Gippsland United beaten by Banyule

GIPPSLAND United’s match week fourteen fixture for the State League One football season was a tricky one to say the least.

The players, coaches and supporters of United traveled away to face a red-hot Banyule City Bulls side, who had only lost twice all season.

United’s campaign on the other hand, has so far been a tale of always displaying a strong and spirited team performance, but not being able to score that telling goal to put away their opposition.

This time out, Banyule showed why they are currently a top two side in this year’s competition, beating United 2-0, with a goal in both halves proving the difference.

With all the quality and know-how Banyule had out of possession and defensively, United were for the most part shutdown in the final third of the pitch.

United did, however, begin on the front foot, attacking Banyule in the early knocking, giving their hosts one or two scares. 

Sammy Gatpan got a shot off within ten minutes of the game starting, with only Banyule’s keeper stopping him from opening the scoring.

Banyule grew into the game, and it only took a small opening for them to punish Gippsland with a swift and effective attacking move.

The breakthrough goal came in the 18th minute for Banyule which settled their nerves after United’s promising start.

After some quick build up play from the back, Banyule switched the ball from the left to right. 

This intelligent ball meant United were somewhat stretched and had to retreat quickly to defend this brewing Banyule attack.

After receiving the ball from the opposite flank, Banyule’s right winger showed no fear in dribbling around two of United’s defenders before putting the ball on a plate for his captain Tyler Robinson, who dispatched the ball into the back of the net.

Gippsland’s response was positive, as they conjured another chance which Gatpan almost applied the finishing touch to, but for the opposition keeper’s intervention.

Banyule’s conversion was the one and only goal in the first half, as both sides entered the dressing rooms at the break still with plenty of action to unfold.

A few early chances in the second half fell the way of Gippsland United’s strike pairing of Rory Wagner and Cooper Coleman, however neither player managed to convert.

Then in the 66th minute, Banyule struck again, turning defense into attack, to score their second goal in a flash. 

With time running out, United needed at least two goals if they wanted to take home any points from the game.

Wagner almost gave his side the perfect response, as he headed the ball just wide from a free kick delivered in by Jobie Heusmann.

The remaining 30 minutes didn’t go completely to plan for Banyule, as their right full back, Koyo Brown, was shown a red card for a sliding tackle on Gippsland substitute Harry Bettridge. 

Whilst this gave United the chance to attack Banyule with one extra player, the homeside threw everyone behind the ball to defend their advantage.

Despite being reduced to ten players, Banyule prevailed and managed to see out the game without conceding.

This loss for United means they remain in eleventh position on the league table having accrued 12 points so far, with 24 more points still available in the remaining eight games.

Reserves
Banyule’s reserves outfit are toiling at the opposite end of the table to their senior counterparts, sitting rock bottom without a win in all 13 games.

Gippsland United’s reserves were also in a polar opposite situation to Banyule’s reserves, as they sat top of the table going into match week fourteen.

It was top versus bottom and there was only really one foreseeable outcome, even before a ball was kicked.

The scoreline read 0-7 to United at full time, as they ended the match with four different goal scorers.

The seven strikes came in the form of a hat-trick for Lucus Vick, a double for the ever dangerous Daniel Edey and a goal each for Paul Cooper and Julian Colantuono.

Cooper was the first to get his name on the score sheet as he tucked the ball away into the bottom right corner in the second minute of the game.

Lucus Vick then got his first of three, when he found himself in the right place at the right time to pounce on an inexcusable error from Banyule’s keeper. 

Vick then scored his second in a similar manner, as he was the quickest to react when he followed in a long-range shot from Alex Popp that was parried by the keeper.

Julian Colantuono then scored the pick of the bunch in the 40th minute, as he was played in one on one with his defenders by Popp.

Despite only five minutes remaining in the first half, United weren’t quite done yet as they put away a fifth goal just before the break.

It was Daniel Edey who scored, converting a first-time effort from the edge of the penalty area.

Following the half time break, Vick then completed his hat-trick in the 61st minute when he found himself unmarked in the box and on the end of a pinpoint cross from Lusanda Mapiye which he headed home with aplomb. 

Edey then rounded out the scoring in the 73rd minute, scoring his second of the game and his ninth goal of the campaign.

This last goal summed up Banyule’s performance as it started from a turnover in possession.

12 wins in 14 games for United’s reserves keeps them at the top of their league table.

Match week fifteen sees United return home to Baxter Park in Warragul, with their visitors being Springvale White Eagles.

United had mixed results against White Eagles back in match week four this season when they won 0-4 in reserves, but suffered a 4-1 defeat in seniors.