The Moama Echuca Border Raiders accomplished a season-first on Saturday afternoon but it wasn’t enough to lift them to their first win of the season as they fell 3-1 to Deniliquin Wanderers.
The Border Raiders took the lead in the first half, but two quick goals from Deniliquin had the visitors ahead at the break.
The Wanderers added a third in the second half, and despite a spirited fight back from the Raiders that included numerous good chances on goal, it was Deni who held on for the win.
Despite suffering their seventh loss of the season, it was by far Moama Echuca’s best performance of the year.
Raiders coach Jonathan Keele said he thought his side played well and was unlucky not to come away with more from the game.
“I was really happy. If you take away the score, I thought we have been building the last few weeks and I think we played really well,” Keele said.
“I thought our midfield played very well and I thought we were unlucky not to win the game.
“I know it was a 3-1 result, but I felt their three goals weren’t structured very well, whereas our goal was, and I thought we were unlucky not to score another couple of times.”
The Border Raiders were bolstered by some new recruits and despite being winless so far this season they were in the contest from the get-go.
Their hard work paid off when James Mawson’s curling strike found the back of the net midway through the first half, giving Moama Echuca their first goal and first lead of the season.
But that lead didn’t last long. A mistake at the back gifted Deni an equaliser, with the ball falling to a Wanderer attacker in acres of space.
Deniliquin then took the lead just before the half after a good run into the box and a shot that just snuck inside the near post.
Moama Echuca started well in the second half but found themselves trailing by two after Deni netted their third of the day.
A cross from a corner was directed goal-ward by a Deniliquin header and was almost cleared by two Raiders defenders, but the ball just crept across the line.
Needing two goals, Moama Echuca pushed hard going forward and Mawson, Patricio Rodriguez and Cameron Bauer all had good chances on goal, but couldn’t find the back of the net.
Despite the loss, there were still lots of positives for the Raiders, with Keele particularly impressed with the team’s performance through the midfield.
Keele said Rodriguez had a great game in the midfield and was one of the best players on the day. He said that defender Pat Hicks was fantastic down back, while Mawson’s goal earned him the player of the match prize.
“I thought Pato [Rodriguez] dominated again, he has had a great season so far,” Keele said.
“I think our two centre-backs did a great job, Pat is a general down back and played great.”
The Border Raiders will have a week off over the long weekend before returning to action against the Shepparton Jaguars on Sunday, June 19.