Sale United Football Club proved to be a formidable opponent in their Latrobe Valley Soccer League match against arch rival, East Gippsland United on Sunday at Geoffrey Baldwin Reserve in Sale.
Sale took control of the game from the start, scoring their first goal three minutes into the match.
Scoring opportunities were few for the Eagles with the Sale defenders blocking most of the Eagles’ attempts to bring the ball forward.
A free kick taken by Eagle’ Jaydon Steele made it past the player wall but went straight to the keeper.
Oscar Bury’s attempt saw the Sale keeper at full stretch on the ground to stop the ball from going through.
There were another two Sale goals before the Eagles made it onto the board after Steele managed to put the ball past the keeper off a classy pass from Piti Sakunpriti.
But Sale were able to score again before half time.
The Eagles continued to persevere in the second half but their performance lacked the rhythm of recent weeks.
Keeper Lui Albornoz was kept busy as Sale continued to attack the nets with the Eagles defence unable to shut down the attack.
Positional changes and substitutions were made by the Eagles to try and shift the momentum but Sale continued to maintain their control of the game.
With the game being played out in the midfield, the Eagles had to work hard to break through but any chances to score were stopped by the Sale keeper.
Sale scored four goals in the second half, the last from penalties for a comprehensive 8-1 victory over the Eagles.
The Eagles reserves put in a strong performance against Sale, bring intensity to the game from the start.
With the wind playing havoc on any high balls, a couple of early corners for Sale went a bit a wayward and the Eagles defence kept the ball away from the nets.
Sale were able to maintain possession as they tried to take control of the game, but the Eagles continued to work to break through the midfield and send the ball forward.
James Alder and Alex Davidson combined well to get the ball up the ground but there was no conversion from the resulting corner kick.
Sale was able to create more opportunities down the other end, but had problems with accuracy and Eagles’ keeper Brendan Dunstan stopped anything that was on target.
The match-up between the two sides was relatively even as the struggle for possession continued in the second half.
Alder was able to work the ball through the midfield to Tyler Van Den Meiracker but his shot went straight to the keeper.
Adam Cheesley went for a long run up the ground from the defence but was cut off by the Sale defenders at the other end.
A corner kick from Sale hit the post and keeper Dunstan caught the rebound before it crossed the line.
Despite the best efforts from both sides, neither were able to break through and the match ended with nil all draw result.
East Gippsland United host Fortuna 60 Soccer Club at home this Sunday.
