Round 10: Dingley 2 – 2 Middle Park
The Parkers came from a goal down, to lead, and had several chances to run out winners. Unfortunately late goal from the home side ensured it was honours even.
Goals: Mike Ward, David Robin
Round 11: South Yarra 0 – 1 Middle Park
A tight, highly competitive derby was settled in the 90th minute. A long throw was headed on, where it fell to Kenji, who magically looped the ball over the keeper with the side of his foot. Delirium on the sidelines, and a result that takes the Parkers to being unbeaten in five.
Goals: Kenji Sokriansky
Round 12: Middle Park 0 – 3 Mazenod
After conceding two goals in the first five minutes, the Parkers never recovered from a horror start. The yellow men competed well with the table toppers for the rest of the game, but the damage has been done. A third goal towards the end of the game capped a disappointing day.
Round 13: Middle Park 0 – 0 Brighton
No goals, but a solid display against second placed Brighton. Having been beaten seven-nil in the reverse figure in round two, this was a mark of how far the team has improved this season. This was the fourth clean sheet out of the last six games.
Round 14: Middle Park 4 – 1 Melbourne Uni
Melbourne Uni were ahead at the break, and the Parkers were playing very poorly. Uni had a good chance to extend their lead early in the second half, but a wonderful save by Marshall kept the home side in it.
The turning point came with the introduction of Andy Gibson, with four goals scored in the final 30 minutes. Two tap ins from keeping errors for Gibbo and Wardy, followed by two 20 yards screamers from Danny and Kenji.
Goals: Mike Ward, Danny Penfold, Andy Gibson, Kenji Sokriansky
Round 15: Middle Park 4 – 2 Knox
A set back on the morning of the game meant that the Parkers had to do without one of the seasons MVPs, Jamie Caldwell. The second half of Hadrian’s Wall, Kevin Mullen, was also absent (holidaying in Bali), which meant a brand new centre back combination for the first time in eleven games. Cosentino and Cook stepped in.
The Parkers put in one of the performances of the season with a fantastic display. Gibbo opened the scoring, sweeping in at the near post from a flowing move down the right. Blane doubled the score, as he linked up with Kenji, and it was two-nil at half time.
The mercurial Danny Penfold made it three with an audacious lob, before Knox headed home from 6 yards. Gibbo extended the lead again from three yards, and despite conceding a scrappy goal in the 87th minute, the Parkers held on for a wonderful win.
The Parkers now have 22 points from 15 games, and stand in sixth place, with seven to play. This represents a fantastic turnaround from the first two rounds (P2, L2, -11).
Goals: Andy Gibson (2), Blane Forest-Wilford, Danny Penfold