The upsets continued in the second round of the 2025 Dockerty Cup over the weekend, with 55 matches played between Friday and Monday evening.
A glut of goals and the first penalty shootout of this year’s edition were complimented by some thrilling contests, particularly from teams battling against more fancied opponents.
Fortuna 60 may be making its debut in the VETO SPORTS State League this year, but the club has been a pillar of the La Trobe Valley for over 60 years. Middle Park (State 3) felt the full weight of that history in a classic contest. Goals to Luis Rodriguez and Christopher Stylianou saw the hosts with a comfortable lead with a third of the game remaining, but three goals in twelve minutes to Dj Matar, Damon Scott and Jake Budija sealed a famous comeback victory for the Morwell outfit.
Elsewhere, it took nine spot-kicks to decide the encounter between Altona North (State 3) and Doveton (State 1). Celebrating its 50th year, Altona North were eyeing off an early celebration, but Lav Memedovski slotted the final penalty to hand the Doves a 5-4 win away from home.
Up north, Epping City (State 3) proved too good for Westvale Olympic (State 1), with a goal in each half from Michael Santopietro and Dante Surace securing an emphatic win at the Casa D’Abruzzo Club.
Down bayside, Beaumaris (State 1) suffered a huge fright at the hands of Heidelberg Eagles (State 3), after Lorenzo Princigalli twice pegged back strikes from Ashley Dunn to send the match into extra-time. Dunn ultimately sealed his hat-trick and a thrilling 3-2 win at Beaumaris Secondary College.
One-time NSL participants Mooroolbark (State 2) were eliminated by Point Cook (State 4) thanks to a Dawit Melesse brace, the second of which came in the 8th minute in extra time to give the Jets a memorable win at Esther Park Reserve.
Possibly the most thrilling finish in the second round came at Greensborough College, where Watsonia Heights (State 4) were engaged in a tense battle with Geelong Rangers (State 2). With the scores locked at 1-1 after 120 minutes, the match appeared to be headed for a penalty shootout before George Beaumont popped up in the first minute of added time to book a place in the third round.
The goalscoring feat of the weekend came at Greaves Reserve, where hosts White Star Dandenong (State 3) were no match for Clifton Hill (State 1). The Hillmen’s 6-0 win was assisted in large part to four goals from Jacob Battista, who rockets to equal second in the Alec Forrest Medal race after the second round of competition.
A full list of all second-round results and the Alec Forrest Medal leaderboard below.
Dockerty Cup Round 2 Results:
- Bayside Argonauts (MSL1SE) 2 Noble Park United (MSL2SE) 0 (AET)
- Pakenham United (MSL5S) 2 Old Trinity Grammarians (MSL5E) 0
- Whittlesea Ranges (MSL2NW) 1 Upfield (MSL1NW) 0
- Old Ivanhoe (MSL5N) 7 Footscray Rangers (MSL5W) 0
- Altona East Phoenix (MSL2NW) 1 Hampton East Brighton (MSL1SE) 2
- Springvale City (MSL4S) 0 St Kilda (MSL2SE) 4
- Peninsula Strikers (MSL2SE) 0 Banyule City (MSL1NW) 2
- Manningham Juventus (MSL4E) 4 East Bentleigh (MSL5E) 1
- Altona North (MSL3NW) 1 Doveton (MSL1SE) 1 (4-5 pens)
- Monash City Villarreal (MSL4E) 0 Hampton Park United Sparrows (MSL3SE) 3
- Epping City (MSL3NW) 2 Westvale Olympic (MSL1NW) 1
- Bell Park (MSL4W) 4 Glen Eira (MSL5W) 0
- Burwood City (MSL5E) 0 Skye United (MSL2SE) 1
- Thornbury Athletic (MSL4N) 0 Old Scotch (MSL1SE) 7
- Middle Park (MSL3SE) 2 Fortuna 60 (MSL5S) 3
- Mentone (MSL4S) 1 Mazenod (MSL1SE) 9
- Deakin University (MSL4W) 0 Croydon City (MSL3SE) 2
- Knox City (MSL2SE) 0 Lalor United (MSL2NW) 7
- Mount Eliza (MSL5S) 0 Balmoral (MSL4W) 5
- Uni Hill Eagles (MSL2NW) 8 La Trobe University (MSL5N) 0
- Barnstoneworth United (MSL4W) 0 Berwick City (MSL2SE) 2
- White Star Dandenong (MSL3SE) 0 Clifton Hill (MSL1NW) 6
- Watsonia Heights (MSL4N) 2 Geelong Rangers (MSL2NW) 1 (AET)
- Lara United (MSL4W) 1 Brimbank Stallions (MSL1NW) 4 (AET)
- Williamstown (MSL2NW) 3 Knox United (MSL4E) 0
- Sydenham Park (MSL1NW) 5 Endeavour United (MSL4S) 2
- Westside Strikers Caroline Springs (MSL4W) 5 Mitchell Rangers (MSL5N) 0
- Brighton (MSL5E) 1 Kings Domain (MSL4E) 2
- Monbulk Rangers (MSL4E) 0 Bendigo City (MSL5W) 4
- Greater Dandenong (MSL3SE) 0 Ringwood City (MSL4E) 2
- Ballarat (MSL5W) 3 Barwon (MSL4W) 6
- Glenroy Lions (MSL4N) 0 Docklands Athletic (MSL4E) 1 (AET)
- Moreland Eagles (MSL5N) 3 Greenvale United (MSL5N) 1
- West Preston (MSL4N) 1 Monash University (MSL4S) 0
- Dallas City (MSL3SE) 5 Melbourne City (MSL4W) 0
- Beaumaris (MSL1SE) 3 Heidelberg Eagles (MSL3NW) 2 (AET)
- Laverton (MSL3NW) 1 Sandringham (MSL3SE) 0 (AET)
- Brunswick Zebras (MSL3NW) 1 Mill Park (MSL2NW) 4
- South Springvale (MSL1SE) 3 Keon Park (MSL4N) 1
- Whitehorse United (MSL5E) 0 Yarra Jets (MSL4E) 1
- Surf Coast (MSL3NW) 1 Keilor Wolves (MSL4W) 0
- Aspendale (MSL5S) 4 Melton Phoenix (MSL4W) 3
- Casey Comets (MSL2SE) 0 Corio (MSL1NW) 3
- Hoppers Crossing (MSL3NW) 2 Brandon Park (MSL1SE) 4
- Rosebud (MSL4S) 0 Mornington (MSL1SE) 2
- Melbourne University (MSL4N) 4 Elwood City (MSL3SE) 3
- Mooroolbark (MSL2SE) 1 Point Cook (MSL4W) 2 (AET)
- Glen Waverley (MSL5E) 0 Chisholm United (MSL2SE) 4
- Sebastopol Vikings (MSL3NW) 0 Darebin United (MSL4N) 1
- Eaglehawk (BASL1) 0 Plenty Valley Lions (MSL3NW) 2
- Templestowe Wolves (MSL5E) 2 Moonee Ponds United (MSL4N) 1
- Ballarat City (MSL1NW) 5 Malvern City (MSL1SE) 2 (AET)
- Doncaster Rovers (MSL2SE) 10 Swinburne (Metro2) 0
- Somerville Eagles (MSL4S) 2 North Caulfield (MSL2SE) 3
- Westgate (MSL1NW) 2 Collingwood City (MSL1SE) 1
Alec Forrest Leaderboard after Round 2:
- Masee Namdar (Hampton Park United) 5
- Jacob Battista (Clifton Hill) 4
- Mirko Cilli (Moreland Eagles) 4
- Leon Kyriakos (Old Ivanhoe) 4
- Aydin Limic (Bell Park) 4
- Ivan Silic (Hoppers Crossing) 4 *
Note: asterisk denotes player has been eliminated from competition