By James Willoughby (@jwilloughby26)

Murray United has recorded its first-ever victory after goals to James Coutts and Zac Walker saw the Albury-Wodonga-based side win 2-1 at Nunawading City on Sunday.

Newly formed Murray took the lead through Coutts after half an hour before Walker doubled his side’s advantage with a superb volley on the turn.

And that meant John-Luc Silvestri's stoppage-time finish was no more than a consolation for Nunawading, having now lost all four of their NPL1 East matches this season.

Both sides entered the clash desperate to bounce back from defeats to State League opposition in Round 4 of the Victorian preliminaries of the FFA Cup, but it was the visitors who started brighter.

Kade Rixon forced a good save from Nunawading goalkeeper Keegan Coulter before his effort on the rebound was well-blocked by Ben Robinson, and at the other end, the impressive Jordan Templin shot straight at Murray's Josh Fruss.

Coutts then put Murray in front on the half-hour mark, pouncing on a loose ball and nipping in front of Robinson before producing a cool finish. 

Coulter did well to stop Murray from scoring a second before the break, tipping Adam Waters' fierce effort onto the top of the crossbar, before play was delayed as Robinson left the pitch on a stretcher with what looked to be a serious leg injury.

Nunawading's commitment to playing out from the back was commendable, but it did get them in trouble on several occasions, and they were lucky not to be punished in the 54th minute when Peter Evangelakos' sloppy pass did not end in a goal, with a heavy first touch seeing Rixon waste a one-on-one chance.

Rixon again missed the target when he beat Evangelakos to a long ball but Murray were celebrating less than 60 seconds later, as Walker scored his third goal of the season with an excellent volley from a right-wing cross.

A late Nunawading rally saw substitute Silvestri pull a goal back when he chested down a clever quick free-kick from Templin and finished from an acute angle, but it mattered little, as Murray United made history at Mahoneys Reserve.

MATCH DETAILS

Nunawading City 1 (Silvestri 92') defeated by Murray United 2 (Coutts 30', Walker 72')

Nunawading: 1. Keegan COULTER, 4. Ben ROBINSON (3. Trung LUU 44'), 23. Jack GOW, 10. Ivan SKORICH, 15. Jordan TEMPLIN, 6. Jack LOUZIOTIS, 7. Anthony GIANNOPOULOS, 12. Chris GURR, 17. David MOROVIC (11. Daniel PATTERSON 54', John-Luc SILVESTRI 65'), 8. Ming-En CUI, 5. Peter EVANGELAKOS

Unused Subs: Nil

Yellow Cards: Skorich 58'

Red Cards: Nil

Murray United: 1. Josh FRUSS, 17. Melkie WOLDEMICHAEL, 16. Sean PYE, 23. Ben CHAFFEY, 30. Angus KELLY, 29. Darcy PAWLIK (19. Tom MORRISON 73'), 8. James COUTTS, 4. Hussein NTAKIRUTIMANA, 14. Adam WATERS, 10. Kade RIXON (11. Jayson FERGUSON 86'), 7. Zac WALKER

Unused Subs: 13. Josh O'BRIEN, 9. Mat HASLER, 21. Ben RUSSELL

Yellow Cards: Rixon 45', Walker 81', Woldemichael 85'

Red Cards: Nil