Lean weekend for Gippsland
It was a tough weekend for Gippsland United Football Club's NPL and preNPL sides as all three teams that played were defeated.
Pre-NPL U13s: GUFC defeated by Berwick 1-5
The game started with United putting on a strong showing and controlling the game for the first 15 minutes whilst piling on the pressure against Berwick but try as they might the United boys could not find the back of the net.
What followed in the second 15 minutes of the first half could only be described as a calamity of errors and mistakes which saw Berwick score five quick goals to United's one, which came via McCann-Diston from a great through ball by Anderson.
Heading into the break 5-1 down it was always going to be a big ask to claw their way back into the game.
With several changes to begin the second half the United lads headed back onto the pitch and worked hard and matched it with Berwick, but again the goals eluded them and the score finished as it did at the half.
With a week of training ahead the boys hit the road to face Bentleigh Greens in this coming weekend's round.
JBNPL U18s: GUFC defeated by Malvern City 1-4
be an entertaining fixture.
The away boys dominated from the get-go, creating havoc in the Gippsland backline before breaking the deadlock with a wonderful finish to put themselves ahead.
Gippsland weren't going to give up, creating an end-to-end contest to finish off the first half, going into half time a goal down.
At the beginning of the second half, the back and forth game continued as Gippsland and Malvern both had clear-cut chances up forward, before ChoCho Jacob set up a world-class finish from midfielder Levi Colantuono, who not only found the net, but found the top corner of the goals with a sensational strike from 25 yards out.
Gippsland continued to apply the pressure, with some great defensive efforts from skipper Abraham Konyi and solid midfield work from Nic Nardone, who also came close to putting the home side ahead with 20 minutes to go.
Approaching the final quarter of an hour, Malvern would find three goals in a matter of six minutes, turning the tides in what was a very tight contest.
Gippsland saw out the final ten minutes, with several attempts at playing behind the Malvern backline not enough as the home side would go down, four goals to one.
Other scores:
Pre-NPL U12s: postponed.
The under 18 Gippsland boys came out to JBNPL U14s: bye. the pitch at home against Malvern City, fired JBNPL U15s: GUFC defeated by Langwarrin up and ready to play what would turn out to 1-3.
WARRAGUL AND DROUIN GAZETTE May 30 2023 Page 51