SOCCER
LVSL
By TOM HAYES and JOE AUCIELLO
THE Latrobe Valley Soccer League returned at the weekend, with four games going ahead to kick-off the season.
With a new season comes new opportunities, and teams were on show with hopes of writing a new story for their club.
Moe 1 drew with Olympians 1
MOE United was held by Traralgon Olympians at home, 1-all.
Olympians were predicted to cause a stir in 2025, with a sweep of new players reinvigorating the squad.
After finishing behind Moe last season, a draw is not a bad result. They will get another chance at them later in the year to assess how much they’ve improved.
Moe, too, might not be entirely happy with the result, especially dropping points at home.
Nonetheless, both sides are on the board, and should find success against the lower teams.
East Gippsland 1 def by Sale 3
SALE United got their season started on the right track, with a 3-1 win over East Gippsland United.
This was a must-win for Sale, who will most likely be battling Newborough/Yallourn United and Churchill United in the middle of the table.
An important three points should go quite the distance for the eastern side.
Newborough/Yallourn United 0 drew with Monash 0
NEWBOROUGH/Yallourn United drew nil-all with Monash, perhaps a disappointing result for both teams, being unable to score.
Falcons 3 def Traralgon City 0
AFTER a two-year hiatus from the Latrobe Valley Soccer League’s top division, there could be no more daunting task for Traralgon City than travelling to play reigning league champion Falcons 2000 on their home turf.
With the scuttlebutt and innuendo that normally accompanies the local football scene, the home side was ready to defend their crown on a warm Saturday evening, that saw a larger than expected crowd in attendance.
Falcons began the season on a positive note, winning 3-nil.
New Falcons signings Jayden Unmack, Lachlan Frendo, and Lachlan Spiteri were all named in the starting 11, while the travelling Roosters had a largely young side take the pitch.
Falcons were dominant from start to finish, but it did take some time for them to hit their straps as they become accustomed to a new game style under third-year coach Adrian Salvatore.
Chance after chance went begging in the first half, but eventually the home side was rewarded as Jordi Vacca finished at the back post from a deep cross.
Unmack was dominating the middle of the park, while Frendo was starting to warm to the new look strike partnership with experienced striker Jamie Pistrin. It would be that exact combination that brought about the second goal, as Frendo was fouled in the box with Pistrin expertly converting from the spot just before the break.
The second half was much of the same, and if it weren’t for the Birds lack of conviction in front of goal the score would have been far greater.
Nonetheless, the home side got their third and final goal midway through the half when a sumptuous Pistrin strike from outside the box left the City goalkeeper no hope as the ball nestled into the far corner.
One of the more impressive take outs from the game was the fitness edge that Falcons had over their more youthful opponents. Renowned over the years for emphasising game-like conditioning, it was clear to see that season 2025 has been treated no differently in that regard.
CHURCHILL United had the bye. The Rams will start their season against reigning champion, Falcons this Saturday night.
That same night, Sale United will host Moe United, where the visitors would be expected to take the points.
The following day, Traralgon City and Olympians will do battle, as the Olympians search for their first win of the season.
Finally, Monash will take on East Gippsland, while Newborough/Yallourn have the bye for Round 2.
State League 3
FORMER men’s side Fortuna, who have opted to play in State League 5 this season, kick-off their campaign this Saturday (March 22) on the road to Endeavour Hills.
However, last week Fortuna was eliminated from the Dockerty Cup, after getting as far as the third round.
After getting the first round bye, Fortuna were put up against State League 3 side, Middle Park FC, who they beat 3-2, coming back form a 2-nil deficit.
Then the Morwell side drew Chisholm United, a State League 2 team. A first half goal from Chisholm United’s Jamie Mammino was enough to get the State League 2 side over the line.
Fortuna will now pour their focus towards the State League 5, and gaining promotion after a run of performances worthy of higher levels.
