Weekend matches a total loss for locals

By Paul Pickering
IT was a miserable day for the locals. Six games and six losses across three divisions of the Southern Football League.
It started at the top with Division One rivals Dingley and Springvale Districts, who ran into red-hot ladders-leaders St Kilda City and Chelsea Heights on Saturday.
Springvale Districts finished strongly against Dingley last week and the Demons continued that form to draw within five points of Chelsea Heights – also known as the Demons – at half time.
The home side broke the shackles in the third, kicking nine goals to Springy’s zero to open up a match-winning 60-point buffer.
Despite the promising start, the visitors walked away with an 86-point hiding to their name, having kicked just six goals for the afternoon. Chelsea Heights’ Ash Beasley matched that haul individually.
Meanwhile, Dingley was scoreless in its first quarter against St Kilda City, slumping to a 40-point half-time deficit before it decided to provide some resistance.
The Dingoes lost by 49 in the end, with big man Stephen Pitt and on-ballers Troy Lavars (two goals) and Luke Bartholomew leading an improved performance after the interval.
In Division Two, cellar-dweller Lyndale dropped to 0-7 for the season with its 65-point loss to Ashwood at Barry Powell Reserve.
The Pumas drew within nine points after a second quarter fight-back, only to get blown away in the third.
Dean Shukosky and skipper Jeff Dudi were Lyndale’s best for the afternoon.
The story was just as bleak in Division Three, where the Doveton Eagles blew a three-goal half-time lead to lose by seven points at Skye.
The hometown Bombers kicked the only goal of the final term, and it was enough to secure the crucial victory.
Paul Rees and Joel Marie were the key contributors for the Eagles, while Ricky Ramsdale (three) had a relatively quiet day up forward.
Dandenong suffered a similar fate at Greaves Reserve, capitulating in the second half to hand struggling Cerberus a 46-point win.
Eddie Connor kicked four for the Redlegs and Max Little played his best game for the season.
Elsewhere, Sandown started and finished strongly at Clayton’s Keeley Park, but still lost to the Southern Dragons by 15 points.
The Cobras went to sleep either side of half time, despite the efforts of Simon Foster and Steve O’Byrne (three).