Melissa Clark earned the Border Raiders women a 2-1 half-time lead, but Swan Hill was able to claim the three points after the break. Photos: Matthew Kappos
The Echuca Moama Border Raiders earned a big confidence boost in Football Victoria Greater Bendigo men’s League 2, dominating from start to finish in a 6-0 thrashing of Golden City on Saturday.
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On familiar soil at Jack Eddy Oval in Moama, the Border Raiders struck quickly, Millard Matoro putting the home side in front in the third minute.
The lead was tripled within 15 minutes, with Samuel Wanesiofa doubling the advantage before Matoro popped up again for his second.
Wanesiofa would have two before the break, sending the Border Raiders into the sheds with a 4-0 lead.
Golden City held firm for the opening half hour of the second half, but Echuca Moama would eventually again overwhelm the opposition, with John Mana getting his name on the scoresheet before Matoro completed his hat-trick eight minutes from time.
The win has the Border Raiders solidly in the top four, with seven points from their opening four fixtures, a game in hand on the fifth and sixth-ranked sides and a healthy goal difference of +7.
The squad will be travelling on Sunday, taking on the perfect 4-0-0 Colts United in the next round.
Women
Maya Cox locks in on an aerial ball.
The Border Raiders women’s side dropped its first points of the season in women’s league 2 on Sunday, falling 2-3 to Swan Hill after giving up the half-time lead at Jack Eddy Oval.
An early flurry of activity saw both sides get on the scoresheet early.
Co-coach Paige Pinson saves it on the sideline.
Regular strike weapon Asha Davies opened the scoring for the Border Raiders within six minutes, before Swan Hill had its first through Judaya Majur on the quarter hour.
Melissa Clark got the Border Raiders back in front seven minutes later and there would be no further scoring for the remainder of the half, the host going into the break up 2-1.
Kaylah Lochhead gets it back into play.
However Swan Hill started to wrestle control of the game away from Echuca Moama in the second half.
Resolute defending stifled any attacking opportunities and the visiting strikers were able to punish the Border Raiders on the counter.
Asha Davies scored the opener for the Border Raiders.
Trinity Shelton and Majur led those attacking raids and both were rewarded with goals.
Shelton struck in the 61st minute to level the scores, sending one rifling in to the top corner off the crossbar, and Majur followed six minutes later to give her club the lead after a quick breakaway.
Isabella Barton plays it forward.
The Border Raiders threw everything at the opposition as the clock ran down, but couldn’t return to parity, Swan Hill escaping with the win.
Despite the loss, Echuca Moama remains atop the table, now level with three other clubs, including Swan Hill, on nine points, but with easily the best goal difference in the competition.
The side next battles one of the lower-ranked clubs, Golden City, travelling to Epsom Huntly Recreation Reserve on Saturday.
