GV Suns' Tutu Taya rises high to head clear against Whittlesea United.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Round one of the Victorian Premier League Two season delivered an immediate lesson in the fine margins of football as Goulburn Valley Suns fell 2-1 to Whittlesea United in a contest that ultimately slipped through their grasp late.
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Elijah Brooker netted the Suns’ sole goal to cancel Whittlesea’s earlier strike, though a late winner from the visitors whisked all three points from Craig Carley’s side at McEwen Reserve.
For long stretches, the Orangemen looked the more assured outfit — but as the night wore on, control gave way to consequence.
GV Suns' Cailyn Trask sprints for the ball.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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GV Suns' Bryan Nyetam-Mawo gets head to ball.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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GV Suns' goalkeeper Alexander Georgopoulos plays out from the back.
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Megan Fisher
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GV Suns' Elijah Brooker sizes up a through ball.
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Megan Fisher
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GV Suns' Danny Edwards sticks a boot in.
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Megan Fisher
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GV Suns' Matthew Lelliott gets aerial.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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GV Suns' Callum Horsman seeks to break down play.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
“Round one’s always a tough game; it doesn’t matter how you prepare in pre-season, there’s always a different level of intensity as teams feel each other out early in the season,” Carley said.
“I actually thought we started the game really well. It’s obviously disappointing to come away with nothing, but we certainly had our chances within the game.”
The Suns’ early composure was punctured midway through the first half by a single misstep.
A mistake in the penalty area off a Whittlesea corner ended with the referee eventually pointing to the spot, and the visitors made no mistake as Kieran Glynn slotted a spot kick that ran counter to the flow of play.
But if the Suns were rattled, they did not remain so for long.
Their equaliser arrived before the break as Brooker proved the man to restore parity, unleashing a strike that deflected off a Whittlesea player, dropped over the keeper and in.
As the half drew to a close, the balance of threat leaned firmly in orange.
“Credit to the boys, I thought we reset and went on to create more chances,” Carley said.
“We got the equaliser and as the half went on we looked the more dangerous side.
“First half, there was only one team that was in control of that game.”
Though they dominated the opening stanza, the Suns’ second half became more fractured.
Whittlesea remained content to absorb the pressure and launch the ball long, gambling off the seconds and harrowing through the thirds to dial up the pressure radar.
And late in the piece, their moment arrived.
United’s Mohammad Al Saadi popped up with the dagger, jinking around his man and letting off a left-footed howitzer that wrong-footed Suns custodian Alexander Georgopoulos.
With no further concrete chances falling the hosts’ way in the closing stages, the referee’s whistle signalled the Suns’ first opening day loss since the 2018 season.
But it’s not all bad according to Carley.
“In the second half we reverted to Whittlesea’s game plan and went a little too direct at times,” he said.
“I thought if we could shorten the game up we’d have a lot more success. It’s disappointing to lose the game but there’s certainly many positives to take out of it as well.
“When the boys shorten the game up and start believing in themselves and playing the football we can, we’ll destroy any team.”
Attention now turns to Essendon Royals, another early examination awaiting the Suns on the road with this Saturday’s opposition also coming off a loss.
“Essendon are always a very good, well-organised side,” Carley said.
“They’ve made some big signings again which is what we expect with all these teams that carry big budgets - there’s high expectations.
“It’s at Hume City’s ground, so a nice big pitch, and we’re looking forward to another tough game on the road.”
