At Churchill Reserve, Green Gully SC faced a tough outing against an in-form St Albans Saints, enduring a heavy 5-0 defeat. This match marked a continuation of a challenging period for Gully, coming off a series of tough games, including a significant loss to Avondale and a spirited friendly against Melbourne Victory.
St Albans, fighting to stave off relegation, displayed their urgency and sharpness right from the start, with Josh Fowler opening the scoring in the 15th minute. He found space inside the box to slot the ball past Liam Driscoll, setting the tone for what would be a dominant performance by the home side.
Fowler continued to trouble Gully’s defense, doubling his tally in the 26th minute with a long-range effort that saw him beat two defenders before firing a low drive into the back of the net. Only three minutes later, St Albans widened the gap with Lucas Byrns capitalizing on a well-worked move down the right flank to score at the far post.
The first half closed with Byrns adding his second and St Albans’ fourth, following a quick counter-attack after Lauton and Emmanuel Peters attempted to push forward for Gully. This goal underscored St Albans’ efficiency and Gully’s vulnerability on the break.
The second half saw Gully attempting to regroup and stabilize, but St Albans maintained their pressure. Byrns completed his hat-trick in the 81st minute, tapping in from close range to seal a resounding 5-0 victory.
As Green Gully looks to the final games of the season, they will aim to regroup and finish on a high, drawing lessons from this defeat. The focus will be on tightening their defense and finding ways to convert their efforts into results as they prepare for the next season.
