Berwick Kings’ Djuro Mirkovic (front) does well to protect the drop zone from Endeavour Hills’ Hardeep Garcha. 50025 Picture Stewart Chambers
By Gavin Staindl
BERWICK Kings and Endeavour United have had their seasons turned upside down this month, so when they played out a 1-1 draw on the weekend the outcome for each club was vastly different.
Four weeks ago Endeavour United sat third with eyes set firmly on promotion but after scraping two points in only four weeks the weekend’s draw drops them to seventh and in danger of missing out on promotion.
Four weeks ago, the Berwick Kings sat last with only two wins but since that time they have won two and the recent draw has them in eighth position and pulling away from the drop zone.
After entering half-time locked at 0-0 at a chopped up Reema Reserve, Endeavour United’s Vaheek Sarkisyan put his side up with a header from a well timed cross.
But with 10 minutes left, Kings’ Deni Tintor, who had done as he pleased for most of the match, scored the equaliser from a free kick.
Both sides pushed for the win but the Kings seemed happier to share the points while United must find some wins soon if they wish to push back up the ladder.
“The longer it goes on less likely we are to be promoted.
“Though anything can happen if we win two or three games in a row, you never know,” Endeavour United coach Norm Maitland said.
Provisional One side Doveton has also missed out on an opportunity to crack open the promotion race losing to Mooroolbark 3-1 at Esther Park Reserve.
Doveton had the chance to declare itself apart of the top two and open up some breathing space between itself and fourth position but the loss now leaves Doveton fighting with several other clubs to reach the promotion zone.
In the higher leagues of Division Two soccer, Casey kept it’s small promotion chances alive with a 4-2 win over Knox while Berwick has lost another opportunity to bounce out of the drop zone with a 3-0 loss to last-placed Southern Suburbs.
Casey’s Paul Presti and Leigh Wilkinson both bagged doubles en route to Casey’s seventh win of the season that keeps them within four wins of first place.
Berwick had the chance to snuff out some of the competition it faces in the race to avoid relegation when they played the winless Southern Suburbs but the 3-0 loss means they will have to steal points from higher placed teams to remain in Division Three next year.
