Golden City hosted the Moama Echuca Vikings on Saturday in Bendigo. The match started with a fast pace, with Golden City scoring early. The Vikings responded with strong attacking play led by the quick-footed Edward Melville with Riley Frazer also providing great support through the centre.
Vikings captain Jesse Nye was kept busy as goalkeeper although Caden Saunders and Cam Peirce did an excellent job of limiting Golden City’s scoring opportunities. While Enrique Dos Santos and Shewan Silva pushed forward, it was Aarav Bhatia who was able to deliver the Vikings’ first score for the match. Golden City quickly responded with another clever goal heading into the half-time break with a 2-1 lead.
As the second half got underway, Vikings took control of the game with Shewan Silva dominating through the centre. Despite strong defensive pressure from Golden City, Silva was able to score his first goal, followed shortly by another to put Vikings in the lead.
The hardworking Sophie Millar and Peaches Starritt outran their opponents, sending the ball towards the Vikings’ strikers. Golden City tried valiantly to push forward but were stopped in their tracks by goalkeeper Riley Frazer and defender Mitch Edwards. Aarav Bhatia and Jed Guinan were strong through the centre, setting up some great scoring opportunities that Silva was able to convert on two more occasions to give Vikings the win 5-2 and the chance to move up to second place on the ladder.
Under-12 Raiders vs Castlemaine Gold
The Raiders travelled to Castlemaine on Saturday to play Castlemaine Gold. The game started tough, Jack Dunne was having to make some amazing saves but it was only a matter of time before Castlemaine scored to go ahead 1-0.
Xavier Stewart was making some great clearances and Daniel Barry showed some fancy footwork down back, until Castlemaine scored two goals in quick succession to make it 3-0.
Towards the end of the half Billy Quirk was beating a handful of defenders when he was fouled in the box and awarded a penalty. His brother Tommy Quirk slotted it home to make it 3-1.
The second half started and there was a mountain to climb. Finn Murphy and Alex Attalh were holding down the backline, while Jack Gibson was a great support up front when Matty Maxwell made it 3-2 to keep the Raiders in the game. Oscar Danswan was doing some impressive dribbling through the midfield.
Late in the second half, Nate Murphy dribbled down the right wing, before cutting inside to score a goal to complete the team’s comeback 3-3. Everybody had to work back to hold on but their hard work and determination achieved the draw.
– reports by the Moama Echuca Border Raiders
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