Matches against Sale United have always been a challenge for East Gippsland United, so a Latrobe valley Soccer League game under lights at Geoffrey Baldwin Reserve in Sale last Saturday night was never going to be easy.
But on this occasion the Eagles senior men rose to the challenge and almost caused an upset.
Sale went on the attack from the start, making sure the Eagles’ goal keeper Adam Reidy was kept busy.
Sale was able to control possession and keep the ball in its attacking half, but the Eagles weren’t letting Sale have it all their own way, working the ball up the ground but unsuccessful in its scoring opportunities.
Josh Calle shot one through from outside the box but the Sale keeper managed to get his fingers to it and send it clear.
The game was 25 minutes old before the first goal was scored by Sale.
The Eagles continued to work hard to get the ball forward but the Sale defenders blocked all attempts to get it through.
The Eagles lifted their intensity in the second half and were able to get the ball forward more consistently.
Tom Forster, Brandon Ginty, Lachlan Feather and Calle all had chances but the Sale keeper was able to stop all attempts getting into the net.
At the other end Pat Whelan and Alex Padula combined well in defence and provided the necessary support for Reidy to block Sale’s advances.
With only two minutes left in the game, with the Eagles peppering the goals, Sale was able to get the ball forward, scoring its second goal to seal the win over the Eagles.
Unfortunately the reserves match ended up a one-sided affair against the ladder leaders, who have plenty of depth throughout their senior list.
The game started with both teams having time with the ball, but Sale soon took control scoring its first goal just 15 minutes into the first half.
From there Sale was able to keep the ball in its half, making the Eagle defenders work overtime.
The midfield did its best to get the ball forward, only for the Sale defence to force the turnover. There were some chances but they were denied.
Will Sutherland performed well, bringing the ball down the wing and crossing it into the box but Sean Mamo sent it wide.
Oscar Bury brought the ball all way down the ground only to be blocked by the Sale defence as he tried to take his shot.
As the first half drew to a close, Sale was able to add two more goals to its tally.
The second half started with an own goal from Sale to put the Eagles on the board, lifting morale but other opportunities with unsuccessful.
Sale scored its fourth goal at 58 minutes and as the game continued, the Eagles struggled to get the ball past the half way mark.
Lack of communication led to bad passes and consistent turnovers, as goal number five for Sale came at 67 minutes and from there the Eagles couldn’t find a way to stop the onslaught.
Sale scored five more goals for the half for a convincing 10-1 victory.
The under 16 Gold match against Sale Green at Baldwin Reserve began with Sale dominating, taking a shot at goal in the first minute and keeping play mostly in its forward area for the initial five minutes.
The Eagles defenders effectively cleared the ball from Sale’s forward area in a highly physical contest, with players jostling hard for the ball.
At the 12th minute Rustan Bazley skilfully manoeuvred the ball through the midfield and passed it to Jordyn Mamo, who successfully scored the first goal of the match.
As the second half started the Eagles were determined to maintain their advantage.
Spencer Bastian exhibited strong defensive skills, engaging in a one-on-one duel and successfully marking his opponent.
At the 63rd minute Jay Sutherland delivered an excellent pass from the wing to Reagan Nash who scored.
The Eagles maintained control and effectively managed Sale for the remainder of the game, ending the game with a 2-0 victory.
The under 16 Blue team started its game against the Sale Swanettes with an impressive offensive display, quickly moving the ball through the midfield to Seth Giuffrida-Love, enabling him to score in the first minute.
Sale responded swiftly with a counterattack, but the Eagles’ defence held firm, successfully blocking each attempt.
With additional goals from Harrison Dingwall and Giuffrida-Love, the Eagles established a solid lead.
However, Sale managed to break through with a well-executed counterattack, resulting in a stunning high kick into the net to put it on the scoreboard.
The Eagles finished the first half with a strong effort on goal by Jaxon Anderson, who was ruled offside, while Robbie Christie’s powerful torpedo kick narrowly missed, striking the post instead.
Sale entered the second half with fierce determination, launching numerous shots on goal.
However, the Eagles’ defence led by Kobi Overy proved impenetrable, consistently sending the ball back to the midfield allowing it to extend its lead.
In the final moments of the match, Ben Bodsworth scored solidifying an impressive 11-1 victory for the Eagles.
The under 13s went down to Sale Green 3-1 at Baldwin Reserve, with Hugh Miller the goal scorer for the Eagles.
In this week’s matches the senior sides will host Monash on Sunday at the West Bairnsdale Oval, while on Saturday the under 16 Gold side will host Churchill United at West Bairnsdale Oval and the under 16 Blue side head down the valley, tackling another Churchill United team at the Hazelwood South Reserve. In the under 13s they welcome Churchill United to Howitt Park.
