Under 14’s

The under 14s were in for another tough task meeting the ladder leaders for two consecutive weeks. After having taken points off the ladder leader Berwick in the previous week, the boys were hoping to do the same this time against East Bentleigh.

The opposition started off the livelier of the two teams creating some early chances from the kickoff and were rewarded with a goal in the 8th minute mark. This was the wake up call the Gippsland boys needed and slowly began to build confidence. After a period of dominating possession, Gippsland created two great chances to level the game but the opposing keeper held strong to see their side lead 1-0 at the break.

After some words of encouragement from coach Chris Van Lambaart, the boys started the second half with the ascendency. At the 47th minute Cory Johnson followed up on a powerful Jobie Heusmann strike to make it 1-1. Almost instantly Gippsland were gifted a great opportunity to take the lead after the East Bentleigh keeper handled a backpass which lead to an indirect freekick. With the initial shot blocked, the ball found it’s way back to Johnson who was unlucky to not make it two. Soon after an Antony Katiforis trademark strike from distance rattled against the woodwork and it seemed like it was only a matter of time for the Gippslanders to go ahead.

Against the run of play and with only a few minutes left on the clock East Bentleigh attacked with pace down the left wing and the resulting cross found an unmarked player who slotted the ball home to make it 2-1. To the Gippsland boys credit they continued to attack and were duly rewarded when Harrison Meyer latched onto a Goalkeeper fumble and hit the ball home. Some nervous moments ensued until the final whistle blew, the Gippslanders coming back from a goal down twice to finish the game at 2 all. 

Under 13’s

The trademark slow start which the under 13 boys had shown signs of stopping in the last few matches came back to haunt them as they conceded within the opening 60 seconds of their match against Beaumaris. Spurring them into action the match was levelled shortly after thanks to a Julian Colantuono strike. In a period of end to end football, the opposing team scored again to take the lead back in the 20th minute. The Gippsland boys disappointed to go in at halftime down 2-1 having created the pick of the chances in the first period.

The second half however saw the Gippsland boys at their very best starting with Colantuono beating two defenders and striking truely to level the game shortly after the restart. Three minutes later a freekick from at least 30 yards out  saw a Joe Stewart thunderbolt hit the bar and the attacking continued. Harry Bettridge made it 3-2 after a great run down the right wing, which was shortly followed by goals scored by Tana Betera and Rhys Galvin. Joe Stewart finished the rout with a goal himself to make it 6-2 leaving the boys to record their best result of the season.

Gippsland is back on the road again for round 14 next week: The under 15s travelling to Casey, the 14s to Sandringham and the 13s off to East Bentleigh.