Border Raiders ‘need to be much better’ after Strathfieldsaye setback

By Matthew Kappos

Apr 30, 2024

Tough outing: The Border Raiders men suffered their first loss of the year to Strathfieldsaye this week. Photo: File

After a dream start to the Bendigo Amateur Soccer League 2 season for the Echuca Moama Border Raiders men’s side, where they demolished La Trobe University Black 5-0, the team has been brought back to earth in round two on Saturday, April 27.

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Facing off with Strathfieldsaye Colts United FC at Jack Eddy Oval, the Border Raiders were sluggish out of the blocks and found themselves down 3-0 by half-time.

The away side piled on another three scores soon after the break, and while the Border Raiders did manage a second-half goal of their own, the game ended in a disappointing 6-1 result for the local side.

“Basically we turned up a bit late in the game,” said coach Rish Kothari.

“To start off we were a little lazy, not as energetic, and they ran over us in the start.

“Once they are three goals up it was always difficult to come back.”

Although critical of his side's effort in the early stages, Kothari doesn’t feel the scoreline reflects the fight his team showed, particularly in the second half.

“Our takeaway was that we didn't give up,” he said.

“The team showed fight and created chances late. We got the goal in the second half, had one goal called off-side and a couple of chances that missed.

“We need to practice shooting and make sure we convert our chances.

“Considering (we) scored five (last week), there’s a lot of potential in attack.

“I don’t think the scoreline reflects how this game was, (it) could have been much different if we had buried our chances.”

Things don’t get any easier for the team as they will host a so far dominant Swan Hill outfit, coming off a 10-0 victory at the weekend.

“We need to be much better than what we were last week if we want to get anything against Swan Hill,” Kothari said.

“We consider Swan Hill as one of the strongest sides in the competition if not the strongest.

“It will be a case of the team making sure we've got 90 minutes of energy in us and 90 minutes of fight and not just leave it for the last 20-30 minutes because if we play like we did this week it's not going to be an easy task at all.”

The match will take place on the club’s women’s day, a marquee event that will also see the Border Raiders women’s team return to action after a bye this weekend.

The event has been changed to free entry with live entertainment, food and drink, and market stalls among the festivities, with a raft of football action also set for the day.