Difficult conditions resulted in a scrappy start to the game with the Falcons looking to make any early impact with the aid of a very strong breeze. Both sides were having difficulty stringing passes together and the respective defenders were finding it a real test to judge the flight of the ball. The Falcons settled earliest with Vargas and Bell gaining control of the midfield and distributing the ball well to Puca and Marcina on the flanks. Jeff Hopkins had made a tactical variation to the Falcons lineup in an attempt to solve the goal scoring problems of previous weeks. Hopkins decided to play three forwards, pushing Hutchinson from his customary midfield role into a left side attacking role which was paying early dividends as the combination of Nilo, Mandic and Hutchinson terrorised the Spirit defenders.

The first real chance of the game fell to the Falcons in the 20 minute, when ‘man-of-the-match’ Clayton Bell made a strong run from midfield, hitting a powerful shot that was well held by Perosh in the Spirit goal. The Falcons were clearly on top and stretching the Spirit defence, which lead to a free kick just outside the Falcons penalty area in the 21 minute. The resulting free kick lead to the first goal of the game with the in-form Robbie Puca bending an inch perfect shot around the Spirit wall into the top corner of the net. 1-0 Gippsland Falcons.

The Falcons, having adapted better to the conditions were spurred on by the goal and were playing with a confidence that has not been evident in recent weeks. The experienced Bingley and Bilokapic for the Spirit were battling hard in defence to stem the wave of Gippsland attacks but there was little they could do when in the 28 minute Mandic latched onto a loose ball to score his debut goal for the Falcons. A teasing run and powerful shot by Hutchinson, was too hot to handle for Perosh in the Spirit goal. The rebound, well challenged by the ever alert Nilo, resulting in Mandic having a simple tap in goal. 2-0 Gippsland Falcons.

It was to be a costly celebration by Mandic, earning an unnecessary yellow card as he proceeded to take off his shirt in a state of jubilation in scoring his first NSL goal. His dream debut was to turn sour in the 57 minute, sent off for a second bookable offence.

The Northern Spirit defenders could do little more than pump the ball long in the hope of catching the Falcons on the break. The only real chance to the Spirit in the first half fell to Cranney in the 35 minute. A break down the right by Casserly lead to a looping cross which was well challenged by Cranney only to see the ball go wide after a heavy collision with Jevdjevic in the Falcons goal. Cranney was subsequently replaced by David Seal due to injury.

The Falcons continued to dominate the rest of the half through the efforts of Clayton Bell in midfield. His hard running and distribution was a pleasure to watch and almost lead to a third goal to the Falcons in the 46 minute. A looping pass by Bell over the Spirit defence found Hutchinson running in to challenge one-on-one with Perosh, the loose ball being cleared away by a Spirit defender just before Mandic almost swooped to collect a second opportunist goal. Half-time 2-0 Gippsland Falcons.

The second half began with the Northern Spirit attacking from the outset. Graham Arnold had pushed the experienced Matthew Bingley into a forward role in an attempt to get back into the match. The Spirit team had clearly lifted with Abbas Saad and Tony Perinich prominent in many attacking moves. After a string of Spirit corners, Jevdjevic in the Falcons goal was almost left red faced when in the 48 minute a Spirit forward managed to kick the ball loose from the keeper’s hands only to see the ball just trickle past the upright.

The Falcons seemed content to absorb the Spirit pressure and were playing well on the counter attack through the efforts of the impressive Robbie Puca. His hard running and link play with Clayton Bell meant the Spirit defence had to remain alert at all times. The context of the match changed however in the 57 minute with the sending off of Mandic. The ten man Falcons pulled back, making it difficult for Spirit to penetrate the Falcons defensive line lead superbly by the experienced Mehmet Durakovic.

The best chance of the match for the Spirit came in the 65 minute when a goal mouth scramble resulted in a shot being cleared off the line by the Falcons defence. Bingley and Saad were in everything, but to no avail as the ten man Falcons played superbly to hold out a Spirit team that seemed to lack attacking options.

The match ended in a flurry with substitute MacNicol hitting a powerful shot that almost found Perosh stranded off his line and the tireless Abbas Saad finding space in the Falcons penalty area on two occasions only to see his attempts go wide.

In what was an impressive performance by the Falcons, the best player on the night was clearly Clayton Bell. The former Australian Under 17 Captain played one of his best games to date for the Falcons. His hard running and ball distribution was the difference between the two sides. Robbie Puca continues to impress with his speed down the flanks and teasing crosses, while John Hutchinson adapted well to his new role as a forward to show he will be a handful for any defence. Notable performers for the Spirit were Mathew Bingley and Abbas Saad. The two experienced campaigners never gave up the fight to get Spirit back into the match.

 Gippsland Falcons

Jevdjevic – Fak – Gotis – Durakovic – Marcina - Vargas – Bell – Puca – Hutchinson – Nilo (MacNicol 73 min) - Mandic (sent off 57min) - (Subs not used Hastie, Savage)

Perosh – Bingley – Casserly – Sobczyk – Bilokopic (Cantanzaro 75min) – Cunico (Moss 55min) – Griffiths.A. – Cranney S. (Seal 35min)– Saad – Faria – Perinich

Yellow Cards: Mandic (GF) 28 min, Marcina (GF) 37 min, Casserley (NS) 45 min, Cunico (NS) 50 min, Fak (GF) 75 min

Red Card: Mandic (GF) 57 min

Votes: 3 Bell (Gippsland Falcons); 2 Puca (Gippsland Falcons); 1 Hutchinson (Gippsland Falcons)