SOCCER

LVSL

By JOHN CARDONA AND LIAM DURKIN

 

MATCH of the Round between the two undefeated sides, Traralgon Olympians and Moe United, saw Olympians prove far too good, running out 4-1 victors.

The result consolidates Olympians at the top of the Latrobe Valley Soccer League senior men’s ladder after 10 rounds.

The Traralgon-based club is now in prime position to take out the LVSL championship for the first time in more than 20 years.

In the four matches played at Harold Preston Reserve last Saturday, all were factors towards determining who would stay in the running of each division’s title aspirations.

The senior game was a match of two halves. The first half was a close and often physical affair, followed by a complete domination by the home side in the second.

The match was just 10 minutes old when a Moe United attack silenced the home crowd, when a through ball from Connor O’Hanlon saw the Olympians central defenders fail to clear the ball, leading to an ever-alert Matt Shearing seizing upon the opportunity.

He raced toward goal, rounding the advancing keeper and slamming the ball into the empty goal.

The visitor’s celebration had barely subsided when an Olympians attack up the left wing saw a cross finish in the goalmouth, where the ball was hammered home from close range by Alradi Ali to level the scores.

Moe United came close to regaining the lead when a long cross field pass by Chad Shelley was headed by Shearing, only to see his attempt palmed away by the keeper from the top right corner.

From that point on, the first half heated up physically. Both sides had chances to take the advantage, with keepers at both ends kept very busy, although neither side was able to break the deadlock.

A sensation saw Red Devil’s coach, Lee Dastey red carded, meaning he had to call the shots from the grandstand.

The second half started with end-to-end football. Moe was forced to reshuffle its defence after Lachie McKenzie left the pitch with a groin strain.

The home side took the lead when Andre Antonopoulos struck a sweet hit shot that found the net at the far post.

Olympians went in for the kill, and another injury to Moe’s Sammy Lietzau forced another change to the visitor’s line-up. The home side was now dominating and added another two goals from Ali.

Ali was best-on for his hat-trick, while Jordan Martin, Jake Dunstall and Antonopoulos were also lively.

Olympians coach, Anton Sbaglia paid credit to the team’s performance, noting the class of the hat-trick hero.

“We’re pretty fortunate to have the veteran up front, Alradi, he’s been at the club for many years, one of the greatest strikers the league’s ever seen, with the younger boys we’re pretty fortunate to have quality players on and off the bench to be able to score,” he said.

“The first half we took a while to grow into the game, it was high intensity, both teams couldn’t string six, seven passes together, as the game went on the game opened up a lot more.

“I definitely knew it was going to be the toughest match of the year, knowing the quality of players they have, and how well organised their club is and their team is, so coming into a game like tonight was always going to be tough, but we showed heart, hunger.”

Olympians are now three points clear on top of the ladder, and with the chance to create a Cinderella Story.

Should Olympians win the league title, it will cap off a remarkable turnaround. The club did not even field a senior team only three years ago.

Best for Moe United was Shearing, McKenzie, Shelley, O’Hanlon and Luke Bathgate.

 

IN other senior men’s games, Falcons 2000 beat an ever-improving Traralgon City on Sunday, 4-nil.

The home side was under pressure from the outset, but Falcons were wasteful in their attempts on goal, with Will Medd, Jordi Vacca, Jamie Pistrin and Lachlan Frendo all coming close to giving their side the lead.

Eventually the dam wall burst open as the returning Pistrin made no mistake from close range to open the scoring. It was soon two as club leading goal scorer, Frendo smashed a rasping shot into the back of the net .

City had a couple of half-chances in the first stanza but could not test the ever-reliable Callum Dominguez in goal.

The second half was much the same, and in truth not much of a spectacle. Falcons dominated possession and field position, and while they added two more goals through Pistrin and Frendo, will be disappointed there was no further reward on the scoresheet.

Victory was welcome for Falcons, after sharing the spoils with Sale the week prior.

The win sees the Morwell side sit comfortably in fourth place and six points off the summit.

Falcons play Churchill this Sunday (June 1). The Rams will be desperate to collect a point or three to eradicate the points deficit they currently sit at due to a Football Victoria sanction for fielding an ineligible player.

Churchill had the bye in Round 10. Others results saw Monash and Newborough/Yallourn draw 1-all, and Sale defeat East Gippsland 2-nil.