Border Raiders secure League 1 future

On La Trobe’s home ground, it was Louise O’Callaghan’s early strike that proved the difference.

O’Callaghan put the Border Raiders ahead within eight minutes, and a resolute defensive display saw the Echuca-Moama side keep its clean sheet over the remainder of the contest.

It was a good note for the Border Raiders to end the season on, after conceding more goals than any side in the league this year.

Echuca-Moama concludes its first campaign in League 1 with a 3-1-10 record, the side currently placed sixth in the eight-team league.

While a win by La Trobe in its remaining game in hand would see the Eagles surpass the Border Raiders on goal difference, the local side can’t slip lower than seventh and is therefore safe from relegation back to League 2.

Men’s

The Border Raiders’ men’s side also celebrated three points this week, getting past Strathfieldsaye Colts 3-2 in its penultimate game of the season.

Visiting Strathfieldsaye Recreation Reserve, the Border Raiders struck early on through Dillon Cahill, first in the 14th minute and again in the 24th.

The Colts also found a first-half goal, and the teams went into the sheds with Echuca-Moama 2-1 up.

Both sides got on the scoreboard again in the second half, Patrick Barry finding what would prove to be the winner for the Border Raiders in the 79th minute.

The game began to break down late, and the referee was kept busy, brandishing his red card towards both teams in the dying minutes.

The Border Raiders sit fifth in the six-team men’s League 2 with a 4-10 record.

The side has one round remaining against league leader Spring Gully at Jack Eddy Oval on Sunday.

While the men’s League 2 wraps up, other divisions will play out any catch-up fixtures this weekend to finish off the regular season.

The BASL Supercup finals series will then begin from September 7, running over three weeks and concluding on September 21.