Laurie Williams
SALE United and East Gippsland United drew 3-3 following an entertaining Latrobe Valley Soccer League match at West Bairnsdale Oval on Sunday.
East Gippsland had a goal on the board after five minutes through Josh West, Sale responded to the challenge and equalised at 21 minutes through Callum Campbell.
It was goal-for-goal to keep the big crowd happy as East Gippsland posted its second only six minutes later when Tom Forester drilled one past the Sale keeper.
A lax defence saw Sale bring up the equaliser from Jacob Richardson just before half-time.
East Gippsland went ahead for the third time with a 51st minute goal to Forester.
It looked like the Eagles were set to win their first time over Sale, but the Swans had other ideas and pressed home with a Richardson equaliser at the 71-minute mark to run the match out at a 3-3 draw.
NEWBOROUGH-YALLOURN United got some revenge for its loss to Traralgon Olympians in the 2019 grand final, with a 1-0 hard fought victory.
It took nearly a quarter of an hour in the second half for NYU to break the deadlock in a game where both defences were on top. Each team had chances, but it took until the 58th minute for Mark Fairbrother to score for the Combine.
Olympians got close and scraped the bar twice in an effort to equalise but was unlucky to miss, putting NYU keeper Damien Gilbert under pressure.
FORTUNA broke its run of drawn games, coming from a goal down to defeat Traralgon City 2-1.
Both teams had chances go begging in the first half before Traralgon City got on the scorecard at the 51-minute mark when Jake Budija scored.
The Roosters then closed up shop, making it difficult for the Lions to score, controlling the ball with skilful play.
Hayden Tanti and Jesse Kennedy combined to equalise at 70 minutes and then go one up at 83 minutes.
MOE United came from two goals down to overcome Morwell Pegasus 3-2 and maintain its undefeated start to the season.
A corner from Kuku Mohammed saw Guguel Malual rise above the pack to head it in at the five-minute mark. Moe was shell-shocked in the 39th minute, when Samuel Jacob was allowed freedom in the box to slot one past Peter Albanese to put the Horsemen 2-0 up.
Moe got one back when a Pegasus defender was cited for handball in the box, with Sam Lietzau converting the spot kick right on half-time.
Moe looked more impressive after Moe coach Lee Dastey brought himself on at 70 minutes, and he found Nick Dastey with a good pass to the front of the box to score the equaliser.
Jobie Huesmann provided the spark for Lachlan McKenzie, who scored to give the Red Devils the lead with only minutes to play.
Pegasus had a last fling but the effective hands of Peter Albanese kept the Horseman at bay.
FALCONS defeated Churchill United 2-1 on Saturday night.
After a goal-less first half, Mitch Azlin had the pleasure of scoring Churchill’s first goal of the season, but his celebration was short lived as the host replied within a minute through Ryan McAuley.
Falcons got the advantage goal at 75 minutes when a superb run and cross by Elias Yousif found consistent Jamie Pistrin, who beat the keeper with a bullet drive.
AFTER its come from behind draw with East Gippsland, Sale United will be keen to get more points this Saturday night when it hosts Monash, who is coming off the bye.
The Swans are positioned eighth on the table, while Monash is sitting in fifth.
Three matches will be played on Saturday afternoon, with Moe hosting Falcons in a top two clash, Pegasus heading to Traralgon to play Olympians, and NYU hosting East Gippsland.
Churchill and Fortuna will meet on Sunday.
Traralgon City will have the bye.
