SOCCER
LVSL
By JOHN CARDONA
THIS Sunday sees the start of cup matches for all teams in the Latrobe Valley Soccer League.
Unfortunately due to the lack of communication from Football Victoria, venues are not available at time of print.
All three games are however predicted to be closely fought affairs in Round 1 senior men’s action playing for the Battle of Britain Cup.
Newborough Yallourn United and Traralgon City played in a playoff game last Sunday at Harold Preston No 1, won by the Comine 1-nil.
The Combine, with the slight advantage of the wind in the first half, controlled the early stages as the Roosters defended with numbers and then aimed to transition quickly and score on the break.
NYU had the better of the first half but couldn’t find the back of the net, leaving the scores locked at nil-all at the break.
The second half started with NYU changing the formation to try to get an early goal, but with Traralgon City now having the breeze, looked a lot more threatening.
The second half was a lot more even, with both sides attacking and looking for the win.
NYU got the first goal, only for the goal to be disallowed after the referee and linesman got together and decided there was an infringement on the goalkeeper in the box.
The game looked like it was heading towards extra time until Combine midfielder Adam Batt received the ball and sent Tristan Donohue clean through in the 89th minute to be one-on-one with the keeper.
Donohue then hit a low punching shot that beat the keeper at the near post and gave NYU the goal they were desperately after.
NYU then held on and defended grimly for the remaining few minutes.
Best for the winners last Sunday were Batt,
Steve Birrell, Ash Birrell and Tristan Donohue.
The win now sees NYU progress through to the quarter final match against Monash, in what should be a great game.
The two teams have met twice this year in the league season, both ending in hard fought draws.
There will be no draws in all cup games this weekend, with the eventual winner progressing and advancing to the semi-final.
NYU won the senior women’s playoff in the Brown Huizer Cup.
The Combine was too strong for Falcons, winning 4-2.
Falcons scored early, but the NYU women were soon got back on level terms when Shayla Vella took her opportunity.
The combine gradually got on top in play and were rewarded with another goal from Vella to give them a 2-1 lead.
Falcons never shirked the issue, and were soon back level, sending the game into extra time.
NYU looked the way better side in the extra time play and ran away with the game, scoring twice during the extended period.
The outstanding player of the match for the winning side was Vella, who managed to score all four of the goals.
Another to play well was Indee Ryan, who now progresses to a quarter final match against Tyers United.
IN the reserves, Shopwell Trophy, Traralgon City defeated NYU 2-1.
Again, it was another evenly contested game, with Traralgon City taking the lead midway through the first half before Damian Gilbert scored just before halftime to level the scores.
The second half saw both sides having some great opportunities to break the deadlock, but eventually it was Traralgon City who got the decisive winning goal.
NYU made some late changes to try to send the game into extra time, but couldn’t find the goal they needed.
Best for the Combine was Tim Shaw, Steve Geisler, Gilbert and Jake Vella.
With that win, Traralgon City will now face up to East Gippsland in the quarter final.
A RUNDOWN on all Battle of Britain quarter finals matches are as follows:
The top two outstanding sides of 2025 in league champions, Moe United play league runner-up Traralgon Olympians.
During the season, Moe United and Olympians drew 1-all at Olympia Park, Moe, after the visitors grabbed the equaliser at the death from the penalty spot. In the second round match, Olympians accounted for Moe United 4-1.
Moe United was in top form after that however, winning a come-from-behind league championship, sealing the title with a 4-nil win over Monash, and should go into the match full of confidence before the two week break.
Both sides should be at near full strength, so it should see a thrilling cup match.
Olympians on the other hand will be desperate to atone for what most people say was a championship they threw away.
In other matches, Churchill United will be keen to continue their late season good form with a win over East Gippsland.
In a derby cup tie match, Monash are drawn up against neighbours NYU.
Can the Combine cause the cup upset result in this match?
In the other big battle, third-placed Falcons are up against fourth-placed Sale United.
Both league matches saw very closely fought encounters, with the first match ending in a 1-all draw, and the last round match seeing Falcons winning 3-2 in an exciting game.
THE woman’s Brown/Huizer Cup quarter finals sees NYU face up to Tyers.
Olympians are drawn to play Monash, and in what possibly should have been the cup final, dominate league champions for the past three years, Sale United face up to the only side to give them a taste of defeat this season in Churchill United, which should be a thrilling encounter.
In the same half of the draw, with the top two sides in Moe United, who’s only two losses were against Sale United, the Red Devils will front up to Traralgon City.
On form, Moe United should win this match with a few players returning from their postponed match, which saw the Red Devils win 2-1.
IN the reserves Shopwell Trophy, Moe United plays Falcons.
This should be another closely fought match, with games between these two sides often throwing up some interesting results.
Moe United will still be hurting badly after throwing away their first reserves league champions title since 1998, in an upset 1-nil loss to neighbours Monash after needing only a draw to win the league title.
The Red Devils will therefore be desperate to win at least the Shopwell Trophy, having led the league table for most of 2025.
In other cup tie matches, Churchill United meet Monash, while league champions Sale United face up against Olympians, which should see the strong Sale United side progress to thee semi-final.
Rounding off the fixture, Traralgon City meets East Gippsland United.
THIRD Division players will play for the Nan Bosma Cup.
Quarter final matches see Falcons up against Monash.
Tyers United play defending 2024 Nan Bosma Cup winners, Moe United, who found their form late in the season to climb from fifth position on the league table to end the season third.
Fortuna face the tough task of trying to beat this year’s 3rd Division league champions in Olympians.
In the final match of the Nan Bosma Cup quarter final matches, Sale United are drawn up against 3rd Division runner-up, Churchill United.
Supporters wishing to know venues are encouraged to get in touch with someone from clubs closer to the weekend.
