The boys were all at home in Trafalgar this week. The under 13’s had a slightly disappointing draw against Glen Eira, the 14’s won 1-0 playing Mornington, the under 15’s had a polished win against Clarinda and the under 18’s had an emphatic 10-2 victory over Endeavour SC

Under 13’s
The youngsters followed up a good performance against NPL side Bentleigh during the week against the struggling Eagles side. A reasonable start from GFC was capped off with a fine finish by Julian Colantuono. However, a goal by the visitors just before half time saw the teams go in at half time, all square.

Gippsland appeared flat at the start of the second half and they were punished with the opposition taking the lead.

This sparked the boys into action and they were rewarded when a good run from Colantuono finished with a cut back to Owen Zimora who finished well. This set the boys up for a grandstand finish but they could not find the winning goal.

Defenders Kelsey Dal Pozzo, Ryan Massaro and Joe Stewart all had good games for the home team.

Under 14’s
The boy’s game took place in very windy and tricky conditions. Gippsland had a good start and five minutes in Connor Dastey rattled the bar from long range.

Dastey was controlling the midfield, spraying the ball around the ground and again he hit the bar from a superb free kick.

GFC’s approach play and tempo was impressive but was slowing down when the ball got around the box. Towards half time the game had slowed down and the half ended goalless.

A fairly uneventful start to the second half was broken when Toby Mullins finished well from a fine Blake Whykes run and cross. Whykes was providing some good ammunition from the left hand side. It was good to see the boys retaining possession and giving their opponents few clear chances.

The home team could not convert their good approach play but earned a good 1-0 win.
Dastey, Mullins, Jesse Buhagiar, Caleb Semple, Manny Lual and Reuben O’Brien all had good games.

Under 15’s
An early goal from a defensive error woke the home team up from their slow start. The boys started to put some good passages of play together and were rewarded when a fine strike from Isaac Boulton found the bottom corner of the net.

GFC were now running the game and a fine Jesse Buhagiar shot was cleared off the line to keep the scores level at half time.

Gippsland came out after half time determined to continue on their fine display and were rewarded when good combination play down the right ended with a cross headed onto the bar by Shem Murphy but he followed up to knock in the rebound.

However, Murphy missed an easy chance and Clarinda swept down the other end and poor communication in the GFC defence was almost punished but the keeper came to the rescue with a fine save. A few minutes later the visitors hit the bar.

The boys hit back and a cross by Adonya Victor was headed home by Jesse Buhagiar. Connor Dastey finished off a fine performance by carrying the ball from the halfway line using strength and pace to waltz past the defence and coolly slot the ball home; 4-1.

Victor, Dastey, Buhagiar, Callum Slade and Bryce Judd were Gippsland’s best.

Under 18’s
The U18’s took on an undermanned Endeavour and it only took seven minutes for Lochie Phillips to open the scoring and he followed up with his second in the 24th.

Even though Gippsland dominated most of the play, the team was obviously relaxed a little too much as the 10 man Endeavour’s hard work off the ball saw them rewarded with a goal in the 26th minute.

That seemed to kick Gippsland back into gear with Riley Winkleman-Atkinson scoring the first of his first half hat-trick and with Nelson Tombra adding his name to the score sheet; Gippsland went in 6-1 up at half time.

It only took 5 minutes into the second half for Keegan Grealy to add his name to the scorers list; however Endeavour was again rewarded for their work in the 61st minute when Gippsland failed to clear their lines.

A rather lacklustre second half saw Gippsland continue to dominate possession and saw Lochie Phillips add another two to his tally and Calum Simpson add to his seasons tally.

A successful day was soured by a late injury to Riley Winkleman-Atkinson.

Final scores 10-2 with Lochie Phillips 4, Riley Winkleman-Atkinson 3, and singles to Nelson Tombra, Keegan Grealy and Calum Simpson. A special mention to Isaac Boulton from the U15’s who stepped up to provide an extra player and a big thanks to Endeavour SC who despite knowing they were short still travelled to give the boys a game; a wonderful effort.

This week’s matches – 31 July, 2016
The weekend sees all the teams away except for the under 18’s who face Berwick SC at Monash in Torres Street, Newborough. All the other teams are away with the under 13’s taking on Peninsula Strikers at 11.20am, the under 14’s facing Sandringham SC at 12.30pm, the under 15’s playing Endeavour United SC at 1.45pm.