SOCCER

LVSL

By TOM HAYES and JOHN CARDONA

 

OLYMPIANS extended their lead at the top of the Latrobe Valley Soccer League at the weekend after dispatching the reigning champions, while a Moe thrashing boosted them up the ladder in Round 4 action.

 

Senior Men’s

Falcons 0 def by Olympians 2

FANS were treated to an early top-of-the-table clash between Falcons and Olympians on Saturday night.

Olympians proved they will be right among the contenders, winning 2-nil away from home.

The visitors grabbed an early lead after defender Alradi Ali converted from close range. The home side started to work themselves into the contest, but found it hard to break down a resolute Olympians defence that was led by Man of the Match Ali.

The first half came to a close with no further score added.

Falcons went into the game without five regular senior starting players, and to make matters worse, Jayden Unmack and Jamie Pistrin came off injured in the second half.

To the home side’s credit, they continued to battle away admirably, but ultimately Olympians sealed all three points after another well-worked team goal.

 

Moe 11 def East Gippsland 0

MOE United welcomed back big key striker, Connor O’Hanlon in Round 4 of the Latrobe Valley Soccer League.

O’Hanlon helped the Red Devils to a complete domination of a young East Gippsland United, running out 11-nil winners.

A blistering first half saw the Red Devils slam home seven first half goals at Olympic Park, with Tully Anderson and Riley Winkleman playing the wide attacking positions, creating plenty of opportunities for central strikers Luke Bathgate and O’Hanlon.

At the halftime break, Moe United coach Lee Dastey spoke of the need to continue to play attacking football, but to also keep a clean sheet.

The East Gippsland side tightened up their defending and fought bravely to stop another avalanche of goals, and restricted the home side to keep the scoring down to only four goals in the second half.

O’Hanlon kicked three and Bathgate two, while singles went to Winkleman, Anderson, Matt Shearing, Brendan Ruddell, Harley Robinson and Lachie McKenzie.

Best was Bailey Sommerville, Winkleman and O’Hanlon.

 

Monash 3 def Churchill 0

Monash claimed their second win of the season in a 3-nil win over Churchill, and remain as one of three sides yet to be defeated, alongside Olympians and Moe.

Churchill, travelling to Monash Reserve, would’ve entered the match with some sort of confidence, following their 5-2 win over Traralgon City, which started their season last week.

But the much-improved Wolves outfit was out to show why they deserved to be up with the best.

A strike from Marcus Krznaric put the hosts ahead just after the half hour mark, as Monash led one-nil ahead going into halftime.

Carefully holding onto their advantage in the second half, the three points were all but secured in a matter of minutes as the clock ticked past the hour mark.

Connor Evans doubled the lead in the 62nd minute, and two minutes later it was 3-nil, when Ryan McCluskey put a third in the back of the net.

The win puts Monash in third, behind Moe on goal difference, and one point ahead of Falcons in fourth.

 

Newborough-Yallourn 1 drew with Traralgon City 1

TRARALGON City were agonisingly close to their first win after returning to the top flight of the LVSL, drawing 1-all with Newborough/Yallourn at Burrage Reserve.

City, the visitors were first to strike and claimed the lead through Ethan Hanlon in the 25th minute.

Thus, Newborough-Yallourn found themselves down at home, and going into halftime 1-nil down, a real talking to was needed.

A nervy second half ensued for City, as they hoped to hold onto their slender lead. But the longer the game went on, the longer the pressure began to mount.

Finally, for the home side, they had broken through and found a late equaliser through Mark Fairbrother in the 82nd minute.

The points were shared between the two, as Traralgon City crept off the bottom of the league with its first point of the season.

 

SALE United had the bye.

 

Senior Women’s

IN the women’s senior division, Churchill climbed to the top of the league after their 2-nil win over Monash.

Second half goals to Holly McCullagh and Breeanna Morse were enough to reward the Rams with the all-important three points, who are now two points clear on the top of the league.

Olympians clinched their first points of the season after defeating Falcons 1-nil.

Natasha Stephenson struck for Olympians just before halftime, as the visitors held on to jump off the bottom of the ladder.

Moe and Tyers could not be separated kicking one goal each and sharing the points, as did Newborough-Yallourn and Traralgon City, who were tied nil-all in Newborough.

Despite dropping points, Moe stay close to the top in third. Sale are a game behind following the bye and remain in third.

Tyers, Newborough-Yallourn, Traralgon City, and Falcons occupy fourth to seventh on the ladder, all separated by goal difference on four points each.

Olympians climbed off the bottom of the ladder after their win, leaving Monash as the only winless side in the division.