By David Nagel
The disappointing season of Pakenham United has gone from bad to worse in a hurry after United was dealt a 4-0 hammer-blow by lowly Aspendale on Saturday.
This appeared to be a great opportunity for Pakenham to bank its first win since round 11 with Aspendale sitting below United in third-last place on the table.
Pakenham had a great battle with a highly-regarded Mentone outfit last week, losing 2-3 in a high-quality game of football.
But the confidence built from that performance soon dissipated after just eight minutes of play, when Kieran Hughes gave the Stingrays the early lead.
United lost further ground as the clock edged towards half time, with Hughes scoring again to extend the home-side’s lead to 2-0 at the break.
Pakenham did show some fight in the early stages of the second half, but when Matt Leggett put another in the back of the net…the home side had the three points safely tucked away.
Lewis Marco then completed United’s agony with a fourth goal in the 83rd minute to give the Stingrays their first victory since a 1-0 win over United all the way back in round six.
United hits the road again this week, heading to Turner Reserve in Noble Park North to take on South East United.
MEN’S STATE LEAGUE 5 SOUTH
RESULTS – ROUND 17
Aspendale 4 v Pakenham United 0, White Star Dandenong 2 v Hampton Park 2, Mount Martha 1 v Rosebud 0, Casey Panthers v Bunyip Strikers (No Result Provided), South East United 1 v Mentone 1, Barton United – Bye.
LADDER
White Star Dandenong 39, Barton United 32, Casey Panthers 27, Mentone 26, Hampton Park 24, Bunyip Strikers 19, South East United 18, Pakenham 13, Aspendale 12, Mount Martha 11, Rosebud 9.
FIXTURE – ROUND 18
South East v Pakenham, Barton United v Mentone, Mount Martha v White Star Dandenong, Hampton Park v Bunyip, Rosebud v Aspendale, Casey Panthers – Bye.
