SOCCER
LVSL
By LIAM DURKIN
THE player’s tunnel at Falcons Park will need an extension at this rate.
With the race at the Morwell venue denoting achievements from Falcons 2000 Soccer Club over the years, the newest addition might just catch the eye of some before running out onto the pitch:
‘Latrobe Valley Soccer League Senior League Champions 2024’.
‘Five in eight years’.
Falcons made the coveted league championship official after beating Moe United 2-nil last week.
The match was played as a standalone fixture on Thursday, owing to a reschedule.
Originally, Falcons were to play Moe a fortnight ago, before rain of monsoon-like proportions left the Falcons Park ground unplayable.
In the days following, Falcons beat a spirited Newborough/Yallourn outfit 5-2 in Round 18 (the last home-and-away round of the season).
Title holders and challengers Fortuna remained in the championship race right up until last Thursday.
Fortuna (on 46 points) needed Falcons (on 44) to lose to make it back-to-back leagues, and keep the LVSL trophy on the ‘other’ side of Crinigan Road.
Falcons, spurred on from the disappointment of seeing Fortuna win the league just 12 months ago on the last day of the season at their expense, were fiercely determined to avoid a similar outcome.
Fortuna players made up a very healthy crowd for a Thursday night, who were treated to a strong exhibition of local soccer.
Most watching on would have been unaware Moe United was no chance themselves of winning the league title, such was their intent.
The Red Devils were destined to finish the season in third position on the ladder regardless of the result.
Despite being out of the title race from a mathematical standpoint, Moe United was not prepared to simply gift Falcons the silverware. Falcons coaches reportedly made mention of this in the rooms before the match.
The Red Devils, much to their credit, not only gave up their Thursday night to play the makeup game, but played their strongest possible team.
Such a move all but dispelled the rumour leading into the game that Moe would throw the match to allow Falcons to win the league instead of the supposedly less-preferred Fortuna.
Moe United was relatively fresh coming off an unacceptable forfeit from Tyers in the ‘last’ round, but were perhaps a little rusty as Falcons put their first goal away after no more than 10 minutes into the first half.
An in-swinging cross cleared to the top of the box, where Tom D’Alia accepted a nice half volley to get the home side on the board.
The goal was met with frustration from both Moe and a selection of Fortuna players, who got up and left the venue.
With one hand on the championship, Falcons had some weight off their shoulders.
The goal seemed to rattle Moe’s structure in the immediate aftermath, and it took some choice words from star striker Connor O’Hanlon to get his side back focussed.
Falcons meanwhile continued to play their brand, and had a few good looks around goal and a number of near misses.
D’Alia was tangled up in a tackle from Moe captain Nick Fogarty that resulted in a please explain from the former, although this was the only real moment when tensions threated to escalate.
A 1-nil result looked all but certain either side of halftime, as time continued to tick away.
Falcons appeared content on defending their lead, and played three back to stifle any opposition movement.
At the other end however, they had plenty of pace to work with as well.
This initially sparked early celebrations after Falcons thought they had their second goal, only for a player to be deemed to have infringed.
While that joy might have been short-lived, there was no denying what was to follow, after a goalmouth scramble saw Moni Eliaser deliver the championship for Falcons.
His goal was met with wild celebrations on and off the pitch. Players ran to him in the corner closest to the home interchange, while the Falcons bar was now in full voice.
Falcons kept their defensive structure, knowing they were within touching distance of the trophy.
Moe on the other hand now had no other choice but to attack.
Red Devils coach Lee Dastey rolled the dice with a few substitutions, but it was ultimately to no avail.
As the clock ticked down, Falcons coach Adrian Salvatore was afforded the opportunity to get some of his bench into the game.
In what turned out to be a perfect night for Falcons, the Birds claimed the league championship on their home pitch.
Players and supporters embraced on the pitch, before speeches and the presentation was made.
Falcons’ title was made official by the pop of the champagne bottle.
In an added bonus, Falcons received a huge pennant from Football Victoria, who took over administration of the LVSL this season.
The budget may have been spent on the pennant, as Falcons also received a small premiership trophy to keep permanently, adding to the perpetual LVSL one.
The game did not mean the end for Moe. The Red Devils will now turn their attention to the Battle of Britain, a competition they have won the previous two seasons.
Celebrations continued in the Falcons clubrooms, where the 2024 success was toasted with appropriate hospitality.
With Falcons Soccer Club originally born out of the Morwell Italian Social Club, it was fitting, and equally unsurprising, that food just kept coming and coming out of the kitchen.
When this scribe left around 10pm, he had just finished off a bowl of pasta – and there was still plenty going around (in Italian culture, it is not unusual to eat dinner as late as 10.30pm).
Like all championships and premierships, there was a number of great stories among the playing group, perhaps none more so than Nick D’Allesandro.
The Falcons veteran, nearing the age of 40, was told preseason there was no position for him in the senior team.
Not to be defeated, he played off the bench most of the season and ended up scoring against six out of a possible nine teams.
Falcons never let themselves be defeated during the season, and clawed back on numerous occasions from seemingly hopeless positions.
Falcons were 1-nil down in games against East Gippsland (who finished second-last) and Newborough/Yallourn (eighth).
The most dramatic result came only three weeks ago, when Falcons salvaged a 3-all draw with Olympians following some late drama.
Falcons games record holder and now five-time championship winner, Joe Auciello said the side “escaped from Alcatraz” after that game.
Of all the subplots to emerge, it is remarkable to think Falcons only lost one game for the whole season, yet were never really mentioned as a legitimate threat to winning the league.
With five LVSL titles in eight years now, there will surely never be anyone who writes them off again.
There is no disputing the record books. They will forever say Falcons are 2024 LVSL Champions.
