One of two marquee fixtures for the day, the BASL Division 1 women’s match between the Border Raiders and La Trobe University was exhilarating from start to finish.
Despite heavy La Trobe possession inside the opening 10 minutes, the Border Raiders were skilled enough to capitalise when provided the opportunity, with Asha Davies burying one in the back of the net to give the home side the advantage.
Back and forth play continued for much of the first half with the visitors looking a threat to equalise, with that moment coming in the 32nd minute courtesy of some strong team play that gave Molly Mulcair an opportunity, which was converted.
Perhaps the most baffling moment of the game came on the stroke of half-time, when Border Raiders midfielder Louise O’Callaghan managed to bend one past the keeper off a corner kick, stunning the crowd and giving the hosts a 2-1 lead at the major break.
With their first win in Division 1 in sight, the Border Raiders managed to protect their lead for the majority of the game but heartbreak came in the form of Charlie Gartside, who threatened in front of goal all game, bringing the visitors level again in the 85th minute.
With no time left the Border Raiders had to settle for a draw and despite not necessarily being the outcome they were after on their Women’s Day, it has kept them off the bottom of the table heading into round four.
The same couldn’t be said for the Division 2 men in their contest with Swan Hill.
In what seemed to be a fairly even contest, the hosts let a few key early chances go begging, but the score remained level through the majority of the first half.
Swan Hill’s Connor Brown broke the game open in the 36th minute, nailing one to give the visitors the lead at half-time.
It didn’t take long for Swan Hill to double-up after half-time. With less than five minutes played in the second period they were up 2-0 thanks to Thomas Paddon.
The Border Raiders were able to jag one bag in the 61st minute courtesy of a top-corner screamer from outside the 18-yard box by Dinni Luaine.
Following the goal, the Border Raiders’ men had a renewed sense of faith to salvage the game, something which was snuffed out almost immediately when Connor Brown scored his second for Swan Hill just a minute after the hosts’ goal.
Now 3-1 up, the visitors put the game to bed in the 77th minute via Cooper Fox, with the final siren bringing the game to a close at 4-1.
Juniors
The other marquee game for Women’s Day was the under-14 girls’ fixture, played on the main pitch at the same time as the men’s game.
Playing the Strathfieldsaye Colts, the Border Raider girls dominated in their match, winning the day 5-1.
Gabriella Cothers starred in the contest, netting a hat-trick of goals, with Ruby Larcombe contributing the other two.
Olivia Probert’s goal for the Colts was the only resistance against the Border Raiders’ onslaught.
The under-16 boys also played the Colts in their match and suffered a similar fate to the men, losing 3-1.
However, the Border Raiders boys got off to a better start, with Zanda Wood drawing first blood in the seventh minute.
Tanae Bull levelled for the visitors in the 29th minute, before Harlan Giles gave the visitors the lead heading into half-time.
The nail in the coffin came in the 78th minute when the Colts were gifted a penalty inside the 18-yard box, with Lochlan Probert putting it away in the bottom-left corner.
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