The Lilydale Eagles welcomed Waverley City to the Nest, marking a top-of-the-table clash for the Reserves and a good chance to bank a win for the Seniors.
The undermanned Reserves were up first in perfect conditions and it looked like the Eagles were in for a challenge from early on.
The Eagles struggled to deal with the short passing, possession play of their opponents in blue but remained resolute early in the half, scrambling to defend effectively or riding their luck as Waverley struck the post.
Waverley found a lot of joy down their left wing and it would be this position that would provide their breakthrough when Lilydale’s Amin Fazl swept the legs of a Waverley attacker and gave away a penalty, which was dispatched.
The Eagles bounced back for a short period after the goal, having a short period where they looked threatening.
In particular, Tarin Cooper had his header on goal denied by a fine save from the keeper.
Unfortunately for Lilydale, this momentum would be lost when they conceded a second goal in the 40th minute. Dongyun ‘Andy’ Kwon tried to play a bouncing ball back to keeper Callum Ludwig, who could only hook his clearance into the path of James ‘Becks’ Laine. He wan’t able to control the ball, with Waverley pressing, stealing the ball and scoring.
The Eagles needed to lift in the second half to have any chance of being the first side to take points off of Waverley this season.
Things got off to a poor start in the second half however, when a long bouncing ball got over the back of Becks and he was unable to get to it first, with the Waverley forward lobbing the onrushing Ludwig in the 49th minute.
The Eagles were not communicating well, weren’t committing to winning the 50/50s and were outplayed by their opposition.
The Eagles went on to concede two more quick goals in the 65th and 68th minute and weren’t able to make any inroads in the game despite a formation change to try and be more attacking.
A disappointing 0-5 loss at home, and the Reserves will now have to regroup if they want to try and secure second spot by the end of the season.
The Seniors were up next and looking to do the double over Waverley this season having won convincingly away earlier in the season.
Things got off to a poor start when an attempted clearance across the face of goal by Leo Blair was cut out, setting Waverley away who were able to tuck home the first goal of the game in the ninth minute.
After the goal, both sides had chances and moments where they got on top.
Waverley had another chance when the striker appeared to have directed a header from close range towards goal that was saved by Ludwig, with a defensive scramble saved by the ref calling a foul for a push.
The Eagles best chance came from Daniel ‘Dicko’ Dickson who appeared to have the goal at his mercy but his effort was straight at the keeper who managed to tip it onto the bar and over.
Waverley had more one chance where the right winger was played through on goal but Ludwig was able to come out and smother.
Boundary line reporter Braden Zammit stepped in to provide coverage of the second half as Ludwig had to depart (see below):
After a half time speech from the former coach Julian Harries, the Eagles boys came out with a better intensity then the first half. With a better shape defensively, the Lilydale lads were able to carve out more possession and become more of a threat.
It would get worse before it got better however, with the Eagles’ Levi Clausen scoring an own goal to double Waverley’s advantage in the 65th minute.
In the 75th minute, Ethan Emmett absolutely rinsed his opponent with a lethal stepover to beat his man and was clinical enough to slash it through the back of the net.
With that goal, the Eagles had more confidence and looked more lively. With more midfield possession and control Jake ‘Digga’ Dioguardi found some space on the right to loop into the box which then managed to find its way to the big man Kaiden Deany-Smith who did so well to scurry away into space to strike well, score and extend his golden boot tally.
The Lilydale lads almost came undone with 30 seconds to go with a last minute flashing counter attack that leaked through the defence and found ‘keeper Dicko in a one-on-one situation where luckily he fouled outside the box. Waverley took the free kick and luckily for the Eagles, it was no threat at all.
The game ended 2-2, all being a fair result.
Lilydale will travel away to take on Healesville next week.
