Weekend Results and Semi Final Fixture
By The Offsider
GSL Review
Fast finishing Moe just fall short
Fortuna withstood a fast finishing Moe United to win its Battle of Britain Cup quarter final 4-3 on Saturday night.
The Orangemen went into the match without experienced midfielder Owen Kelly but it didn’t seem to stall their engine room with youngsters Hayden Tanti and Kieran Coltman linking up well.
It was Coltman that put Fortuna in front when his powerful drive from outside the box left Moe veteran goal keeper Peter Albanese with no chance.
Fortuna doubled its advantage when Tanti intercepted a Moe pass on the half way line to then run at goal and score with a well placed shot taking a 2-0 lead into the break.
The second half started in the same vein for the Orangemen with Tanti again in the thick of the action as he worked his way past three defenders before passing to Ben Cassar who made it 3-0 within two minutes of the restart.
On the hour Albanese made three fine saves in succession from a rampant Fortuna, but he parried his final effort into the path of Joel Pirotta who finished from close range to put the Orangemen in a seemingly unassailable 4-0 lead.
With twenty minutes to play Moe heaped on the pressure and began to attack at every opportunity in the knowledge that they had nothing to lose.
Under pressure Fortuna defender Josh Tanti attempted to clear the ball and collided with Moe’s Adrian Savage inside the box and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot. Savage stepped up and coolly dispatched the kick to give the Red Devils some hope at 4-1.
Moe lifted another gear and forced another fumble in Fortuna’s defence and the ball fell to the feet of Luke Bathgate who bundled the ball over the line 4-2 as the clock clicked down.
Soon after Moe had a goal disallowed for offside but didn’t let this deter them as they continued to drive into attack. Moe made it 4-3 and three goals in eleven minutes of blistering soccer when Bathgate claimed his brace with a clinical finish.
With the Red Devils driving for an equaliser Fortuna managed to compose itself and wrestle back some of the initiative with end to end attacks in the final minutes; however the score would stay 4-3 as time ran out for the gallant Moe outfit.
Falcons edge out Monash
Falcons progressed to its fourth Battle of Britain Cup semi final in as many years after surviving a Monash comeback to eventually prevail 3-2 after extra time.
The Wolves were missing captain Wally Noppert and were nursing Coen Slaughter and Adrian Iacovou back from injury on the bench.
After a slow start from both sides it was Falcons who broke the shackles when former Monash player Daniel Tawfik tapped in from close range.
Mid way through the first half the Birds made it 2-0 through Sam Amaira and went into the break in a commanding position.
Monash started the second half much better but needed a spark if they were to trouble the Falcons defence. Coach Eamon O’Hare looked to his bench and introduced Slaughter and Iacovou with almost immediate effect.
Three minutes from their introduction striker Daryn Cummings goaled for the Wolves with a sweet drive from 25 yards out into bottom corner of the net.
Monash were up and about and just five minutes later equalised when Cummings chimed in for his second after neat build up work from the newly introduced Slaughter 2-2.
Monash peppered the goal late on with Slaughter having a chance cleared off the line. Soon after Wolves youngster Cam Smith had a long range drive tipped over the bar by the Falcons keeper.
The match was then sent to extra time and it was Falcons who broke the deadlock through coach Mauro de Luca after Monash gave away possession cheaply.
Monash pushed forward in a bid for another equaliser earning a succession of late corners but couldn't grab another goal with the Falcons holding on to win 3-2.
Olympians too good in Traralgon derby
In a fast paced physical game Olympians eventually won thru to the semis with a 4-2 victory over Traralgon City.
Both sides squandered early chances before the Blues went ahead with a great individual goal from Aaron Daniels. City equalised just minutes later after the Olympians keeper fumbled a shot.
A stunning header from Frank Albanese put Olympians back in front 2-1, but once again Traralgon City drew level when reigning Dick Bosma medalist Mark Fairbrother made it 2-2.
At half time the match was in the balance and it wasn’t until mid way through the second half that Olympians regained the ascendancy after Clayton Bell was given too much room in front of goals and unleashed with a bullet into the top left corner 3-2.
When Olympians youngster Michael Fava caused a goalkeeping slip up with a long range shot the result was secured for the Blues 4-2.
Churchill too good for Sale
Churchill United went into its match without captain Jamie Robson and regular starters Tim Dawson and Nathan Osborne, but despite their absence were too good for Sale United 4-0
After a cagey opening Churchill scored fifteen minutes in when Mitchell Jackson’s 20 metre shot took a wicked deflection off a defender to wrong foot Sale keeper Chris Richardson 1-0.
Eight minutes into the second half Churchill doubled its advantage when Richardson allowed a speculative shot from Luke Cheney dribble between his legs after making several fine saves during the match.
The Rams pressed for another goal and when midfielder Nathan Lugton was fouled just inside the box Mark Bianconi stepped up to dispatch the penalty kick and put the game beyond doubt 3-0.
Churchill rounded out the match 4-0 when Stephen Riess controlled a cross and knocked the ball in off the post from 18 yards with a minute of regular time to play.
All the results:
Battle of Britain Cup (Senior Men)
Fortuna 4 df Moe United 3
Churchill United 4 df Sale United 0
Monash 2 lt Falcons 3
Traralgon City 2 lt Traralgon Olympians 4
Youth Cup (U21 Men)
Fortuna 4 df Moe United 3 (penalties)
Churchill United 2 df Newborough/ Yallourn 0
Monash 1 lt Falcons 2
Traralgon City 7 df Traralgon Olympians 1
Shopwell Trophy (Reserve Men)
Fortuna 3 df Moe United 1
Churchill United 0 lt Sale United 2
Monash 2 lt Falcons 3
Traralgon City 5 df Traralgon Olympians 0
Browne/ Huizer Trophy (Senior Women)
Churchill United 18 df Morwell Pegasus 0
Fortuna 15 df Traralgon Olympians 0
Monash 0 lt Traralgon City 3
Tyers Lightning 5 df Newborough/ Yallourn 1
Cup Semi final action heats up
By The Offsider
GSL Preview
Two great matches feature in this weekends Battle of Britain Cup semi finals.
On Saturday night a replay of last years final takes place with Fortuna taking on rivals Falcons in a Crinigan Road derby.
In last years grand final Fortuna narrowly took the cup with a 4-3 win and there is no doubt that Falcons will be looking to exact some revenge.
Both sides have had significant changes in personnel in the off season and it is very difficult to predict a winner.
On Sunday Churchill United will be aiming to win through to its first cup final since 2007 when they come up against a Traralgon Olympians side that last qualified in 2008.
Churchill was the form team in the second half of last season and must now try to continue that form in 2012 with minimal changes to its squad.
They come up against an Olympians side that have had a significant influx of players and are in form after that impressive win against Traralgon City on Sunday.
Both matches will be a fantastic spectacle for neutral observers and a great entrée for the season proper that begins after Easter.
All the semi final fixtures:
Saturday March 31st at Crinigan Rd South Reserve, Morwell
Battle of Britain Cup (Senior Men)
8.00pm Fortuna 60 vs Falcons 2000
Youth Cup (U21 Men)
6.00pm Fortuna 60 vs Falcons 2000
Shopwell Trophy (Reserve Men)
4.00pm Fortuna 60 vs Falcons 2000
Browne/ Huizer Trophy (Senior Women)
2.00pm Fortuna 60 vs Churchill United
Sunday April 1st at Hazelwood South Reserve, Churchill
Battle of Britain Cup (Senior Men)
4.00pm Churchill United vs Traralgon Olympians
Youth Cup (U21 Men)
2.00pm Churchill United vs Traralgon City
Shopwell Trophy (Reserve Men)
12.00pm Sale United vs Traralgon City
Browne/ Huizer Trophy (Senior Women)
10.00am Traralgon City vs Tyers Lightning
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