (18’,44’) and Daniel Manno 1 (32’). Nichols Point – Bob Soloman 1 (13’), Peter Semple 1 (28’) and Sam Kernaghan 1 (40’) plus an own goal.
Irymple Knights d Three Colours 5 – 1
Goals: Irymple Knights – Roger Burrows 1 (20’), Nathan Douman 1 (30’), Nick Ietto 1 (38’), Danial Gibson 1 (44’) and Justin Ellice 1 (50’). Three Colours – Mathew Elliott 1 (45’P).
Under-16 Boys
Irymple Knights d Three Colours 13 – 0
Goals: Irymple Knights – Joseph Jerkin 3 (2’,34’,45’), Guy Tresor Iradukunda 2 (8’,57’), Gabe Judd 2 (42’,43’), Kenedy Nkunda 1 (4’), Ali Ataye 1 (20’), Dom Deluca 1 (49’), Kai Byrne 1 (52’) and Benit Niyonyishu 1 (54’) plus an own goal.
Nichols Point drew Mildura City 2 – 2
Goals: Nichols Point – Kareem Goomer 2 (16’, 68’). Mildura City – Johan Jeevan 1(12’) and Jack Cirigliano 1 (64’).
Under-16 Girls
Nichols Point d Mildura City 2 – 1
Goals: Nichols Point – Aine Doody 1 (39’) and Heidi Gibson 1 (50’). Mildura City – Lilly Pulham 1 (43’).
Under-14
Nichols Point drew Mildura City 3 – 3
Goals: Nichols Point – Jade Falconer 3 (20’, 23’P, 31’). Mildura City – Leo Tan 2 (6’,24’) and Ben Basil Boby 1 (43’).
Irymple Knights Black d Three Colours 5 – 0
Goals: Irymple Knights Black – Gianluca Dimasi 2 (17’,28’), Ahmed Hassan 1 (20’), Lee-Min Sheehan 1 (23’) plus an own goal.
Under-13 Girls
Irymple Knights Black drew Mildura City 1 – 1
Goals: Irymple Knights Black – Alexis Paterson 1 (25’). Mildura City – Stella Brown 1 (39’).
Irymple Knights Green d Nichols Point 2 – 1
Goals: Irymple Knights Green – Mila Pascale 2 (13’, 18’). Nichols Point – Liberty Panagiotopoulos 1 (10’).
Under-12 Division 1
Mildura City d Nichols Point 3 – 1
Goals: Mildura City – Nicholas Stewart 1 (10’), Geordie Moraitis 1 (35’) and Luca Timmis 1 (50’). Nichols Point –Zayden Warr 1 (36’).
Three Colours White d Irymple Knights 5 – 1
Goals: Three Colours – Sonny Parker 3 (3’,19’,30’), Mahmoud Maaroof 1 (14’) and Oguzhan Say 1 (45’). Irymple Knights – Cooper Ellis 1 (24’).
Mildura United d Three Colours Red 7 – 1
Goals: Mildura United – Micah Scholar 3 (8’,19’,37’), Justin Kennedy 2 (15’, 31’) and Jerrard Hopkins 2 (42’, 49’). Three Colours Red – Robert Lazar 1 (15’).
Under-12 Division 2
Irymple Knights Green d Mildura City Red 4 – 0
Goals: Irymple Knights Green – Christos Stamation 2 (5’,25’), Aiden Aslaner 1 (11’) and Harrison Lay 1 (39’).
Irymple Knights Black d Mildura City Blac) 3 – 2
Goals: Irymple Knights Black – Cooper Parsons 1 (27’), Jaxon Briggs-Telford 1 (33’) and Gurridh 1 (40’). Mildura City Black – Jesse McKinnon 1 (37’) and Steel Hynes 1 (42’).
Nichols Point Orange d Nichols Point Black 5 – 1
Goals: Nichols Point Orange – Thomas Panagiotopoulos 4 (3’,7’,23’40’) and Liberty Panagiotopoulos 1 (33’). Nichols Point Black – Xavier Rose 2 (17’).
