With a thumping 6-2 win over Deniliquin Wanderers in round six getting their season back on track, the Raiders came into this contest with something to prove — and prove it they did.
Although, things didn’t begin as planned when City’s Jonathon Magrath drew first blood in just the fourth minute.
However, the hosts managed to keep their composure after the early blow, firing back in the 25th minute through their new recruit, French striker Paul Picart.
The scalp marked Picart’s third goal in just two appearances for the Border Raiders, injecting much-needed goal-scoring flair into Echuca-Moama’s attack.
Scores remained level for 12 minutes before Golden City’s Elliott Boucher found the back of the net in the 37th minute to give the visitors the advantage.
Just a minute later, City would get a further advantage when Echuca-Moama’s Daniel Rizani was sent off with a contentious red card.
Now fighting with just 10 men, the Border Raiders refused to shrink in the face of adversity, with their other striker, Dillon Cahill, pulling one out of his hat for a second equaliser early in the second half.
A little over 10 minutes later, a thundering free kick brought Cahill his second goal of the match and gave his depleted side the lead.
With tensions between the two sides boiling over, Golden City’s Win Boe and Boucher were both issued yellow cards as the visitors tried to salvage the game in the dying minutes.
But it wasn’t to be, as the Border Raiders secured a morale-boosting 3-2 victory on home soil, further extending the side’s climb up the BASL Men’s 2 standings.
Next on the agenda is a date with Swan Hill at home, with a potential victory propelling Echuca-Moama into the finals frame.
Elsewhere, the Border Raiders’ Women’s League 1 side forfeited its contest with Spring Gully United on Saturday due to players away and out with injury.
The Echuca-Moama women will return home this Sunday in the hopes of getting their second win for the season against fourth-placed Tatura.
