Laurie Williams
SOCCER
LVSL
Round 21 review
Falcons secured their championship status with a big 6-1 win over Churchill on Saturday afternoon.
Falcons played top soccer and didn’t allow Churchill any chance to score in the first half.
Sam Amaira scored his 15th goal for the season, chipping past Jason Sands, but this was all that Falcons could muster before the break as Churchill applied the pressure forcing many turnovers.
However, after the break Falcons were able to carve up the Churchill defence with Jamie Pistrin scoring at 50 minutes and Tommie D’Alia on the hour.
Sam Amaira and Jamie Pistrin scored braces within a minute of each other at 80 and 81 minutes but Churchill were rewarded when Michael Morse got the better of keeper. Shannon Whadcoat scored his first goal for Falcons to give them a 6-1 victory.
Newborough/Yallourn v Olympians
Playing for second place on the table, NYU were thwarted by a persistent Olympians side who were determined to keep in touch with the leaders.
It was tough on the park with neither team giving up the ball as the match ended in a 0-0 stalemate – the first between the two sides since 2015.
Fortuna v Sale
With two matches to play, Fortuna kept their final’s chance alive with a 4-1 win over Sale.
Fortuna are outside the six by two points and another win in the next two games could earn them a finals berth.
Sale are in sixth and need to win their last match (Monash) to remain in their current position.
Fortuna were on the board with the quickest goal of the season, and within a minute Dylan Cramer smashed one past the keeper and scored another just before half-time to give the Orange Lions a healthy 2-0 lead.
Brandon Scott extended the lead to 3-0 just after the break and Sale looked in trouble, but consistent goal-scorer Josh Ryan scored Sale’s first and only goal.
Fortuna’s Damon Scott finished off the match with a perfect shot to give his side victory.
Traralgon City v Moe
Traralgon City came from behind to grab a vital 2-1 victory over Moe.
The Red Devils took the lead through Nick Dastey at 18 minutes but Traralgon City came out fighting in the second stanza and Jake Budija equalised at 65 minutes.
Budija put the Roosters in the lead five minutes later to grab victory and three important points.
Traralgon City and Moe will meet again in the final of the Battle of Britain Cup on September 28.
Trafalgar v East Gippsland
Trafalgar travelled to Bairnsdale on Sunday but East Gippsland played their best and won only their third match for the season, 2-1.
East Gippsland jumped to a two-goal lead within 18 minutes through David Claridge and Ben Gillard.
Trafalgar’s Nathaniel Parades got on the scorebook with a nice goal at 18 minutes to draw one back but there were too few chances and East Gippsland pulled off an unexpected win.
LV women
Traralgon City still hold top position on the table by four points but Trafalgar are making a determined bid to knock off the Roosters.
The sides will play each other on Sunday to determine who will take out the championship.
Trafalgar had a 4-2 victory over East Gippsland.
Fortuna are safe in third after their 3-0 win over Sale and NYU gave some hope with a 10-0 victory over Olympians while Falcons remain in sixth after defeating Churchill 6-0.
Round 22 preview
With points up for grabs, it looks like Newborough/Yallourn will finish second on the table if they can grab a win over Churchill.
NYU have had trouble beating the Rams and history shows that of the 39 games played NYU have only won five.
This match will be played on Saturday.
Last Time: NYU 5 Churchill 2
Monash v Sale
Monash will host Sale this weekend in an important match for both sides.
Monash have two games to play against potential finalists (Sale and Moe) while this will be Sale’s final chance to keep in the six. Sale won the last meeting and are hopeful of repeating that result.
Last Time: Sale 3 Monash 2
Fortuna v East Gippsland
East Gippsland make their final journey west to meet Fortuna and will be buoyed by their third win of the season last weekend.
Fortuna will treat this game as a must-win to get into the six as they meet Falcons the following week in a catch-up round.
Last time: Fortuna 5 East Gippsland 1
Moe v Falcons
Moe are one of the few teams to beat Falcons this season but Falcons can’t lose the championship.
Moe will be pushing hard for victory to stay in fifth position. Moe went down to Traralgon City last weekend and will need to pick up to give themselves a realistic chance to beat Falcons.
Last Time: Moe 1 Falcons 0
Trafalgar v Traralgon City
Traralgon City, in eighth spot, are only two points out of the six and are a chance to make finals.
City must put away Trafalgar and Sale or Moe need to lose to give the Roosters something to crow about.
Last Time Traralgon City 5 Trafalgar 1.
