Laurie Williams
FALCONS led Sale United throughout, defeating the Swans 3-0 on the opening night of the Latrobe Valley Soccer League season.
Despite the score line, Falcons had to work hard against a determined Sale on its home ground.
Conditions after heavy rain were muddy and slippery, but Falcons adapted better and in the 26th minute got on the board with a goal to Jamie Pistrin.
Sale held out until the interval as conditions worsened.
After the break, Falcons controlled the play and Pistrin scored his second goal six minutes after the resumption.
Sale looked like getting a breakthrough, but Falcons was defending well, limiting the Swans to long range bombs.
Falcons ensured victory and top spot on the ladder with its third goal in the 74th minutes through Ryan McAuley.
The Sale United reserves opened their season with a 3-1 win – a brace by Kieran Horgan and a goal from Hamish Wain ensured the Swans of victory. Because of a shortage of players a couple of Falcons players had to double up.
ALSO on Saturday night, wet and slippery conditions didn’t deter Moe United, which defeated Traralgon City 2-0.
Moe’s first goal came in the 14th minute, when Matt Shearing beat the Roosters’ keeper in a one-on-one situation. Moe doubled its lead 20 minutes later when an error by a Traralgon defender saw an own goal.
Veteran Moe keeper Peter Albanese pulled off some good saves to frustrate the City side. Ty Georgiou and Jake Huesmann were also good for Moe as the Red Devils showed they may be a force this season.
MONASH caused the biggest upset when it downed 2019 premier Olympians 2-0 on Saturday night.
After end-to-end work, Monash finally got the breakthrough at 19 minutes after Kyle Jennings wrong-footed an Olympians defender to volley the opening goal.
Olympians was reduced to 10 men in the 74th minute after a red card was shown. Monash used the advantage when Jennings brought up his brace with a long shot.
A GOAL in the final minute gave Pegasus a 2-1 victory over Newborough-Yallourn on Sunday.
NYU opened the scoring 10 minutes in through Mark Fairbrother, but the 2019 champion struggled as Pegasus fought hard to get back into the match.
The Horsemen were rewarded when Kunda Abass scored the equaliser five minutes before half-time.
There were few scoring chances in the second half, but Pegasus got the break on 90 minutes when Abass scored his second.
FORTUNA was held to a 2-2 draw by East Gippsland United.
While Fortuna is blooding new strikers Jesse Kennedy and Hayden Tanti, it was East Gippsland who scored first through Brandon Ginty.
Fortuna replied a minute later when Damon Scott scored.
Tanti, showing good skills, grabbed the lead for Fortuna when he scored on 27 minutes.
Good work from Matthew Desio and Tom Forster gave Andrew Chapman the chance for East Gippsland to equalise on the half-hour.
Both keepers pulled off good saves to maintain the 2-2 score line to half-time.
Neither team scored in the second half, but there were good chances by both teams.
Fortuna went forward three times without luck, thwarted by the Eagles keeper Connor McAuliffe.
East Gippsland also had shots in the final few minutes, but Fortuna keeper John Beamer held his nerve.
SALE United will head to Churchill this Sunday to play the Rams in round two.
After a bye in round one, new but experienced coach Adrian Huizer expects the Rams to be strong this season.
Churchill has good history over Sale but will still need to be wary of the Swans, who put up a brave effort against Falcons last week.
City will host Olympians in a Traralgon derby, with both teams coming off shock round one losses.
After its good effort last weekend against Fortuna, East Gippsland will make its second trip west on Sunday, this time to Monash, which will be still buzzing after beating Olympians.
In a Morwell derby, Fortuna will have a battle on its hands against an improved Pegasus, which defeated NYU.
Falcons will host Newborough-Yallourn on Saturday night, while Moe will have the bye.
