United seniors beaten by Banyule

Going into match week three of the Men's State League One 2024 season Gippsland United's senior mens outfit had one win and one loss under their belt.

They were back at home, for another night match under the lights of their newly refurbished Baxter Park pavilion in Warragul.

Everyone at the ground on Saturday was treated to a perfect night's weather, as whilst it was a bit chilly for spectators, the evening was still with no rain or wind to worry for Baxter Park was geared up to deliver another tremendous spectacle for the local football scene in Gippsland.

The home side's third test saw them go toe to toe with Banyule City Soccer Club.

The visitors had picked up two wins in their first two games of the season and were somewhat of an unknown entity from Gippsland's perspective, as last term they participated in the North-West division of State League One.

The sides did play a pre-season friendly last year ending in a 3-1 win for Banyule, but that would provide little to no indication of the outcome of this competitive fixture.

It was another tight encounter for Gippsland, again decided only by a one goal difference just like match week one and two.

Unfortunately for Gippsland, they were on the wrong side of the score sheet, losing 0-1 to Banyule.

Both sides didn't experience a wealth of chances as the match was largely a battle won and lost in the midfield, at times turning into an end to end affair, especially towards the latter stages.

Banyule took control of the ball early on as Gippsland stuck to their shape out of possession, hitting the visitors on the break when possible.

Through their early ascendancy, Banyule created a few half chances, but nothing of note.

It was then the homeside who responded, producing a pair of first half chances that almost ended in two goals.

Both attempts were taken by Gippsland's striker on the day, Mitch Jones, who stepped up in the absence of Rory Wagner, who was ruled out due to a knee injury the week prior.

The first came from some industrious work down the right wing by Cooper Coleman who crossed to Jones, picking him out in the box.

Jones rose above his defender, but his header flew wide.

He wouldn't be bogged down by this early missed chance, as he continued to probe and get in good positions to score.

His second chance was created by the pressing of Bryson Tanti down the left flank, who after winning the ball in an advanced position, played Jones in on goal.

Gippsland's striker had only the keeper to beat but with defenders bearing down on him, he had to get his shot off quickly.

Jones obliged, but his strike went agonisingly wide of the left hand upright.

These chances went begging, minutes before Banyule scored the only goal of the game.

It was in the 33rd minute that the goal came, as Gippsland lost possession in midfield and were susceptible to a quick attack if Banyule chose to capitalise.

The away side were ruthless to say the least, as their number 10, Julio Beltran scored his second of the season.

A direct channel ball played in behind Gippsland's defense, a pinpoint cut back to the edge of the box, a touch, a turn and swivel, finished off by an unerring strike into the top left corner of the goal, Banyule had stunned their hosts.

This ultimately would be the pivotal moment of the match that decided the outcome, but Gippsland still gave everything in the second period of play to equalise.

Bryson Tanti struck a well placed freekick in the 63rd minute but Banyule's keeper took evasive action, parrying the shot around the post.

Coach Stephen Maselli looked to his bench part way through the half to change the game.

Maselli made four substitutions, bringing on Oscar Sheehan, Levi Colantuono, Harry Bettridge, and Riley Hamilton at two separate intervals.

This quartet of players injected new life into Gippsland's line-up, but wasn't enough in the end as the home side still failed to register a goal.

However, this does highlight a positive takeaway that the senior team can be pleased about, in that there is evident squad depth and availability which has been absent in previous seasons.

If Gippsland couple this with the quality they know they possess, both individually and as a team, it's only a matter of time until some more positive results arrive at their doorstep.

This quality almost shone through as Sheehan played in Tanti in the 81st minute, who was so close to getting his shot off with only the keeper to beat.

But Banyule's shot stopper staunched Gippsland's attack, as he read Tanti's final touch, coming off his line to gratefully grasp the ball.

Sammy Gatpan then had Gippsland's final big chance of the game in the 90th minute as the ball fell to him on his favoured left foot.

Just outside the box, Gaptan stung the palms of Banyule's keeper, who came up trumps for his side yet again, maintaining their slender one goal lead and probably capping off what was a man of the match performance.

The away side then had a chance in the 94th minute to seal the three points with a shot that rolled just wide of Gippsland's goal.

But it wouldn't matter in the end, as this would be the last action of the game, Banyule defeating Gippsland 1-0.

There's no time to dwell on this loss for Gippsland's senior men's side, as Saturday 20 April presents another chance to get back to winning ways as they face Springvale White Eagles.

It will be Gippsland's second away game of the campaign in what will be a difficult task to defeat their hosts who, alongside Banyule, also have three wins in three games this season.

But the morale and belief around Gippsland's squad still remains high, as they will look to show a reaction in match week four.

As for Gippsland United's reserves, they were not in action on the weekend as Banyule failed to field a team, consequently having to forfeit the fixture.

Whilst players expressed their disappointment in not being able to keep their momentum on the pitch, this gives Gippsland's defending champions three more points, placing them clear on top of the league table after three games.

They too will face Springvale White Eagles in match week four, kicking off at 1pm at the Serbian Sports Centre, before seniors take centre stage at 3pm.