MORWELL Pegasus will vie for bragging rights as best regional soccer club in Victoria when the Regional Challenge Trophy final kicks off at Lakeside Stadium on Sunday.
Having qualified for the final as one of the top two placing regional sides in the State Knockout Cup, Morwell coach Stan Webster said winning the title from reigning champion Cobram Victory would be near the pinnacle of Pegasus’ history.
“Being the top regional club in Victoria, if we can win that it’s a huge boost for the Gippsland region,” Webster said.
“It gives the players a bit of a boost and also they’re committed because its the highest level Morwell Pegasus has ever played.”
Morwell is also battling for promotion in State League Division Two south/east, and will have to back up from what promises to be a fierce encounter with high flying Langwarrin on Saturday.
“It’s going to be a tough ask,” Webster said.
“We’ll have to make personnel changes for Sunday to freshen things up; the whole squad will be used.”
After entering the State Knockout Cup in the fourth round of competition, Morwell stunned Premier League side Northcote City away 1-0 in the zone semi-finals and advanced to the sixth round after provisional league side Old Camberwell Grammarians forfeited the zone final.
Pegasus was eventually ejected from the tournament in round seven by Pascoe Vale (3-0), but the exposure to top flight competition has been of immeasurable benefit to the Gippsland side.
“It was good to play a competition outside of our normal week games and it was a bit of a challenge for the players to play against tougher opposition from higher leagues,” Webster said.
“It was much higher intensity for sure; those sides are training three or four times a week”
With regional glory and state league promotion beckoning, Webster labelled this season as one of the club’s finest.
“It’s probably the best season Morwell Pegasus has had in a long career,” he said.
“From being a regional team playing in the local Gippsland league to where we’re at now I think it’s a great achievement for the people who run the club.”
The Pegasus versus Victory match will act as curtain raiser to the State Knockout Cup Final between Port Melbourne and Dandenong Thunder.
Kick off is at 2.30pm with the main game at 5pm.
