LAURIE WILLIAMS and JOHN CARDONA
SOCCER
LVSL
By LAURIE WILLIAMS
ONLY three games were played in the Latrobe Valley Soccer League over the weekend.
Tyers versus Sale was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch at Tyers, while in other matches, Moe United easily overcame Traralgon Olympians, Morwell Pegasus survived a scare against Churchill, while match-of-the-round saw Falcons 2000 take all three points against giant killers Monash.
Falcons def Monash 2-0
AFTER a second successive win against one of the top sides in Pegasus last week, Monash returned home full of confidence, and expectations were such that they had strong belief in obtaining a result against Falcons 2000 when they took to Monash Reserve.
In blustery conditions, the home side seemed in control early, but after the first 10 minutes, Falcons started to gain the ascendency albeit to no avail, as neither side could fashion a clear-cut chance in the first half.
The second half saw the Birds take a further stranglehold on the match, with efforts from Jamie Pistrin, Gianni Salvatore and Toby Capp all thwarted by the home side keeper.
The Wolves however had the opportunity to take the lead, but Falcons keeper Charles Simon pulled off a wonderful one-on-one save to keep the score line goalless.
Soon after, Falcons deservedly took the lead as a foul on the edge of the box on Nonda Lazaris was put away by Pistrin to give his side a valuable advantage.
The home side continued to push but they were met with a resolute Falcons defensive unit.
With five minutes to go, a Jim Mills header sealed the contest, which saw Falcons move back to top position, albeit by playing one game more than both Fortuna and Moe.
Pegasus def Churchill 7-3
PEGASUS had a big fright on their hands against a tenacious Churchill.
Although the scores indicated an easy win, it was far from the truth as Churchill contested hard all day, not giving much away to their more fancied opponents.
After eight minutes of end-to-end soccer, Pegasus gained the first break with the opening goal, but within four minutes the Rams equalised.
It was goal-for-goal as Pegasus hit the front again on the half hour mark, but the Rams didn’t want to give in and equalised at 35 minutes.
Pegasus however broke the deadlock three minutes before halftime, in what had been an entertaining and competitive half.
It was tough going in the second half, with Churchill playing a brand of soccer that would raise the question as to why this hadn’t occurred earlier in the season.
The Flying Horsemen twice increased their advantage to make it 5-2, but Churchill weren’t ready to throw in the towel just yet, and replied only a few minutes later to take the match to a 5-3 score line.
Things were looking grim for the Horsemen as Churchill piled on the pressure, but in a purple patch, Pegasus got away and scored two quick goals over the next 10 minutes and it was game over for the valiant Rams.
The 7-3 result was Pegasus’s highest score over Churchill since 1987, and it was Churchill’s highest goal tally for the year.
Brandon Scott, in his second match for the Horsemen, scored a brace, as did Germaine Otieno, who now leads the league on 16.
For the Rams, Dean Pyle scored a brace while Kevin Riess chipped in for his first goal for the season.
By JOHN CARDONA
Moe United def Olympians 7-1
MOE United returned to the playing field in the Latrobe Valley Soccer League after a two-week break at the weekend. The Red Devils were emphatic victors over Traralgon Olympians on Sunday, winning 7-1 away from home.
Moe United went straight onto the offensive from the outset, and took only five minutes to break open the Traralgon defence. Talisman Connor O’Hanlon made an excellent run up the right flank, and easily beat the Olympians defender, and sent a low cross onto his fellow striker Riley Winkleman, who converted the chance with a first time shot from close range.
Minutes later, Winkleman had his second goal after he seized upon a fumble by Olympians keeper Roy Matthews, to put Moe United 2-0 up after a well-hit shot from Chad Shelley.
Moe United goalkeeper Peter Albanese was soon brought into play when he made a super reflex save from a shot by Olympian’s Dunstall from close range.
For the next 20-odd minutes, Olympians’ defence withstood a constant wave of attacks, with Matthews pulling in some great saves.
After 35 minutes, Moe United’s pressure finally paid off when Winkleman send a pinpoint pass to O’Hanlon who gave the keeper no chance.
The Red Devils went into the break up 3-nil.
Shortly after resumption of play, O’Hanlon wasted a superb opportunity to put Moe 4-0 up, when after shrugging off a defender’s challenge, he sent his shot wide of the target.
Midway through the second half, a run by Tanner Pyle saw him unleash a powerful low drive, giving Matthews no chance from 25 metres out.
Minutes later, Moe was 5-0 up when a clever through ball from Campbell Dastey found O’Hanlon.
Virtually straight from the kick-off, Moe United’s defence was caught napping, after a quick through ball found Jayden Steele converted the one-on-one against Albanese.
Winkleman had a hat-trick shortly after, seizing upon a mistimed clearance to make the score 6-1 United’s way.
Dastey finished off an impressive Moe display, scoring the side’s seventh goal.
Best for Moe was Winkleman, Oscar Sceney, Pyle and Chad Shelley.
By LAURIE WILLIAMS
MATCH of the round sees Morwell Pegasus travel to Burrage to try and keep pace with those around them on the ladder.
This will be the first night game held at Burrage Reserve with newly installed lights.
It is tipped to a tough encounter, with both teams making determined bids to get higher up the table.
FORTUNA v TYERS LIGHTNING
FORTUNA, after their break, will come back to try and regain top position, which they lost courtesy of a bye at the weekend.
Fortuna will hope to emulate their last performance against Tyers, which resulted in a huge 9-0 win.
The Lightning surprised Falcons a fortnight ago, a repeat of that effort will make it hard for Fortuna to score freely against a determined Tyers team.
SALE v MONASH
AFTER a resolute, albeit fruitless performance against Falcons last weekend, Monash will look to get back on the winners list against Sale.
With plenty of games left in the season, Monash can well and truly shake up the establishment at the top half of the table.
CHURCHILL v FALCONS
TOP plays bottom on Sunday as Falcons look to continue their recent winning form.
In a performance that was representative of the high standards of season 2022, the boys in blue from Morwell will be looking to maintain that level of intensity this weekend.
MOE and Olympians have the bye.
