LAURIE WILLIAMS
SOCCER
LVSL
BY LAURIE WILLIAMS
BATTLE OF BRITAIN – FORTUNA V MOE UNITED
IN THE final game of season 2022, silverware was on the line in the form of the prestigious Battle of Britain Cup.
For the uninitiated, the Battle of Britain Cup is contested via a knock-out series of games where teams are drawn randomly at its beginning.
Coincidentally, it was two of the in-form sides of the season that met in this season’s decider, being Moe and Fortuna, who finished the regular season in third and second respectively.
After both missing out on their primary goal of winning the league championship, winning the Battle of Britain Cup could provide some reward for either side and their efforts for season 2022.
Fortuna headed into the decider, hosted at Burrage Reserve in Newborough on Sunday, September 11, as slight favourites after taking down league champion Falcons 2000 in the semi-final a week earlier, while Moe had an easier path to the final as they comfortably accounted for Monash.
And it would be Morwell to draw first blood, as Joel Palermo scored from a 45-degree angle in the seventh minute.
It was a day of tricky conditions, thanks to a nasty wind crossing the ground.
However, the early goal seemed to spark the Red Devils into action and it would be the catalyst for a first-half onslaught that would somewhat dampen the spirits of the travelling Fortuna fanbase.
After a man-of-the-match performance the week before, Alex Bowman would have a day to forget, as an error led to a foul outside his box which was converted by Brendan Ruddell.
Minutes later, a misplaced Bowman pass found its way to a loose Moe player whose shot was parried only for star English striker Connor O’Hanlon to pounce and convert from a tight angle.
In no time Moe was three ahead, as a John Beamer error in goals allowed Moe the simplest
of conversions.
At 3-1 the game was quickly getting away from Fortuna, yet they seemed helpless against a Moe side baying for blood.
For Fortuna it went from bad to worse, as Noah Kane cut in from the left-hand wing to expertly place his shot beyond Beamer to give his side what would seem an unassailable lead with still a half of football to play.
Fortuna, as good sides do, came out full of gusto in the second half and soon pulled one back through the returning Damon Scott.
However it would serve as a mere consolation.
If the day couldn’t get any worse it soon would, as Ollie Spiteri was given his marching orders with a second yellow card to rub salt into the Fortuna wounds on a day that they’d rather forget.
In a dominating display, Oscar Sceney was named man of the match.
The win for Moe sees them lift the Battle of Britain Cup for the first time since 1989 while
Fortuna can take solace from the fact that although season 2022 had them without a trophy, their improved performance on the field may be a sign of things to come for 2023.
However a new season brings about its own set of challenges, so nothing can be taken for granted.
SHOPWELL TROPHY – RESERVES
IN A boil-over, Monash, who only made the Shopwell Trophy Final through Moe fielding an
ineligible player the week before, beat the previously undefeated Fortuna in a penalty shootout.
Tension was high between both sides with neither team scoring when full time was blown.
After extra time the score remained at 0-0 and it was going down to a painful penalty shootout, always a horrible way to decide a match.
Monash won the prolonged shootout finishing 6-5 to take the trophy.
Despite being on the losing side, Harvey Bates from Fortuna was named best afield.
Shopwell Trophy in somewhat bizarre fashion, after getting into the final via a late reprieve. The Wolves then defeated the previously unbeaten Fortuna in a penalty shootout.
NAN BOSMA TROPHY – SECOND DIVISION
AFTER going through the season undefeated Olympians fell at the last hurdle in their bid to
win the Nan Bosma trophy.
Fortuna held strong against pressure from Olympians and it was the Lions who brought home the silverware.
Brandon Bates was the hero for Fortuna, scoring at 85 minutes giving the Olympian’s keeper no chance as the Lions packed up shop in the last five minutes.
The Olympians tried to equalise but to no avail, as Fortuna ran out Cup winners 1-0.
Alex Lovinson from Fortuna 60 was awarded man of the match.
BROWNE HUIZER CUP – SENIOR WOMEN
ON A memorable day for the eastern sides of the competition, Sale came out on top against rivals East Gippsland to the tune of a resounding 6-0 win to give them well deserved silverware in a year they finished second in the league.
Maddi Breakspear won woman-of-the-match honours.
