The men’s and women’s teams of Sale United Football Club played in two of the biggest games in the club’s history over the weekend, with the men facing State League One team FC Clifton Hill in Round 3 of the Australia Cup, and the women facing Latrobe Valley Soccer League rivals Fortuna 60 in Round 1 of the Nike FC Cup.
Both Swans’ sides entered the field determined to seal a win, players laying bare their hearts and souls to advance to the next round of their respective knockout cup competition.
Only one Sale team, however, emerged victorious.
Who would have thought Sale United’s men’s team would ever have something in common with English Premier League club Manchester United, even if that something is a 7-0 loss over the weekend?
Despite Sale conceding a particularly high number of goals at the Godfrey Baldwin Reserve on Saturday night, the Swans exerted a fiery tenacity from the first whistle’s blow, a superb showing of unrelenting determination from the defensive line with left and right fullbacks Brennan McGill and Dave Durning continuing to produce stellar performances.
It was always going to be a challenging game for Sale United, stepping up to rivals five tiers above their class.
The Swans held their own in the first half despite the early loss of experienced player Jake Richardson to injury, retiring to the locker room only 2-0 down.
Replacing Richardson, Alan Harris caused a stir among Clifton Hill’s attacking line, his brutish physicality and numerous slide tackles enraging the Melbourne side both on and off the field, so much so that the visiting team’s substitute goalkeeper was red-carded in the second half for abusing the linesman and referee.
The large crowd congregating at the SUFC grounds to witness the fiercely aggressive battle between Sale United and Clifton Hill were certainly kept from being bored as bodies were thrown to the ground, limbs flailing in all directions, yellow cards were handed to both sides as tempers flared, and young Sale keeper, Damon Stephens produced a number of jaw-dropping saves.
While Sale appropriated zero time in their attacking half in the first 45 minutes, with Swan forwards acquiring limited touches on the ball, in the second half the Swans earned themselves a chance to score, their first real opportunity coming off a fantastic cross from Jude Taylor to tall centre forward Josh Deschepper.
Several chances to find the back of the net followed, with Cooper Coleman rocketing a shot towards goal, the ball going wide, and Deschepper struggling to find the net with his head or feet.
As the game reached 60 minutes, Clifton Hill knocked in two quick goals, furthering their lead 4-0.
Sale kept their heads up; the Swans’ defensive line of Mace Irvine, Harris, Durning and McGill and midfielder Coleman indefatigable as they held up terrorising attack from Clifton Hill.
With fresh legs on the park, the Melbourne-based rivals netted three more goals in the remaining 15 minutes, bringing them to a 7-0 victory over Sale United, ending the Swans’ Australia Cup campaign.
Sale United Football Club turned their attention to their women’s side as they travelled to Morwell for Round 1 of the Nike FC Cup, where they faced physical LVSL rivals Fortuna 60.
Sale United knew they would have to bring it all to advance to Round 2 of the Nike FC Cup after being pipped at the post by local opponents for second place on the 2022 ladder, and with Fortuna 60 known for their physical style of play. The 35-degree heat added an extra challenge.
The Swanettes entered the field, droplets of sweat already forming on brows as players took their starting positions.
In the game’s opening minutes, Soreti Anderson, Anouk Meereboer, and Dani Wilson showed glimpses of a goal for Sale but struggled to find the back of the net; the Swanettes’ defensive line denied Fortuna 60 an opportunity for a shot on goal, working hard against their aggressive attackers.
After receiving a fantastic through ball from Meerboer on the halfway line, Sale’s right winger Zoe Askew scored the opening goal in the 14th minute, netting the ball from just outside the 18-yard box.
Fortuna 60 evened the score but not for long; the Swanettes regained their lead before the break; an own goal off a corner kick from Meerboer saw Sale retire to the shade leading 2-1.
Dani Wilson scored Sale United’s third goal, putting the Swanettes up 3-1 25 minutes into the second half.
Fortuna found the back of the net in the final 10 minutes to close Sale’s lead 3-2, but with two minutes remaining, it was a final goal from midfielder Rebecca Stobbie who sealed the Swanettes’ 4-2 victory over Fortuna in the first ever Nike FC Cup match in the club’s history.
The victory at the weekend means Sale United women have advanced to Round 2 of the Nike FC Cup and will play National Premier League 1 side St Albans Saints at home this weekend.
