SOCCER

LVSL

By JOHN CARDONA and LIAM DURKIN

 

MOE United and Sale United battled out a 1-all draw at Olympic Park on Saturday night.

Both sides started the Round 11 Latrobe Valley Soccer League match in attacking fashion. The home side produced the first major opportunity when a corner kick by Brendan Ruddell was only partially cleared by the Sale defence, with the landing falling to Luke Bathgate, whose first-time shot was cleared off the goal line.

Sale gradually got the ascendancy and began creating chances. Twenty five minutes in, a run by Souley-Jules Camara saw his shot from 20 metres out saved by Moe keeper Peter Albanese.

Camara was looking a constant danger up front, and soon had Albanese pulling off another save from close range.

The Swans eventually got the breakthrough they were seeking when that man again, Camara made another dangerous run up the front on the left flank and cut inside, and from an acute angle hit a low hard shot which beat Albanese inside the near post.

Moe United was soon on the counterattack when central midfielder Sammy Lietzau made a dazzling run through the centre and sent a pass out wide to the right of Tully Anderson, who then sent his cross to Connor O’Hanlon.

He missed, but the Red Devils kept coming, only to see a number of attacking plays break down, mainly coming from players rushing their kicks.

The second half saw both sides on the attack once again.

Sale was first to threaten the goals when Konstandinos Moutoulis found his way through from an angle, but his shot at the unguarded goal was denied by a brilliant goal line save from Oscar Sceney to keep Moe United in the match.

The Red Devils settled down their on-field passing, which saw them create more attacks up front.

At the 60-minute mark, Moe’s Noah Kane hit a brilliant free kick from the left side of the field, only to be denied by a fingertip save by Sale United keeper Jacob Richardson, who was having a great game.

Moe United eventually got the breakthrough they were desperately after when, on the right side of the park, right winger Tully Anderson was fouled when on an attacking run.

Ruddell then sent a perfect left foot free kick to the back post, where the ever-dangerous O’Hanlon was on hand to head the ball home.

The home side tried desperately to snatch a late winner, but Richardson was again up to the task.

Best for Moe was Bailey Somerville, Kane, Ruddell and Matt Shearing.

Best for Sale United was Camara, Mitch Lummis, Alan Harris and Jacob Richardson.

IN other games, Traralgon Olympians beat neighbours Traralgon City 4-nil at Harold Preston.

Monash defeated East Gippsland 3-2 on the road, and Churchill United and Falcons drew 2-all at Hazelwood South.

Newborough/Yallourn United had the bye.

 

A GREAT contest in the women’s match between the two top sides saw Moe United take it up to the benchmark Swans.

Moe played some impressive attacking football with aggressive tactics, upsetting the rhythm of a quality opponent.

The Red Devils led 2-nil after 15 minutes, thanks to a pass from Tiana Reddlex which sent Summer Cooper through.

With great tenacity, she fought off a strong and persistent challenge by the Sale defence to run in and score from 15m out.

Sale’s Lilijana Sajkar had a great chance to level the scores, but was denied by a great save from Bridget Green.

Moe United took lots of confidence from the opening goal, with Reddlex, Paris Troughton and Miley Cooper leading the way to score again.

A run up the left wing by Summer Cooper saw her cross to the far post controlled by Miley Cooper, who then found Rebecca Van Deer Koogh unmarked just outside the six yard box. She gave the Sale keeper no chance.

Moe United nearly went 3-nil up when Georgia Wyntjes sent a perfect through ball to Van Der Koogh, but her attempt went inches wide of goal.

Sale United got back in the game just before halftime, when Soreti Anderson raced clear of the Moe United defence and made no mistake to score.

The visitors dominated the second half, and after 55 minutes, were back on level pegging when Sally Hoffman out-sprinted the Moe defence to race clear and score.

Sale United was now applying total pressure on Moe United. Sajkar had a couple of chances to give Sale the lead, as did Summer Cooper and Wyntjes for Moe.

The visitor’s eventually proved too strong, winning 4-2.

Best for Moe United was Reddlex, Miley Cooper, Green and Nichole Riseley.

Best for Sale was Anderson, Sajkar, Hoffman and Milli Harbour.

Former Express journalist and Sale player Zoe Askew missed the match through injury, and could be on the side lines for another 12 months with a knee reco.

 

IN other games, Traralgon Olympians and Traralgon City drew nil-all, Churchill defeated Falcons 4-1 and Tyers drew with Monash 1-all at Tyers.

NVU had the bye.

 

THE men’s reserves was also a top-two battle.

Sale United mostly dominated the first half, taking a two-goal lead and looking as though they would go three points clear at the top of the ladder.

Moe had its first scoring opportunity when a cross from Michael Melnyczenko found Harley Robinson unmarked, but he failed to convert the cross.

From there, Sale took control, and were soon rewarded when Liam Macreadie beat Moe United keeper Joel Thompson with a clever chipped shot from 15m out.

Sale maintained its pressure and went 2-nil up after a corner kick goal came via a goalmouth scrimmage. Josh Deschepper seized on the ball to hammer it home.

With a few injuries in the senior squad, Tom Portelli and Zoran Winkelman were withdrawn at halftime for the home team, but a rev up from coach Harley Devlin saw a different attitude and response in the second half.

Sale played deeper in defence in the second half, which played into Moe’s hands. The Red Devils had total control of the midfield and finally got on the board after 60 minutes.

Similar to Sale, a corner kick and goalmouth scrimmage was the avenue to score, which saw Chris Papanikolaou slam the ball through a crowd of feet.

Jay Hall thought he’d scored the equaliser after 75m, and despite looking onside, it was ruled offside by the linesman.

Sale created a couple of great chances, but equally good defence from Moe saved the day.

Sale United appeared to have the three points in the bag, but were left shattered late when in the last two minutes, a through ball from Jake Heusman saw Robinson collect the ball and cooly place it into the net to tie the match 2-all.

Best for Moe was Timmy Stephens, Papanikolaou, Seth Grixti and Melnyczenko.

Best for Sale was Deschepper, Logan Mills, Sammy Godde and Macreaddie.

 

ELSEWHERE, Traralgon Olympians beat Traralgon City 2-nil, Falcons defeated Churchill United 6-2. No result was entered for East Gippsland versus Monash.

NYU had the bye.

 

IN the 3rd Division match, a full strength Sale was made to work hard for the points against a determined Moe Untied.

Sale raced to a two-goal lead thanks to Chris Richardson and Kyle Nauta.

The visitors were looking the better side, but a goal to Moe’s Gedd Heusmann got the Red Devils back in the match.

The second half was a scrappy affair, with neither side able to find the back of the net.

Moe United had a few chances, but were wasteful. Kristian Aquilina had a few, and then late in the match, the Red Devils were denied at the penalty spot kick.

Best for Moe was Judd Van Breugel, Heusmann and Zane Poxon.

Best for Sale was Richardson, Cooper Kelly-Williams, Nauta and Nyasha Mazorodze.

 

CHURCHILL United had a big win over Falcons, 5-nil, while Tyers did the same number of Monash.

Fortuna and Olympians had the bye.

There are no LVSL games this weekend due to the King’s Birthday.