Two disallowed goals, the inability to create any fluent moves and an apparent lack of desire, summed up the Falcons effort in their second last game of the season. Clearly missing the leadership and organisational skills of their captain Mehmed Durakovic, the Falcons looked scrappy at best. Canberra on the other hand with two consecutive wins under their belts, looked little better than the Falcons in general play, but their desire for victory was clearly more evident.

The match started with neither side able to put together any telling moves and plays confined to the midfield. Robbie Hooker for the Cosmos was dominating everything the Falcons sent forward and the equally experienced Jason Polak was busy in midfield linking well with the Cosmos striking duo of Castro and DeJesus.

The first real attempt at goal by either side came in the 32 minute when a long-range speculative effort by John Hutchinson was comfortably watch past the upright by Cosmos keeper Konstantinou. A heavy collision between Falcons teammates Marcina and MacNicol in the 35 minute resulted in a long delay in play with MacNicol taking no further part in the match.

At the restart of play the Cosmos caught the Falcons napping with good play by Brian Hamilton in midfield finding David Arranz on the left. A speculative ball by Arranz to the by-line found Alex Castro who lobbed a cross into the penalty area. With Jevdjevic in the Falcons goal star gazing at a cross he should have intercepted, Ivo DeJesus ghosted in to easily put the ball into the net unchallenged. 1-0 Canberra.

The second half started more promising than the first with an early chance after a good run and shot by Juan Nilo in the 49 minute for the Falcons was forced away for a corner. The resulting corner for the Falcons was well met by Hutchinson with a strong header, a goal mouth scramble saw Buhargiar put the ball into the back of the net, only to be disallowed for offside.

The Cosmos finished the game off in the 56 minute with a goal that seemed to present itself on a plate. Good play yet again by Brian Hamilton in midfield for the Cosmos saw him combine well with the hard running Andrew Clark. Clark must have thought it was a training drill as he seemingly strolled through the Falcons defence unchallenged, hitting a well placed shot into the net from just inside the penalty area. 2-0 Canberra.

Canberra continued to come forward after their second goal with good long-range efforts by Polak and Hamilton testing Jevdjevic in the Falcons goal. At the other end good running from midfield by Nilo drew a free kick just outside the penalty area for the Falcons. A well hit shot by Vargas just missing the upright and then in the 90 minute a powerful long range drive by Igor Mandic was well held by Konstantinou in the Cosmos goal.

The game ended with Falcons best player on the night John Hutchinson being sent off in frustration for a rash challenge on Popovich. Best player on the night was Brian Hamilton in midfield for the Cosmos. The experienced journeyman was instrumental in both goals and dominated the midfield with Jason Polak. Robbie Hooker in defence for Canberra re-bounded every effort by the Falcons to go forward. His experience was a telling factor in the Falcons having no clear-cut chances on the night. John Hutchinson was the only Falcons player that was a winner on the night. His midfield play and hard running spoilt in the end by a rash challenge borne through frustration.

Overall, it was a game that most at Mobil Park would rather forget.

Jevdjevic – Fak – Buhargiar – Savage – Marcina - Puca ( Katz 62 min)– Hutchinson (sent off 89 min) – Vargas .A. – Bell – Nilo - MacNicol ( Mandic 40 min) Sub not used: Robertson

Konstantinou. – Popovich – Purdue – Polak – Castro – Arranz (Roberts 80 min)– Hamilton– Prenzoski – Hooker – Clark – DeJesus ( Musitano 70 min)

Yellow Cards: Gippsland Falcons - Bell, Jevdjevic
Canberra Cosmos - Clark, Polak

Red Cards: Gippsland Falcons - Hutchinson

Votes: 3 Hamilton (Canberra Cosmos); 2 Hooker (Canberra Cosmos);1 Hutchinson (Gippsland Falcons)