Sale United and Traralgon City have taken third and fourth place in the finals series after great wins from both clubs at the weekend.  They will join Churchill and Fortuna in the final four with the series beginning in earnest on September 8 after the Battle of Britain Cup this Sunday.

 Sale United vs Falcons 2000

Sale staged a great comeback to over turn a 3-1 deficit against Falcons with half an hour to play laying on four goals to run out 5-3 victors. 

The Falcons were playing a counter attacking game relying on player coach Mauro Deluca and Scott MacKeown as target men.

Just prior to the interval a neat Falcons build up led to the first goal for the match as the floating cross was converted past Richardson.

Immediately from the restart Ray Allred capitalized on a great through ball leveling the scores 1-1.

The visitors continued their counter attacking game plan and were rewarded a penalty when Deluca was adjudged to be fouled in the penalty box and he coolly converted by kick.

Moments later a charmed run by Deluca resulted in Falcons third goal beating Richardson at the near post giving the visitors a commanding 3-1 lead. 

The Swans with their season on the line found another gear and were rewarded a penalty which was converted by captain Ross McWhirter. 

Tommy Nguyen chimed in with a clinical strike to level scores 3-3 before Callum Clancy rounded the Falcons keeper to send the Swans into the lead 4-3. 

In the shadows of full time Tommy Nguyen iced the remarkable victory scoring his second to send the Swans into their first finals campaign in ten years delighting the large home crowd 5-3.

Traralgon City vs Newborough-Yallourn

Traralgon City sent a message to the other finalists with a 7-0 flogging of Newborough-Yallourn.

The Roosters lead 2-0 at half time thanks to the mercurial Mark Fairbrother who scored both.

After the break Fairbrother and the Roosters continued on their way with the reigning Dick Bosma medalist taking his tally to four for the day.

Fairbrother was then joined on the goal scorers list by John Kuol, Dylan de Hommel on senior debut and Adam Batt. 

Fortuna 60 vs Churchill United

Churchill United was far too good for Fortuna in their top of the table clash on Saturday afternoon running out 5-2 winners to formally claim the 2012 League Championship.

Churchill was on the back foot early when David Embleton forced home a goal mouth scramble after fifteen minutes of play.

The Rams pulled level 1-1 ten minutes later when Jesse Kennedy was deadly in front of goals.

Golden Boot winner Luke Cheney then scored a double for Churchill with two sublimely chipped goals that left Fortuna keeper Dean Hamilton scrambling to go in 3-1 at the break.

Churchill extended its lead in the second half when a long free kick from captain Jamie Robson bounced into the goal with Hamilton left red faced in no man’s land.

The Orangemen pulled a goal back to make it 4-2 when Joel Pirotta found the net, but when Cheney rounded out his hat trick to make it 5-2 it was all over and the prolific goal machine took his season tally to 25.

Churchill capped a fantastic year with undefeated Championship wins in the Youth and Senior Women’s leagues on top of the senior men’s triumph. 

Monash vs Tyers

Monash produced a stellar second half effort to down Tyers 6-2.

The home side began brightly and was on the scoreboard before the spectators had taken their seats, Daryn Cummings continuing his rich vein of form in front of goals.

The goal spurred Tyers into action but they failed to test debutant keeper Matt Borthwick.  With minutes remaining in the half the Lightning drew level after Monash were unable to clear their lines and Thomas Plunkett scored

The second half saw the Wolves switch up a gear and youngster Jarred Sultana grabbed his first senior goal, followed seconds later by Cummings extending the lead with Tyers turning the ball over from the kick off 3-1.

Midfield dynamo Ash Birrell further extended the lead before Cummings sealed his hat-trick for the hosts to lead 5-1.

The visitors grabbed a consolation via the boot of Josh Membrey, whose thirty yard effort flew into the corner 5-2.

Young gun Ethan Lawrence restored the four goal buffer with a neat finish to consign the Lightning to wooden spoon.

Traralgon Olympians vs Moe United

Moe United was unable to get the points it so desperately needed and had to settle for a 1-1 draw with Traralgon Olympians.

Moe finished the season in fifth and missed the finals after sitting in third place for much of the year.

The Olympians will also be disappointed in its season finishing sixth after most pundits thought they’d challenge for the title.

Kenny Higgins scored the Blues goal whilst Lee Dastey put Moe on the board.