SOCCER

STATE LEAGUE

By ALLAN ROBERTS

 

ROUND 12 of the Veto Men’s State League saw Fortuna ’60 play their first game in two weeks due to having a bye in Round 11 and then a scheduled whole competition catch up round.

The two week break saw Fortuna remain active in the recruiting stakes, with the club signing ex NPL and Gippsland United player Mitch Jones. The 25-year-old was a welcome addition to the team, having the ability to hold down several positions on the pitch.

The Round 12 fixture was a welcome home game for the Lions against the visiting Endeavour Hills, who pushed the club all the way to the end of the 90 minutes in their Round 1 encounter.

With two weeks off, this game was not going to be easy for the Lions, and coach Clayton Bell was concerned that the extended break might work against his team due to lack of match play.

The conclusion of the game saw Bell’s concerns allayed as Fortuna came away with a dominant 7-1 win over the Fire.

In what has become a bit of an ongoing scenario each game, it was the visitors who scored first in the 15th minute to open up a 1-nil lead. This changed in the 20th minute when Jordan Campbell slipped a nice ball into the path of Jake Budija who, turned and dispatched the ball into the goal to open the scoring for the day for the Lions.

The remainder of the first half saw the Lions settle into the game and quickly assert their dominance and show why they are sitting on top of the State League Ladder.

In the 38th minute, Daniel Cooper whipped in a delicious corner into the top of the six yard box, only for the Fire keeper to fumble the save, which allowed Damon Scott to pounce on the loose ball and dispatch it into the back of the net.

Fire by name and nature, Endeavour Hills started to burn pretty hot, with the visitors giving away penalties in the 43rd and 45th minutes for some reckless challenges in the box, both of which were duly put away by Daniel Cooper to give Fortuna a 4-1 lead at the halftime whistle.

With the commencement of the second half, it was the visitors who came out swinging and threw everything possible at their hosts.

The first 30 minutes of the second half turned into a pretty heated affair, with five yellow cards heading the way of the Fire for some average tackles and conduct. But Fortuna were not going to lie down and be bullied out of the contest on their home ground – and the final 20 minutes of the game saw the home team pour a bucket of water over the Fire and close out the match.

In the 80th minute, DJ Matar accelerated down the right wing and around the opposition keeper to score in his return from a hamstring injury.

In the 85th and 89th minute, Fortuna’s powerhouse striker, Budija scored two great goals to give him a hat-trick and more importantly, Fortuna a 7-1 win for the day.

The win sees Fortuna maintain their three point advantage at the top of the table, but they now commence a tricky run of three away games over the next three weeks and will have to remain on best form to keep second placed Mt Eliza at bay if they wish to close out the season on top.

EARLIER in the day, the Fortuna Reserves took to the field with a full list of players for the first time this season.

The reserves put in a gallant effort against a very quick Endeavour Hills team to see out an entertaining 3-all draw