A WELL-RESTED Swan Hill came off last week’s bye and started strongly in its Bendigo Amateur Soccer League Knockout Cup division one semi-final against Spring Gully.
But on a bumpy pitch and hot afternoon the Reds were the better side, winning 3-0.
Midfielders Shannon Rain and Mark O’Hare put in fierce tackles, and neither side gave an inch in the first 20 minutes.
Swans goalkeeper Ben Lewin put in an amazing leap to save a high floating cross/shot, while Jalaludin Kargar was looking composed in repeated defensive efforts.
Despite the 0-0 halftime score, Spring Gully led the possession count and was looking the better team.
Only 20 seconds into the second half Spring Gully got their reward, with a switch of play catching the Swans off-guard.
The fiery contest continued, with Robin Sebastian and Joseph Pino taking hits to the ankles, but with few on the bench, they played on.
At 57 minutes Swan Hill defenders pulled up, thinking Reds strikers were clearly offside about 10m from goal, but the assistant referee disagreed, and Spring Gully played on to score, with stunned silence the only reaction from the Swans.
Eight minutes later a deflected tackle near the Swan Hill box found a red shirt and Spring Gully gladly took their third.
Swan Hill resurged in the final quarter, with substitute Matt Grierson providing some oomph.
Their best chance came with one minute to go, after a through-ball from Grierson found Simon Makur in space, but his strike grazed the wrong side of the crossbar.
For their trouble, the Swans picked up three yellow cards (in the last game of the season) going to defenders Brent Mitchell, Tim Van der Veen and Matt Lewis.
Division two
SWAN Hill had nothing to lose after unexpectedly making the semi-finals of the Knockout Cup — their quarter final opponents Castlemaine automatically forfeited after they were found to have played ineligible players.
Overall, the division two Swans controlled much of the game in the first half but Spring Gully ran away in the second for a commanding 8-0 win.
Spring Gully surprised with a goal in the second minute but Swan Hill kept their heads up with great passing and attacking runs between John Fitzpatrick and Shannon Rain.
Daniel Michaels was making great runs in midfield around less nimble defenders.
In goals, Brendan Riordan was making strong clearing kicks and prevented certain goals, including one from the penalty spot.
The Swans were unlucky not to equalise when after a high floating shot from Fitzpatrick was fumbled by Spring Gully’s goalkeeper, leaving Swan Dominic Makur in perfect position to tap in a goal but he unfortunately missed.
Ten minutes before half time the Reds struck again, sneaking a goal inside the left corner from way out.
Swan Hill’s defensive line was working well, but in hot conditions the team failed to lift.
That allowed Gully their third and fourth goals, courtesy of some lucky bounces, in the first five minutes of the second half.
Towards the end a change in positions provided some spark for the Swans, with Andrew Halligan showing great skill up forward, turning players inside and out.
Brock Baldwin ran on despite injury, and Justyn Moser was fighting hard in defence.
Jorge Luengas was applying pressure in the midfield and Vincent Musico was providing a worthy target, but passes were lacking accuracy.
The Reds scored another four goals to finish the game.
