RELATED: 2014 GSL fixture
THE Gippsland Soccer League will introduce a top six finals series this year.
Previously only the top four teams made the finals, which were held over two weekends.
Using the same format as the A-League, the top two teams at the end of the home-and-away season will advance directly to the semi-finals in week two with the other four teams to play in a knock-out qualifying finals in week one. The two semi-final winners to meet in the grand final.
The 2014 grand final will be played on Sunday, September 21.
Meanwhile, changes have been made to the fixture, mainly to ease the pressure on Morwell Pegasus’ home ground. Pegasus fields teams in the GSL as well as the state league.
The return of Pegasus to the GSL central division this year as led to an expansion to a 22-round season before the finals. It has also led to the league scheduling its cup competitions as midweek fixtures, apart from the finals.
Sale United will begin its premiership defence at home against Traralgon City on Sunday, March 16.
The senior Battle of Britain Cup and the Steel Youth Cup will begin on Wednesday, April 9 with the reserves Shopwel Trophy and women’s Browne-Huizer Cup beginning seven days later.
The cup finals will be played on Sunday, August 31, scheduled between the end of the home-and-away season and the premiership finals series.
Unlike previous seasons, match-ups will be randomly drawn, similar to the world’s most famous knock-out soccer tournament, the English FA Cup. Previously, match-ups were set-up based on the standings of prior seasons.
