By: Lorcan MATHEWS

LARA United’s fairy-tale start to its life in GRFC Men’s Division 1, following the opening round win against Rangers last Sunday, was brought back down to Earth with a thud after Surf Coast proved too strong for the newly promoted ‘Northerners’ at home last Friday night.

PHOTO: Captain Joe Lawrence in action for Lara United (Photo: Rebecca Horrocks, Soccer Shots Photography)

A feisty and physical game at Banyul Warri Reserve under lights produced a red card to Lara’s Jake Weeks, while Surf Coast piled on three goals past United, courtesy of Craigen, Allan and Cattigan.

A daunting test now awaits Surf Coast in Round 3, with an away trip away to reigning premiers Deakin Ducks at Waurn Ponds under lights on the cards, while Lara travels to new club FC Leopold at Estuary Reserve on the Sunday.

Surfside Waves 3 v 1 Barwon Heads

SURFSIDE Waves’ unbeaten start to their Men’s Division 1 campaign continued, as Pablo Mujica’s Waves clinically dispatched Barwon Heads 3-1 at home at Shell Road Reserve last Friday night. Niccolò Bassi and Adrian Bond continued their form in front of goals, while Stuart Manley opened the scoring with a fantastic strike.

A baptism of fire for the newly promoted Hammerheads continues in Round 3, with a home clash against last season’s losing Grand Finalists Geelong Rangers at Village Park on Sunday, while Surfside travels to Howard Glover Reserve to take on the free-scoring Drysdale SC also on Sunday.

Deakin Ducks 2 v 4 Breakwater Eagles

A STUNNING upset on Friday night saw a resurgent Breakwater Eagles side under Bill Wilson put four past the reigning champions Deakin Ducks at Deakin University’s Waurn Ponds campus.

All seemed to be going smoothly for Deakin, as the two squads went into the half-time break with Deakin one nil up. The second period however, would see a flurry of goals and whatever was said by Eagles head coach Bill Wilson to his players during the half-time break was most certainly heeded. A four goal blitz from the Eagles, with two coming from the boot of goal-machine Branden Duthie - his fourth in just two games - propelled the Eagles to a stunning win away from home.

A huge fixture lies in wait for Wilson’s side this weekend, as the Eagles welcome Barwon SC on Sunday. The battle of the two undefeated teams thus far will take place at the White Eagle Club in Breakwater. It will definitely be a match to keep an eye on, with both teams in brilliant form, playing some exciting attacking football.

Barwon 5 v Drysdale 3

AN EIGHT-GOAL thriller between Barwon SC and Drysdale on Sunday saw the fans most definitely get their money’s worth. Being the first home game for Dale Harris’ ambitious Barwon outfit, there was no doubt his charges wanted to put on a show in front of a healthy crowd at Grovedale Reserve.

No-one was to know what would occur after the teams went into the rooms at half-time, in a tight an even game with Barwon just ahead at the break 2-1. The floodgates well and truly opened up after the interval, however, no doubt following some stern words from Barwon’s Harris and his Drysdale counterpart Jason Pickles.

Some great pressing of Drysdale’s back-four in the 69^th minute from Craig Cameron-Smith saw a Drysdale defensive slip, allowing the swift and crafty winger Sean Mahon to expertly punish Drysdale’s back four mistake by burying the ball into the bottom corner. This seemingly sparked Drysdale back into action, to score two late goals, before Barwon regained their two-goal cushion, largely through the potent Cameron-Smith, who scored a brace for the second time in two weeks.

Geelong Rangers 2 v 2 FC Leopold

LAST season’s Grand Finalists Rangers welcomed debutante club FC Leopold to Myers Reserve to close out the Round 2 fixtures on Sunday, with most expecting an expertly drilled Rangers to clinically shut out the ‘Greens’ on their way to an easy three points.

This, however, was far from the end outcome, as FC Leopold made history by registering its first ever point in the Men’s Division 1 competition with a thrilling and highly unlikely 2-2 draw.

FC Leopold hosts newly promoted Lara United this Sunday in what will be a fascinating fixture between two teams that have energised the league so far this season.

Rangers, on the other hand, will travel to Barwon Heads to take on Mark Smith’s Hammerheads, which will most definitely be a huge test of character for both sides.