SOCCER

LVSL

By BLAKE METCALF-HOLT, JOE AUCIELLO and JOHN CARDONA

 

JUST four games remain in the Latrobe Valley Soccer League season.

Round 14 had all types of results: from draws to all-time blowouts, as we look forward to a close finish amongst the top three by the end of the season.

 

Sale 19 def Tyers 0

SALE United were not about to have Tyers secure their first win for the season on their home turf, as Sale United wiped Tyers away 19-nil.

The Sale side found themselves leading 8-nil by the halftime break but weren’t stopping there, keeping their mind-set fixed the entire run of play and performed even better in the second half with 11 goals unanswered.

Three Sale United players booted over four goals including Isaak Jondahl (six goals), Thomas Garner (five goals), and Charlie Cockell (four goals).

They had four others see the back of the net, including Brodyn Taylor, Mitchell Lummis, Miles Lindberg, and Brennen McGill each with one goal.

The massive result gives Sale United their third win for the season bringing them to a win-loss-draw record of 3-7-4 as they jump well ahead of above-placed sides: Newborough-Yallourn, Churchill, and Traralgon Olympians for goals throughout the season with 38, and the best differential of the bottom five sides with a -2 despite sitting third-bottom.

 

Fortuna 6 def Olympians 2

FORTUNA responded after the tight loss to Falcons a week prior, with a 6-2 win over Traralgon Olympians.

The Olympians stuck it to the one of the top sides of the competition only being down 3-2 at halftime with goals from Guguei Malual and Ralph Omutiali.

Fortuna would match their first half scoring load while Traralgon fell back down and didn’t see any further score on their behalf.

Damon Scott booted three goals for Fortuna along with Daniel Cooper and Hayden Tanti.

Fortuna with 11 wins sits pretty at second-position in the middle of Falcons and Moe United, while Traralgon Olympians are in fourth with a win-loss-draw record of 8-4-2 for the season.

 

East Gippsland 1 drew with Newborough/Yallourn 1

EAST Gippsland and Newborough/Yallourn drew, 1-all out at West Bairnsdale.

The result keeps Newborough-Yallourn in at seventh (5-8-1) and East Gippsland second-bottom with a line of 2-11-1 on the year.

 

Monash 1 def by Falcons 4

SUNDAY afternoon saw league leaders, Falcons 2000 travel to Torres Street to take on Monash in a fixture that has often troubled the Morwell-based side in years gone by.

After their victory in the Morwell derby, Falcons were looking to solidify top spot, while for Monash they were simply looking to compete as they had several senior players out due to injury.

The away side were in an unforgiving mood, as they dominated from the get-go with only poor execution preventing them from taking the lead.

The most Monash could muster were a couple of deep free kicks that hardly troubled the experienced Falcons defence.

The dam wall did eventually break as Kuku Mahmoud broke down the left and his cross was bundled into the back of the net by a Monash defender for an own goal.

With virtually the last kick of the half, evergreen midfielder, Nick D’Alessandro made it four goals in three games as he prodded home his side’s second to give them a comfortable lead at the break, 2-nil.

The second half saw much of the same but Falcons were proving wasteful in front of goal.

Two late goals, with one to Will Medd and yet another own goal gave the Birds a four-goal lead, yet Monash to their credit dragged one back late to take something out of the game.

Falcons’ best players for the day were Gab Bocchichio, Tom D’Alia, Kevin Carcellar, and Kuku Mahmoud. While for Monash, centre back Braden Paulet was resolute in his efforts.

Falcons remain three points clear on top of the LVSL with four rounds left to play. In those games they are set to face Sale United, Traralgon Olympians, Moe United, and Newborough-Yallourn United.

Their cushions leave them in a comfortable position, but one slip could bring Fortuna – who do appear to have an easier run home – right back into the mix.

 

Churchill 0 def by Moe 3

MOE United took the journey to the revamped Churchill paddock on Sunday to continue their chase for the league title, which will need a few major upsets for Moe United to succeed.

A whirlwind start by Moe United had Churchill rattled early, as the visitors slammed in two goals within the first eight minutes.

Moe United’s first chance came within three minutes when a short corner saw Bayden Heusmanns’ cross force Churchill goalkeeper Pacey Unmack into pulling off a finger tip save over the crossbar.

Five minutes on, and a pass out wide from Oscar Sceney to Heusmann saw him sprint clear and put in a perfect cross, which was hit first time into the net from 10 metres out by Matthew Shearing.

Moe United doubled their score two minutes later after classy control from midfielder Sceney saw him turn hit an unstoppable drive from 20 metres out, which gave goalkeeper Unmack no chance.

From there, play just ventured from 18-yard box to 18-yard box, with neither side managing to threaten each others goals with Moe United goalkeeper Peter Albanese having an easy day between the posts as Moe United’s back four in Noah Kane, Nick Fogarty, Lachie McKenzie, and Brendan Ruddell cutting out any of the moves from the Churchill forwards and going into the half time break with a 2-nil lead.

After half time it was much of the same and for Churchill Tyrrell, Sands and McHallam were working hard to contain Moe United which they successfully did until the 65th minute, when Moe United were awarded a direct free kick which was taken by Ruddell. His low struck shot was completely misjudged by goalkeeper Unmack, which found its way into the net underneath his body.

Moe United were creating numerous chances and strikes from Connor O’Hanlon, Tully Anderson, Connor Dastey, and Sceney, who all failed to convert their opportunities.
The final score read had Moe United victorious 3-nil.

The best for Moe were Sceney, Heusmann, Fogarty, and Dastey, while the best for Churchill were Tyrrell, Lachlan Huizer, Sands, and McHallam.

 

THERE are no games this weekend in the LVSL, the Round 15 resumes on the weekend of July 13 and 14.