It was a weekend of matches against Morwell based team, Falcons 2000 Soccer Club, with four matches across two levels for the East Gippsland United Football Club in the Latrobe Valley Soccer League. (LVSL)
The men’s teams played host at West Bairnsdale Oval last Sunday and the senior game started with plenty of frantic play from both sides as they battled for control of the ball.
As the players settled into their playing rhythm, the teams were evenly matched.
With the ball flowing between the two halves, both sides had opportunities to score but were unable to convert, keeping both keepers on their toes.
The Falcons hit the cross bar and Oscar Bury was able to clear the rebound.
Josh Calle had a strong shot at the nets but the Falcons keeper just got his fingers to it to send it clear.
Piti Sakunpriti consistently forced the turnover to send the ball forward, while the Eagles worked on maintaining possession as they tried to work the ball down the pitch.
The Falcons were slowly gaining control with more time on the ball as the half drew to a close, but the Eagles were able to keep the scorecard clean as they went to the break.
Returning from the break, the Falcons broke the deadlock scoring from the kickoff
after keeper Adam Reidy came out to clock the ball and the Falcons’ attack was able to slip it past him.
Five minutes later Tom Forster scored with a header off a corner kick taken by Calle.
The Falcons followed this up with two successive goals within 10 minutes.
The intensity lifted and tempers were high as the teams battled for possession.
Brandon Ginty scored the Eagles’ second goal off a rebound from the keeper’s save.
Lachlan Feather had a great run down the wing to cross the ball to Calle in front, only for the keeper to save it. Shortly after Forster’s shot also went straight to the keeper.
The Falcons scored their fourth goal at 75 minutes and Kyal Hood followed it up with a goal for the Eagles five minutes later.
With the clock ticking, the Eagles did their best to level the score but the Falcons defence kept everything clear of the net to ensure they finished with a 4-3 win.
The reserves games started with an Eagles goal just seven minutes in, a scramble in front of the nets after a corner kick seeing Will Sutherland poke the ball in.
The rest of the first half saw both teams having plenty of time on the ball, the Eagles able to create more opportunities but plagued by inaccuracy.
The Falcons’ attackers did their best but were blocked by the Eagles’ defence.
There was a lift in intensity in the second half, a quick goal to the Falcons wasn’t allowed when the player was deemed offside.
But a lapse in concentration for the Eagles’ defence saw the ball shoot past keeper Brendan Dunstan shortly after.
Using the momentum, the Falcons slowly gained control of the ball, keeping it in their forward half.
But Dunstan made some good saves to ensure the Falcons didn’t add to their tally.
The Eagles did their best to wrestle back control but the Falcons’ defence blocked all attempts at scoring, until at 77 minutes Sutherland was to able to score the Eagles’ second goal, once again from a corner kick.
With the momentum swinging back with the Eagles, further scoring opportunities followed but the Falcons’ keeper was able to keep the ball clear of the nets.
The final whistle saw the Eagles finish with a 2-1 victory.
The under 16 Gold Eagles travelled to Morwell last Saturday to take on the Falcons 2000 in what was a tight match.
The Eagles had several attempts on goal in the first half, however the Falcons’ keeper effectively stopped their efforts.
The Falcons scored their first goal at the 20-minute mark following an error made by the Eagles during play.
At the 30-minute mark Jordyn Mamo engaged his opponent, leading both players to ground with Mamo sustaining a broken arm from altercation.
Shortly after Leo Kantzides, Jesse Williams and Lucas McDonald attempted strikes at goal but the Eagles remained scoreless.
Play resumed in the second half but
the Eagles couldn’t prevent a goal, Dion Strydis working hard using his body to block three attempts.
The Falcons scored early in the second half, increasing their lead to 2-0. Despite creating opportunities, the Eagles failed to convert until 71 minutes in, Williams scoring a goal by outrunning his opponents.
The team continued to make several attempts to score again but were unsuccessful with the Falcons taking the win 2-1.
Also on Saturday the under 16 Blue
Eagles welcomed the Falcons to the West Bairnsdale Oval.
The Eagles understood they would need to exert considerable effort this week, as they had no substitutes available.
With both teams fiercely competing it felt like a lengthy four minutes before Seth Giuffrida-Love managed to make a run for the ball and successfully get it past the Falcons’ keeper.
After several unsuccessful attempts at scoring, it was Eagles’ captain Jett McLeod who managed to add a second goal to the scoreboard thanks to a strong assist from Jacob McKay.
The Falcons’ midfield ensured the Eagles faced a tough challenge, contesting all
their attacks.
In the second half Eagles’ keeper Rahsa Long transitioned into the midfield, his speed and determination for the ball invigorating his team with fresh energy.
Long found the back of the net early on, followed by an exciting run by Griffin Glover, whose confidence has been on the rise in recent weeks, allowing him to score his first goal of the season.
Kobi Overy was solid in defence throughout the match, thwarting any attacks made by the opposition.
A powerful kick from Harrison Dingwall soared over the Falcons’ goalkeeper’s head and into the net, as the goals kept coming.
After overcoming some tough tackles in the midfield, Robbie Christie was able to sprint down the wing and deliver a precise cross to Long, who netted another goal for the Eagles.
Shortly after some errors from the Eagles’ defence permitted the Falcons to capitalise and score some goals.
Though the Eagles were victorious with an 8-3 win, the final score did not accurately reflect the quality of play exhibited by the Falcons.
The under 13 Eagles managed a 2-1 win over Sale United in Sale.
There are no LVSL senior league matches this week with the Eagles’ next match on July 12 against Traralgon City at Harold Preston Reserve in Traralgon.
In the under 16 competition this Saturday the Gold side will host Sale Green at the West Bairnsdale Oval, while the Blue team will play the Sale Swanettes at Geoffrey Baldwin Reserve in Sale.
The Eagles under 13 side will host Traralgon City Purple at Howitt Park, also on Saturday.
