THE first week of the Gippsland Soccer League finals saw fourth on the ladder Knights face off against League Champions and top of the table Phillip Island Breakers in what promised to be an exciting match-up. 

Possession was up for grabs in the first ten minutes with both teams pushing in attack. It was a great through ball from Knights forward Noel O’Donnell that saw left winger Henry 
Mbuthia speed in for the final tap in, giving Knights the lead just 14 minutes into the game. 

Jubilant, the Knights held fast in defence, led by CB John Stephens and GK Charlie Dougherty, ensuring that the quick Breakers were not able to take their lead away from them. Despite plenty of movement in attack from both teams, the Knights preserved their lead into halftime. 

The second half of the match saw the tension rise as the Island found the back of the net with a six-yard tap-in of their own. Shortly after, a handball in Phillip Island’s defence resulted in a penalty granted to the Knights and calmly converted by midfielder Sven Gebele, putting the Knights back in the lead. 

The Island responded not a minute later with their own second goal, raising the stakes. Then a beautiful cross to the back post from Knights’ right back River Thomas was neatly converted by O’Donnell to snatch back the lead. 

The remaining 20 minutes of the match were anxiety-ridden as it seemed that Phillip Island might find their equaliser. Though they had some great attacking runs, the Knights’ defence held firm, and it was Leongatha Knights that claimed the victory when the final whistle blew, sending them to the Grand Final in two weeks.