by Nicholas Duck
Gippsland United's senior men's team have kicked off the 2025 season with a heartbreaking last-gasp defeat to Mornington on Saturday.

Playing at their Baxter Park home base, United were brought undone by a late injury time winner from their opposition to end the day 2-3 down.
The result did little justice to a notably youthful - and plucky - United side after a strong start had them 2-0 up before half time.
The first goal, scored by Cooper Coleman, came in large part thanks to a barnstorming run from Sam Gatpan down the left flank.
Showing wonderful poise and control, Gatpan took on - and beat - a number of Mornington's defenders before squaring the ball beautifully to Coleman, who dutifully finished to open Gippsland's account for the year.
With United's home fans now up and about, they were sent wild once again when debutant Bayden Heusmann doubled the lead not long after.
Heusmann's goal proved to be a family effort after brother Jobie was the player who sent the ball down the line for him to chase.
Proving too quick for his opponent, Bayden worked his way into a one-on-one with Mornington's keeper, duly beating the gloveman to send the Gippsland fan into raptures.
It was proving to be an audacious start for the club's senior men's side, who at times struggled to find the back of the net during last year's State League 1 South-East campaign.
Those warm and fuzzy feelings were soon to be tempered, however, after the visitors struck back with an injury time goal just minutes before half time, giving them plenty of reason to hope and Gippsland plenty to ponder heading into the break.
Despite a few chances here and there to re-establish their two-goal buffer, Gippsland were unable to make good on their opportunities, Mornington drawing level to make the match's final stages a much tenser affair than originally anticipated.
A much-longer-than-average injury time at the end of the match's original 90 minutes gave both sides a crack at a potential game-winner, but in the end it was the men from the Peninsula who found the all-important score they needed.
A desperate long lob allowed a Mornington player to rise above the pack, flicking on his header to his give his side's striker a clear look at the goals with nothing but the keeper in his path.
Like young Heusmann earlier he made no mistake, kicking truly to put his side ahead with mere minutes left on the clock.
A last-second shot from Bayden Heusmann again threatened to snatch a famous draw for the home team but floated just wide, the final whistle giving Mornington the three points and leave Gippsland wondering what might have been.
United will take plenty of positives away from the match, namely the amount of talented youth they were able to put on the park.
Bayden Heusmann was just one of four homegrown juniors getting serious senior experience for the club, joined by Ben McCartney, Jayden Taylor and Dylan Dunstall.
For Taylor, Heusmann and Dunstall it was their first senior matches ever, while McCartney enjoyed his first start after coming off the bench before.
United has made the development of their junior sides a priority in recent times as they aim to build their next title-contending team from back home rather than looking at metro-based players.
Despite the defeat the club's fans would have seen plenty to like about their team as they look to next week.
Prior to the match United's reserves notched a 2-0 win to begin their title defence, having claimed back-to-back trophies with another excellent campaign in 2024.
It was two familiar names finding success on the scoresheet as Alexandru Popp and Beau Finlayson found themselves on song in front of goal.
Gippsland United will be back at Baxter Park again this Saturday to face off against Mazenod FC, who also suffered a round one defeat to Collingwood City 2-1.
Reserves will kick off at 12:30pm while seniors begin at 3pm.