By Callum Ludwig
Saturday 3 May was a great day for anyone wearing red shirts as the Lilydale Eagles picked up two comprehensive wins away at Croydon Ranges.
In perfect conditions, the Eagles’ Reserves quickly got to work dismantling their opponents, pressing effectively and particularly finding joy down the left-hand side through Trent Scott-Elsley.
They would have to wait a little while for a breakthrough, however, but eventually it came in the form of centre back James ‘Becks’ Laine, bundling the ball home following a corner and seemingly having put his goalscoring yips behind him.
The Eagles were largely on top in proceedings, only giving away a few half-chances to Croydon’s tricky left-winger while getting shots on goal in dangerous areas themselves.
It was another unlikely goalscorer who would double Lilydale’s lead in the 43rd minute as underlapping left back Theo Georgiou marauded forward and getting off not one shot, not two shots and not even three shots, before getting the ball into the back of the net despite some desperate defending from Croydon at his fourth attempt. It was the first goal for the newly-bald barber in some time and might mean he has to keep the chrome dome for good luck.
The Eagles weren’t done there, however and could sniff the chance for another goal on the stroke of halftime as Scott-Elsley was played completely through down the left-hand side with the keeper left in front of him and a wide-open Lucas Cordedda to his right. Unselfishly playing the pass across goal to his cheesemonger colleague, Cordedda had the goal at his mercy and proceeded to put it wide of the right post, much to the disbelief of everyone on the pitch.
Croydon Ranges managed to muster their first meaningful shot on the stroke of halftime, but it was smothered by keeper Callum Ludwig and it remained 0-2.
Early in the second half, there was to be redemption for Cordedda, however and this one he really couldn’t miss, tapping home from the shortest range in the 53rd minute to put Lilydale 0-3 to the good.
Perhaps a bit of complacency set him from here, as Lilydale continued to create chances at their attacking end but also allowed their opponents some opportunities on the break. Croydon’s left winger Christian Yusti broke away down his wing and fired off a shot that had to be quickly palmed over by Ludwig. Croydon Ranges mustered up some more chances, with Lilydale forced into some big blocks and Ludwig needing to make a couple of saves and claims.
The Eagles would pick up the last remaining goal of the game, courtesy of Byron Loveless’ trusty left boot to make it 0-4 in the 82nd minute and other than a last-minute trivela attempt from a Croydon Ranges midfielder with the last kick of the game, Lilydale saw out the match comfortably. The Reserves are now fourth in the table.
The Seniors were up next, looking to pick up their first win of the season.
Looking to keep the ball on the deck and build from the back, the Eagles immediately looked more comfortable and assured than in previous weeks, with some nice interplay and good looks on goal, none more than when Jasper Blair, playing in a new position up front, was played completely through one-on-one but almost had too much time, sending his shot wide to the right.
Similar to Reserves striker Cordedda, it wouldn’t be long before J Blair would have his redemption, wiped out in the box while chasing a ball across the box that was seemingly going nowhere. Stepping up to take the penalty, J Blair tucked it away to the left and the Eagles had a lead for the first time this season.
The Eagles were well in control throughout the half but hadn’t managed to turn their dominance into more goals, though they did snuff out all of Croydon Ranges’ attacks. There was a sense of deja vu when in the 44th minute, Lilydale winger Christian ‘Flik’ Lindner-Mark was fouled in the box going after a ball that didn’t look to be an immediate threat to the Croydon goal and winning another penalty, which he dispatched this time to the keeper’s right to give the Eagles a 0-2 halftime lead.
Going out into the second half intent on scoring from open play this time, Lilydale managed just that with a nice move eventually falling to the feet of Ethan Emmett who made it 0-3 early in the half.
Nothing seemed likely to threaten the Eagles’ control of the game until the 51st minute, when a dubious penalty was awarded to Croydon Ranges, which was tucked into the bottom right corner to make it 1-3 and to add insult to the injury, Lilydale fullback Braden Zammit was given a yellow card for the crime of asking a question about the decision.
This seemed to rattle the Eagles for a moment, as shortly after Croydon Ranges broke through with a long ball over the top, with the attacker putting it through the legs of keeper Ludwig before the Lilydale defenders could get back and clear, even celebrating the clearance a little prematurely while the ball was still in play.
The Eagles regained their composure, however and got back on top in the game, eventually restoring their lead with a towering header from J Blair from a corner because scoring goals from open play is overrated anyway.
Things quietened down for a few minutes but Croydon Ranges looked to find joy through long passes in behind the Lilydale defence and eventually got their second, with a deflected effort bouncing off Lilydale defender Lachy Hamling falling to the feet of John Hnialum who finished and was awared the goal despite the Eagles’ protests for offside.
Frustrated, Lilydale upped the ante and aimed to finish the game strongly, with midfielder Gilbert Harries eventually adding a fifth goal in the 88th minute to restore the comfortable cushion which the Eagles held until full time.
A 2-5 win away from home for their first of the season, and an ‘unofficial clean sheet’ according to Hamling, put the Eagles seventh in the table.
Both Lilydale sides will play Monbulk at home on Saturday 10 May.
