Mornington v Mitcham

PRICE BRACE SEALS POINTS FOR MORNINGTON

Mornington 2 (Price 2), Mitcham 1 (Marrone)

A depleted Mornington took to the field on a perfect day looking to atone for last week’s poor performance against Beaumaris.

It was clear that Mornington were switched on from the start and should have hit the lead when Dave Price sliced his shot wide with an open goal beckoning.

Price soon made amends for his earlier miss when he powered home a header from a perfect Dan Waite cross to send Mornington into the lead.

Mornington continued to press the beleaguered Mitcham defence and if not for some top notch saves might have gone further in front.

Mitcham’s midfield started to gain the upper hand and a wide ball to Marrone paid dividends when he rounded Mornington’s defence and slotted the ball in the back of the net.

Only minutes later Mornington’s Dan Waite set off on a marauding run down the left and once again found Price who rose high to head home for his second goal of the day.

A revved up Price nearly completed his hat trick on the stroke of half time when he again rose high too meet the incoming ball only to be adjudged to have fouled his opponent.

Mornington resumed after the break determined not to repeat last week’s second half fade-out and nearly had a third when Tommy Carmichael shot just wide of the upright.

Young Jason O’Dea tried his luck next when he sent the Mitcham keeper scrambling to save his long-range effort.

Mornington were awarded a penalty soon after when Waite was fouled in the box but the keeper was up to the task palming Waite’s penalty kick wide to keep Mitcham in the game.

The penalty miss didn’t deter Mornington and Johnny Watson nearly had his name on the scoresheet when his pile driver flew inches over the crossbar.

The final minutes of the game saw Mitcham throw numbers forward and if not for last minute tackles from Charles Platt and stand-in captain Brett van Zanden they may have salvaged a draw.

This week Mornington will be looking to erase the memory of a disappointing early season fade out when they face off against league pacesetter Ashburton.