United fight to avoid relegation

by Solomon Nash
Six games remained for Gippsland United's senior men's playing group going into matchweek 17.
Six games to avoid relegation to State League 2, as they looked to move out of the bottom two places on the table for the first time in five weeks.
United had only managed two wins from the first 16 games of the campaign, but were full of confidence that they could make it three from 17, when they traveled to Mulgrave to face Brandon Park Soccer Club.
But the game didn't go to plan for United, as two quick goals for Brandon Park and a first half red card for United, meant their backs were against the wall, resulting in a 3-1 win for the home side.
After Brandon Park's quick fire double within 15 minutes of kick-off, United were on the back foot and had to muster a response.
That they did, as Oscar Sheehan pounced on a slip from a Brandon Park defender, going through on goal into a one-on-one with the keeper to slot the ball into the back of the net.
With their tails up, United pushed on to level the score, but in their efforts to do so, they had a player sent off.
United's goal scorer, Oscar Sheehan, was racing towards a ball in behind as he knew if he got there before Brandon Park's keeper, it would've been a certain goal.
But the outcome was quite possibly the polar opposite.
As Sheehan slid in to win the ball, he was sent off, the referee deeming his challenge on the keeper to be a red card offence. This was a major turning point in proceedings as United were reduced to ten players.
Despite this, United displayed a spirited performance in the second half.
They took the game to Brandon Park in a controlled manner, dictating possession and managing their opponents counter attacks well.
United searched and searched for an equaliser knowing a draw would suffice given the circumstances of being a player down.
However, a third concession via a penalty kick hampered their momentum and gave Brandon Park a two-goal buffer.
Gippsland United's keeper, Aiden Riley, had a terrific game, making save after save to stop Brandon Park from being out of sight. Riley also saved the penalty in the second half, but parried the ball into the path of a Brandon Park player who scored with ease.
Cooper Coleman and Harry Bettridge came off the bench for United to give the team a renewed and different form of threat up front.
The youthful pairing gave Brandon Park's backline plenty of trouble, creating a handful of chances late in the game.
But neither Coleman nor Bettridge were able to convert, leaving the game to finish 3-1 in favour of Brandon Park.
United's senior men now enter the business end of the season where they will have to pick up points from their remaining five games to maintain their status in State League 1 for next year.
Eltham, Mornington, Malvern, Springvale and Casey are the fixtures that lay ahead for United.
With no games this coming weekend, the league resumes on Saturday 10 August.
United will prepare to face top of the table Eltham Redbacks at home.
Last time the sides met at Baxter Park in 2023 the end score was 0-0, a possible good omen for United as they definitely will aim to at least draw if not win this fixture.
Reserves
After drawing a week prior to Collingwood, Gippsland United's reserves returned to the winners list, defeating Brandon Park 1-2.
It was a crucial result for United, who are edging closer and closer to a second consecutive reserves league title.
This win extended their lead at the top of the table to five points, as Eltham Redbacks lost to Malvern.
United had extra incentive to win after Brandon Park handed them their first defeat of the season earlier in the year.
It was a tight contest, as the teams seemed evenly matched in almost every department.
The first half was nip and tuck, as both sides created ample chances to score but neither team managed to convert.
Nonda Lazaris who was United's starting striker had a couple of presentable chances to put his team in the lead, but both his efforts went astray.
The players entered the dressing rooms at half time with the score locked at nil-all, but it wouldn't take long for this to change in the second half.
Within 10 minutes Alexandru Popp had bagged the opener, running through on goal and chipping the keeper from the edge of the box.
United were first on the scoresheet, but Brandon Park didn't take long to join the league leaders. After United cleared the ball to the edge of the box from a corner, Brandon Park were quick to react as the player who latched onto the ball struck a sweet low driven effort from outside the area.
Liam Anderson could do very little in the United net as the strike nestled in the bottom left corner of the goal.
The game was tense and tetchy, as United wanted nothing less than a win to take a step closer to the title, whilst Brandon Park craved a league double over the top side.
It was a slice of luck that separated the sides after 90 minutes, as United took the lead again.
Daniel Edey was the catalyst for a lot of the good play United conjured over the course of 90 minutes. So dangerous when shooting from outside the box, Edey took on a long-range attempt.
The ball flew into the goal via a deflection as his strike hit teammate Beau Finlayson, leaving Brandon Park's keeper wrong-footed.
A definite stroke of luck for United, but they didn't care, mind or show concerns, as it mattered little how, but rather a lot that they did score.
With little time remaining, United protected their lead and gave everything they had to keep out Brandon Park. Harry Tosch made a late, last ditch goal-saving sliding tackle, a moment that his teammates celebrated as if he scored a goal.
Their next fixture is a huge game in the context of the title race.
United will face Eltham Redbacks, who have been hot on their tail all season.
A win would see their lead over Eltham extend to eight points, a divisive points gap this late in the campaign.
Come down and catch all the action in just under two weeks time when United host Eltham at Baxter Park on Saturday 10 August, with the reserves commencing at 12:45pm, before the seniors kick off at 3pm.