By Parker McKenzie
All four men’s teams at Lilydale Montrose United Football Club won their opening game across the weekend, starting the season with a perfect record.
A new-look senior team played Alphington FC on crisp a Friday evening, in coach Dimi Moutafis’ first game in charge of the side.
Last season, Lilydale Montrose United finished last in State League 5 East, while Alphington FC finished ninth in State League 5 North and moved to the eastern conference ahead of the 2023 season kicking off.
After a cagey opening period, club captain Louie Pettinella opened the scoring for the Goats early in the first half with a close-range finish, before Tom Tellefson equalised for Alphington from the penalty spot after Orin Giesbers was punished for a push in the box.
LMU was slow out of the changing rooms after the break and gave Alphinton the chance to take the lead after a poor back pass resulted in LMU goalkeeper George Kostoulias conceding a second penalty of the game.
A jubilant Kostoulias saved the resulting penalty and LMU took the lead shortly after through Con Moutafis, who saw an initial shot blocked before his second attempt found the back of the net.
Late in the game, Alek Bejatovic found time at the edge of the box to chest the ball down and hit a long-range effort from 25 yards, beating the Alphington FC goalkeeper who made several quality saves throughout the 90 minutes.
The gritty 3-1 win was a just reward after a tough pre-season at the club. After one game, the LMU Senior men’s team is now only one point off the previous season’s effort.
The reserves, playing before the firsts, had an emphatic 5-3 win featuring several great goals during the game.
Brechan Adams hit a goal-of-the-season contender with a long-range volley, and Jean-Pascal ‘JP’ Sebire scored two more from range, beating the Alphington goalkeeper first with a curling effort from the edge of the box, followed by a shot from range which the goalkeeper failed to handle.
Nicholas Sanelli and Julian Sebire added to the score sheet in an attacking display.
LMU play their next two home games on a Friday night at Keith Hume Fraser Reserve in Montrose and will be looking to build upon the successful result in the opening game.
The Veterans team won their opening game of the season 5-1 against Ashburton and the thirds beat Croydon Ranges 2-1, with the four teams winning 12 points from 12 to open the season.
