Echuca-Moama’s only previous loss for the season was a tight 3-2 affair at Jack Eddy Oval the last time the sides met and the Border Raiders would have been disappointed to not get more from that game after leading 2-1 at the half.
This time, at Ken Harrison Reserve in Swan Hill on Sunday, the home side had a much easier time snatching the points from its rivals, defeating the Raiders 4-0.
Most of the damage was done in the first half, with two Trinity Shelton strikes bookending a Judaya Majur goal to have Swan Hill three up within 38 minutes.
The problems were compounded for the Border Raiders after the break as Shelton completed her hat-trick seven minutes into the second half.
The Border Raiders stemmed the flow of goals from that point and did what they could to pull one back, but Swan Hill held on to its clean sheet as it secured the victory.
The game marks the most goals conceded by the Border Raiders this season, the side shipping only six goals through its previous nine matches, three of those also against Swan Hill in their first meeting.
The result slides the Border Raiders (7-1-2) back into second, trailing Swan Hill by two points.
Castlemaine Goldfields is also in the hunt for top spot, a point back from Echuca Moama after defeating Swan Hill the previous week.
The Border Raiders women have this weekend off, before returning to action at Jack Eddy Oval against Golden City on Sunday, July 19.
Most of men’s league 2 had a bye at the weekend, including the ladder-leading Border Raiders.
In the only played fixture, Deniliquin held the contending Colts United to a 1-1 draw, blunting the Strathfieldsaye charge towards top spot.
The Border Raiders will face off with Colts on Saturday, July 18 at Jack Eddy Oval.
