Carlton came into the game with much the same line-up as the previous week, still missing the injured John Markovski and Kiwi international Sean Douglas. Exciting young prospect Josh Kennedy taking his place at the heart of the Carlton attack. Gippsland welcomed back the midfield duo of Andy Vargas and Clayton Bell after suspension and the courageous Igor Mandic playing with a Soccer Australia approved face mask to protect his mending jaw.

The game began at a frantic pace with both sides playing open and attacking football. The midfield battle being a highlight of the evening with playmakers Vargas and Lapsansky up against each other and Clayton Bell shaping up to Andrew Marth in his 300^th NSL appearance.

The first 20 minutes saw little penetration by the respective forwards with both defences well on top. The defensive combination of McPherson, Deans and Atkinson for Carlton well on top and shutting out all forward moves by the Falcons. The only efforts on goal in the first 20 minutes coming from deep runs and long range shot. The best chance to Archie Thompson in the 10 min who scuffed his shot.

The first real chance of the game was created by man-of–the–match Stuart Slater who was getting well on top of Marcina on the right wing. A perfect cross in the 30 min found Moriera unmarked and unchallenged in the box, his header going well over the bar. The dominance of Slater on the left and Thompson on the right was beginning to put the Falcons defenders under pressure and it was from one of their desperate clearances that the first goal came about in the 33 min.

A corner from the left by Slater caught the Falcons defence daydreaming as they only managed to scramble the ball to the feet of McPherson on the edge of the six-yard box. McPherson’s first attempt rebounded back to him and with Falcons defenders still ball watching he made sure his second attempt hit the back of the net. 1-0 Carlton.

Carlton lifted after the goal to totally dominate the rest of the half. Slater running rings around the Falcons defence and McPherson dominating everything at the back

Ex-Falcon Archie Thompson also prominent, making dangerous runs from deep and linking well with promising striker Josh Kennedy who was experiencing how tough life is in the big league having to leave the field three times in the first half due to the blood rule.

With Carlton’s dominance it was no surprise when the second goal came in the 43 min. Another Slater corner from the left this time found Moriera ghosting in at the far post unmarked to head past a ball watching Falcons defence and a star-gazing Jevdjevic in goals. 2-0 Carlton.

Young Kennedy had a great opportunity to kill the match for Carlton in the 44 min when a great ball from midfield put him behind the defence with only the keeper to beat. The 17 year-old would have visualised scoring his first senior goal the same way in his dreams, but he scuffed his shot, which gave Jevdjevic no problems.

The second half started with no changes to the respective line-up’s and the Falcons clearly fired up after a first half football lesson by Carlton. The first chance of the half coming from a great ball by Vargas in the 50 min. His quick free kick putting Bell behind the Carlton defence only to see his cut back well held by Anastasiadis in the Carlton goal.

Falcons were throwing everything at Carlton with Vargas and Bell getting on top in midfield and Hutchinson coming into the game with teasing runs from midfield. A great run from deep in the 54 min by the masked bandit Mandic almost caused an own goal after panic in the Carlton defence.

At the other end Moriera blew another great opportunity in the 58 min when he arrogantly tried to walk the ball into the goal. A perfect ball from deep put the Brazilian through one on one with the keeper. Moriera dribbled around Jevedjevic and rather than shoot decided to do the same to another Falcon’s defender, his belated shot then charged down by Clayton Bell on the goal line.

The missed opportunities meant a nervous end to the match for Munro and his men when in the 65 min Falcons pulled a goal back. A looping ball from Hutchinson on the right was only half cleared by the Carlton defence and Robbie Puca slotted the ball away with a left foot volley. 2-1 Carlton.

Falcons had clearly lifted and were well on top in midfield through the consistent and hard running Andy Vargas. Falcons almost levelled the match in the 67 min when Vargas put Mandic behind the defence with only the keeper to beat. Anastasiadis making sure Mandic didn’t get the ball, taking him out with a reckless challenge that surprisingly went unpunished by the referee. Mandic having to be substituted holding his head.

The rest of the match saw the Falcons throw everything they had at Carlton without any reward. The experienced Carlton defenders and midfielders locked up the game to ensure they went home with three valuable points and a win for "Stabber" in his 300^th NSL game.

The most influential player on the night was Stuart Slater. His first half performance was the difference between the two sides in a polished performance. The big Scotsman Dave McPherson dominated everything at the back for Carlton and scored a decisive goal. Andy Vargas for the Falcons was the main reason behind the Falcons resurgence in the second half. His hard running and consistency made him worthy of a mention.

Jevdjevic – Fak – Gotis – Durakovic – Marcina – Puca (Robertson 83 min)- Vargas – Bell – Hutchinson – Mandic (Savage 72 min) - MacNicol (Kakos 66 min)

Anastasiadis. – McPherson – Deans – Atkinson – Anthopoulos - Marth – Slater – Lapsansky – Thompson – Moriera (Terminello 81 min) – Kennedy (Conroy 66 min) Sub not used: Packer

Yellow Cards: Gippsland Falcons - Fak 88 min

Votes: 3 Slater (Carlton); 2 McPherson (Carlton); 1 Vargas (Gippsland Falcons)