Top of the table Morwell Pegasus hosted a Mornington Seagulls outfit which contained no less than eight players with Victorian Premier League experience, in round 18 of State League Division Two south/east soccer on Saturday.
The Seagulls started brightly on a dull day and were unlucky when Cam Leopold was only able to find Pegasus goalkeeper David Schonberger from point blank range, following a square ball from Colin Stewart.
Their luck worsened when Pegasus broke from defence with a ball played out to Paul Byrne on the right who in turn swung a ball over to in-form goalscorer, Maximillian Etheridge for his first of the game in the eighth minute.
The Seagulls continued to knock the ball around well, but without creating any clear cut chances, and soon found themselves two down in the 20th minute when Etheridge scored his second following good work by Byrne.
Players struggled to play any quality football in the wet conditions but Pegasus was able to go further ahead when Jason Rand was able to back heel Shane Tagliaferro’s wide shot into the net in the 41st minute.
At half-time Pegasus was in control and 3-0 ahead.
The second half was much the same as the first, with the slippery conditions not allowing quality football.
In the 58th minute Mornington’s Danny Black was fortunate to stay on the pitch, when he fouled Etheridge in the area.
The referee booked Black and awarded Pegasus a penalty, which Etheridge scored for his hat-trick.
Pegsus added its last goal to the scoreline in the 80th minute following a free kick, when Adam Ahmadzai scored with his first touch.
Morwell travels to Noble Park this weekend.
