United show fight in 1-2 loss
It’s been a tough State League 1 campaign for Warragul this year and wins have been difficult to achieve.
This extended to the United’s game against Doveton on Saturday, going down 1-2.
Endeavour and fortitude have never been in question, however, and every game has been fought to the final whistle.
There have been no “blow out losses” and United has been able to match it with the league’s best each week, gathering some rewarding victories along the journey.
Some might say that injury has been a factor this year – Warragul’s depth has certainly taken a hit with an unbelievable bad run with injured players. Four ACL ruptures to name but a few – but United have stuck at it, banded together and regrouped every time they have been tested.
A staggering 23 different players have had filled an 11-man list in the senior team this year. That’s unheard of yet testament to United’s resolve.
When faced with adversity, there’s always another challenge around the corner. This week it was an in-form second placed Doveton who was just one point off top spot.
Eighth-placed Warragul had been all over Doveton last time they met, however, so confidence was high as the home side looked to achieve an upset.
Although the squad had been depleted, United still lined up with a quality starting 11.
Goalkeeper Liam Andersen is still in amazing form and is surely the hottest tip for best and fairest this season. He started once again between the sticks.
Warragul’s four-man backline consisted of plucky youngster Mitch Jones, enforcer Matt Gauci, skipper Robbie Stephen and the ageless Paul Cooper.
Going back to a four-three-three formation, the midfield included Rory Wagner, who was back from suspension, silky 19-year-old Xavier Nardone and fellow teenager Oscar Sheehan.
A dangerous front three was spearheaded by Bryson Tanti at the number nine position, with wingers Paul Kuol and Sammy Gatpan on either flank.
A scrappy start to the game was marred by some controversial refereeing where firstly a Warragul goal was disallowed following an incident in the penalty area, then a yellow card shown to Oscar Sheehan for what seemed - to United supporters - to be a legal challenge.
He will miss next week through suspension as will Matt Gauci who copped another yellow which left United supporters scratching their heads.
Doveton, as per the previous encounter with United, was not a great side yet was the first to score as an unstoppable volley rippled the net.
Top of the table teams find ways to score even when they are being outplayed and credit to the Doves in their ability to do this consistently. They aren’t second for nothing.
With long spells of possession, Warragul found themselves two down just before half-time after a slip up in defence allowed one of Doveton’s classy strikers to tuck away a simple one-on-one opportunity.
It was a familiar “here we go again” scenario as a never say die United piled on the pressure in a dominant second term as they battled to get back into the game.
Xavier Nardone had a ripper in the centre of the park and had the ball on a string as he dictated traffic, setting up his teammates again and again with a smooth array of neat turns and accurate passing.
After a goal mouth scramble, where the home side had numerous chances to score, the ball was cleared long by Doveton’s defence. The ensuing foot race between last defender Mitch Jones and a Doveton forward once again provided the referee with an opportunity to take centre stage.
A desperate lunge for the ball saw Jones shown an instant red card leaving Warragul with 10 men and, not for the first time this year, up against it.
Being a man down can sometimes inspire a team to lift a gear and that is exactly what United did.
After forcing a corner kick, a sweet ball in was met firmly by the big forehead of Rory Wagner. The keeper’s parry from Wagner’s header fell nicely into the path of Warragul’s best player on the day, Robbie Stephen. His instinctive strike rocketed into the roof of the net to bring his team close.
Liam Andersen then made a brilliant close range save, denying a Doveton header against the run of play.
A frantic final 10 minutes with plenty of fight up front from the likes of Kuol, Sheehan and Tanti almost produced what would have been a welldeserved equaliser. However, Doveton held on and took the valuable three points, keeping them within striking distance of top side Nunawading.
Both outfits are looking for promotion to the National Premier League.
Best men on the day were Robbie Stephen, who was stoic in defence in a great captain’s performance; Xavier Nardone, who had his best game at the club; and again keeper Liam Andersen who had another inspired session with the gloves.
Next week Warragul face Casey Comets away.